Librarian for Music Special Collections

Oberlin College and Conservatory; Oberlin (OH); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Benefits package

Generous PTO policy

Job summary

Oberlin College and Conservatory invites applications for Librarian for Music Special Collections. The role collaborates across departments to acquire, manage, and provide access to music special collections, while teaching with primary sources and supporting reference and research services.

Responsibilities include cataloging, metadata, and digitization projects; curating rare materials; supervising student staff; and engaging with donors and grants as part of ongoing special collections

Qualifications

• MLS, Master’s Degree in Archival Administration or equivalent.
• Bachelor’s degree in music or equivalent professional performance experience; fluent reading in Western musical notation.
• 2-4 years of professional library/archives/museum experience with classroom/presentation experience.
• 2-4 years experience in collections arrangement and description and documented metadata decisions.
• Experience with library/archival descriptive standards such as DACS, RDA, DCRM, etc.
• Experience with library/archival schema such as EAD, MARC, MARCXML, Dublin Core, VRA Core, MODS, etc.
• Outstanding oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Willingness to engage in continuous professional learning and comfort with ambiguity.

Responsibilities

• Partner with Conservatory faculty on teaching and research projects.
• Enhance discoverability and utility of the Conservatory’s special collections through cataloging and metadata, finding aids, and digital scholarship.
• Curate physical and digital collections and exhibits.
• Develop and curate collections of rare and unique materials in the Conservatory Library.
• Collaborate with Head of Conservatory Library on gift assessment and collection development.
• Ensure proper housing/rehousing of physical materials and storage/formatting of digital files.
• Trains and supervises the term-limited project archivist and student workers.
• Identify materials for preservation, conservation, and digitization.
• Oversee organization in vaults and maintain proper storage conditions.
• Monitor facilities conditions and report to Head of Conservatory Library.
• Contribute to Conservatory Special Collections website and guides.
• Participate in Libraries and campus planning and engage with Oberlin College Archives.

Skills

Oral communication

Written communication

Interpersonal skills

Teaching with primary sources

Education

MLS or Archival Administration degree

Bachelor's degree in music or equivalent performance experience

Tools

ArchivesSpace

ContentDM

Islandora

Omeka

MARC/MARCXML

Job description

Oberlin College and Conservatory is accepting applications for Librarian for Music Special Collections. The successful candidate will work collaboratively within and beyond the department to acquire, manage, and provide access to music special collections, including teaching with primary sources, providing in-depth reference and research support, and implementing projects to process, arrange, describe, and preserve music special collections with the goal of always improving accessibility. They also contribute to the Conservatory Library's planning, assessment, and engagement efforts, as well grant/donor funded projects. The Librarian for Music Special Collections represents the Conservatory Library on the Distinctive Collections Working Group and engages more broadly in the region and beyond on issues related to music-oriented special collections and archives. The incumbent is expected to work comfortably and with a high degree of expertise in a shared decision-making environment.

The successful candidate will possess a demonstrated capacity to be creative in leveraging the strengths of our collections for curricular and co-curricular activities. Among our incredible collections are the James R. and Susan Neumann Jazz Collection and the Frederick R. Selch Collection of American Music History. The Librarian for Music Special Collections supervises a term-limited part-time position of Project Archivist for the Neumann Collection, and 4-6 hours per week of student employees.

This position reports to the Head of the Conservatory Library and works closely with colleagues in other distinctive collections and metadata creation areas at the College (Archives, Rare Books, Digital Collaborative, Con Tech Services, and Discovery and Metadata Services) on access and discovery workflows and standards.

Responsibilities

The Librarian for Music Special Collections will

• Partner with Conservatory faculty on teaching and research projects.
• Enhance discoverability and utility of the Conservatory’s special collections through cataloging and metadata, finding aids, and digital scholarship.
• Curate physical and digital collections and exhibits
• Develop and curate collections of rare and unique materials in the Conservatory Library
• Work collaboratively with Head of Conservatory Library regarding gift assessment and collection development.
• Ensure proper housing/rehousing of physical materials and proper storage and formatting of digital files
• Trains and supervises the term-limited project archivist and student workers
• Identify materials for preservation, conservation, and digitization.
• Oversee organization in the vaults and maintenance to ensure proper storage and conditions
• Monitor special collections facilities conditions, reporting to Head of Con Library around facilities and working with key partners throughout OCL.
• Collaborate in the development and maintenance of the Conservatory Special Collections website and research/course guides.
• Participate in Conservatory Library meetings and planning, and develop close working relationships with Oberlin College Archives. Participate in Libraries, campus, and consortial groups as appropriate.

Required Qualifications

• MLS, Master’s Degree in Archival Administration or equivalent
• Bachelor’s degree in music or equivalent professional performance experience; fluent reading ability in Western musical notation
• 2-4 years of professional library/archives/museum experience with classroom/presentation experience
• 2-4 years experience in collections arrangement and description and demonstrated ability to document procedures and metadata decisions
• Demonstrated experience with one or more library/archival descriptive standards, such as DACS, RDA, DCRM, etc.
• Demonstrated experience one or more library/archival schema, such as EAD, MARC, MARCXML, Dublin Core, VRA Core, MODS, etc.
• Outstanding oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills
• Willingness to engage in continuous professional learning and comfort with ambiguity

Desired Qualifications

• Graduate degree in music
• Working knowledge of the history of jazz or early American music
• Supervisory experience
• Experience working with archival applications such as ArchivesSpace
• Experience working with a digital asset management system such as ContentDM, Islandora, Omeka, Alma Digital, etc.
• Familiarity with working with digital files and image and audio editing software
• Some knowledge of intellectual property issues related to archives, libraries, and special collections and copyright issues associated with print and digital technologies
• Demonstrated ability to participate in donor relations, collection solicitation, and gift management
• Demonstrated ability to participate in the preparation and management of grants

Compensation

Within the range established for this administrative and professional staff position, salary will be commensurate with experience and qualifications. Oberlin College offers an excellent benefit package including a generous PTO policy.