Curator of Methodist + Non-conformist Collections

The University of Manchester; Manchester; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous employer contribution pension

29 days annual leave plus bank hols

Ride to work and EV car scheme

Job summary

The University of Manchester Library is recruiting a Curator for Methodist and Non-conformist Collections to steward archival and printed materials held at the John Rylands Library. You will curate Special Collections, both print and digital, and support teaching and learning activities across the library.

We welcome applicants with a strong background in rare books and archives, a record of curatorial work, and a degree in a relevant field.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of curatorial practices for rare books and archive collections.
• 3 years professional experience of curating Special Collections in a relevant environment.
• Excellent interpersonal and teamworking skills to work in a highly collegiate environment.
• Educated to degree level in a subject represented in the Special Collections of the University of Manchester Library.
• Full professional qualification in librarianship, archive management or museum studies, and/or relevant experience at a comparable level.

Responsibilities

• To curate agreed Special Collections materials, print and digital, to exemplary standards, contributing to the development, management, care and security of the collections in line with Library policies and procedures
• To promote and actively deliver the teaching and learning agenda for Special Collections in collaboration with other colleagues across the library and to support all curators in teaching and learning activities
• To take a strategic approach to improving access to the collections, through cataloguing, digitisation, specialist enquiries and the reader service, liaising as appropriate with Library colleagues and academic staff
• To liaise with stakeholders, including existing and potential donors, creators and depositors, over the acquisition, development and use of Special Collections materials, in line with Library policies
• To contribute to the development and delivery of public engagement programmes, including curating exhibitions and displays, and to promote Special Collections materials and activities through tours, talks, publications and social media activities

Skills

Curatorial practices

Interpersonal skills

Team collaboration

Education

Degree in relevant field

Professional qualification in librarianship/archives

Job description

We are seeking a motivated and collaborative individual to join our team as Curator Methodist and Non-conformist Collections. This curatorial role is responsible for the stewardship of the Methodist and Non-conformist archival and printed collections held at the University of Manchester Library, primarily based at the John Rylands Library.

You will be responsible for:

• To curate agreed Special Collections materials, print and digital, to exemplary standards, contributing to the development, management, care and security of the collections in line with Library policies and procedures
• To promote and actively deliver the teaching and learning agenda for Special Collections in collaboration with other colleagues across the library and to support all curators in teaching and learning activities
• To take a strategic approach to improving access to the collections, through cataloguing, digitisation, specialist enquiries and the reader service, liaising as appropriate with Library colleagues and academic staff
• To liaise with stakeholders, including existing and potential donors, creators and depositors, over the acquisition, development and use of Special Collections materials, in line with Library policies
• To contribute to the development and delivery of public engagement programmes, including curating exhibitions and displays, and to promote Special Collections materials and activities through tours, talks, publications and social media activities

We welcome candidates who bring diverse perspectives, experiences, and approaches to their work.

About You

We encourage applications from individuals with a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. You should demonstrate:

Essential Criteria

• Knowledge of curatorial practices for rare books and archive collections
• 3 years professional experience of curating Special Collections in a relevant environment
• Excellent interpersonal and teamworking skills to work in a highly collegiate environment
• Educated to degree level in a subject represented in the Special Collections of the University of Manchester Library
• Full professional qualification in librarianship, archive management or museum studies, and/or relevant experience at a comparable level

Desirable Criteria

• Awareness of Methodist and Non-conformist history in the UK
• Knowledge of one or more metadata standards appropriate to Special Collections

We value transferable skills and real-world experience as much as formal qualifications.

Our benefits include:

• Generous employer contribution pension
• 29 days annual leave plus bank holidays, along with Christmas closure
• Ride to work and EV car scheme available

For more information, please see University of Manchester Benefits . You can also find information on our Flexible and Hybrid working here .

We are an open place of enquiry and challenge. We embrace and celebrate difference, diversity and debate, and we pride ourselves on being a place of education, learning and community where we are able, within the law, to question and test received wisdom, express new ideas and explore controversial or unpopular topics and opinions. Find out more from our Freedom of Speech Policy .

Enquiries about the role, shortlisting and interviews

Name: Jessica Smith

Email Address: [e-mail]

General enquiries and administrative support

[e-mail]

Technical and job portal support

https://knowledge.jobtrain.co.uk/jobseeker [knowledge.jobtrain.co.uk]

Applications close at midnight on the closing date.

Further particulars (with person specification) linked below.

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