Librarian II, Picture Collection

The New York Public Library; New York (NY); On-site; USD 63,000 - 77,000; Full time

Job summary

The New York Public Library seeks a Librarian II in the Picture Collection at the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building. You will provide excellent reference assistance in person and remotely, supporting researchers and the public with equitable access to visual resources.

Responsibilities include teaching classes, developing collections, and creating online guides and educational materials while collaborating with staff across the building to enhance programs, outreach, and public service excellence.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated engagement with visual studies through academic background, training, interest, or expertise.
• Experience providing welcoming and expert public service, reference or customer service in a research library or similar setting.
• Experience teaching and participating in community outreach initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Provides excellent research and reference assistance to scholarly and general users, in the reading room and remotely.
• Develops and teaches classes for the public, educational, and cultural institutions, and participates in the Library’s outreach and instruction strategy.
• Performs collection development tasks within the Picture Collection, including the selection and description of visual materials according to national and local subject heading standards.
• Assists in the implementation of social media initiatives in collaboration with the Social Media team, Wallach Division team, and guest curators.
• Regularly creates and updates online content, including research guides, and assorted educational materials.

Skills

Public service

Reference services

Community outreach

Education

Master’s degree in Library and Information Studies

Job description

Compensation: $70,393 / year

Application Deadline: 4 October 2026

Department: Research Libraries

Location: Stephen A. Schwarzman Building

Description

Overview

For more than 125 years, The New York Public Library (NYPL) has been an essential provider of books, information, ideas, and education. With collections numbering more than 56 million items and serving more than 16 million patrons in person each year and millions more online, NYPL’s reach is both local and global. Our mission is to inspire lifelong learning, advance knowledge, and strengthen our communities.

At our world‑class research centers–including the Humanities and Social Sciences Research Library at the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, the Library for the Performing Arts, and the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture–expert staff facilitate the work of our diverse communities, offering inspiring reading rooms, programs, exhibitions, fellowships, and a dynamic range of research services. Their work is supported by dedicated staff on the Collections and Research Services teams. We are proud to be the most public and widely used research library in the world.

The Miriam & Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints, and Photographs is composed of five collections that represent one of the most significant art and art historical research collections in the country. The Picture Collection provides an encyclopedic array of pictures organized into subjects to support artistic, cultural, historical, and comparative research. New York’s diverse community of artists, designers, students, scholars, film producers, and historians has relied on the Collection for visual research for over 100 years.

The Librarian II plays a key role within the Picture Collection by providing excellent public service in the form of reference work, instruction, outreach, writing, and works with colleagues across the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building to ensure an optimal experience for all visitors to the Library. The Librarian II is collaborative, service-oriented, and committed to equitable access to collections for all researchers.

Responsibilities

• Provides excellent research and reference assistance to scholarly and general users, in the reading room and remotely
• Develops and teaches classes for the public, educational, and cultural institutions, and participates in the Library’s outreach and instruction strategy
• Performs collection development tasks within the Picture Collection, including the selection and description of visual materials according to national and local subject heading standards
• Assists in the implementation of social media initiatives in collaboration with the Social Media team, Wallach Division team, and guest curators
• Regularly creates and updates online content, including research guides, and assorted educational materials
• Maintains a personal program of continuous education and professional development
• Participate in NYPL-wide initiatives through participation on committees, task forces, research library meetings, and other relevant groups
• Contributes to accurate and timely reporting of statistics, providing insights that inform service enhancements, resource allocation, and strategic decision-making
• Perform other related duties as required

Required Education & Certifications

• ALA accredited Master’s degree in Library and Information Studies

Required Experience

• Demonstrated engagement with visual studies through academic background, training, interest, or expertise
• Experience providing welcoming and expert public service, reference or customer service in a research library or similar setting
• Experience teaching and participating in community outreach initiatives

Required Skills

• Successfully demonstrates excellent interpersonal, public service, and hospitality-driven skills, acting as a welcoming ambassador to provide seamless research support to a diverse user community
• Demonstrated initiative, attention to detail, judgment, and ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment
• Familiarity with using a wide range of resources in reference work
• Ability to multitask and work in a dynamic environment
• Have the capacity to assess the accuracy, completeness, and quality of information resources
• Demonstrated competency to support artistic, cultural, historical, and comparative research with a diverse collection of visual materials

Managerial/Supervisory Responsibilities

N/A

Core Values

All team members are expected and encouraged to embody the NYPL Core Values:

• Be Helpful to patrons and colleagues
• Be Resourceful in solving problems
• Be Curious in all aspects of your work
• Be Welcoming and Inclusive

Work Environment

• Research Library

Physical Duties

• Light lifting up to 15 lbs required
• Sitting and standing for periods of time
• Daily use of a computer

Pre-Placement

No

Union/Non Union

• Local 1930

FLSA Status

Non-Exempt

Schedule

Onsite, 35 hours per week to be scheduled during regular building hours, some Saturday and evening hours required:

• Monday 10 AM–6 PM
• Tuesday 10 AM–8PM
• Wednesday 10 AM–8PM
• Thursday 10 AM–6 PM
• Friday 10 AM–6 PM
• Saturday 10 AM–6 PM

This job description represents the types and levels of responsibilities that will be required of the position and shall not be construed as a declaration of all of the specific duties and responsibilities for the role. Job duties may change if Library priorities change. Employees may be directed to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description as needed.

The New York Public Library

Salary Statement

At the Library, we believe that pay transparency and pay equity are important to ensuring we source the best candidates and keep the best employees. When making a determination as to the appropriate salary for a candidate, we consider a variety of factors such, including, but not limited to, the position requirements, the skills, prior experience, and educational background required or preferred for the job, the scope and impact of the role within the organization, internal peer equity, and the candidate's specific training, experience, education level, and skills. No single factor is conclusive; the Library reserves the right to consider any and all relevant factors and make a decision consistent with its policies.

Union Salaries are determined by collective bargaining agreement(s).