Curator of Special Collections, Winterthur Museum, Winterthur, DE

Posted April 11, 2023

Job Description

The Winterthur Library seeks a creative, thoughtful, and collaborative curator to help develop, steward, and engage its special collections. The Winterthur Library is a renowned independent academic research library dedicated to documenting, understanding, and engaging the artistic, cultural, social, and intellectual history of the Americas in a global context from the 17th to the 20th centuries. The library’s holdings include extensive rare book, manuscript, archival, research, and digital collections that bring social and cultural context to the study of American decorative arts, material culture, and everyday life. The special collections curator will report to the Library Director and will work closely with the library team and with colleagues across Winterthur in support of institutional initiatives and goals.

The special collections curator plays a central role in supporting the collections, services, and programs of the Winterthur Library, advancing initiatives that enhance discovery of and access to our collections, that meaningfully engage our research and public audiences, and that strengthen and expand our connection to local, national, and international communities. The successful candidate brings a holistic understanding of special collections development, interpretation, and use; a vision for engaging collections in innovative digital, scholarly, and creative initiatives; and a commitment to engaging diverse voices and perspectives in all aspects of their work, including through collections development, outreach and programming, and instruction. Together with the library team, the curator will work to foster an inclusive, accessible, and supportive environment for the library’s research and public audiences.

Compensation: $65,000 – $70,000 annually

Benefits: Including, but not limited to, medical, dental, and vision insurance; generous paid time off plan including 10 holidays, vacation, personal, and sick time; 403b with employer match for eligible employees; discounts in the museum store and cafe; free general admission for you and your immediate family

Work Schedule: Monday – Friday, 35 hours/week; occasional weekend and evening hours required

Responsibilities

Develops, stewards, and interprets the Winterthur Library’s special collections. Works collaboratively with library staff, donors, dealers, and constituents to acquire unique materials that further library collection directions and goals.
Develops expert knowledge of the Winterthur Library’s collections and provides expertise, support, and guidance for students, scholars, and the public.
Collaborates with the library director, Winterthur’s Development department, and other institutional partners to foster relationships with donors and to develop and steward gifts, including responsibly managing collections acquisitions funds and pursuing grant and foundation opportunities.
Promotes engagement with collections by developing meaningful outreach initiatives and community programs; participating in donor cultivation events; designing and installing physical and digital exhibitions; providing instruction to K-12, undergraduate, and graduate student audiences; and contributing to online engagement and social media.
Engages in scholarly research activity to contribute to collective knowledge and further understanding of the library’s special collections.
Supports students in Winterthur’s two graduate programs, the Winterthur Program in American Material Culture and the Winterthur/University of Delaware Program in Art Conservation, through instruction, mentoring, and research support and guidance. Builds relationships with regional schools, colleges, and universities to expand instructional efforts.
Partners with colleagues in Collections Management to develop and implement processing and description priorities, goals, and workflows. Identifies materials in need of conservation treatment and works collaboratively with conservation colleagues to set library conservation priorities.
Maintains statistical reporting, generating regular and as-needed statistics in support of library and museum reporting requirements.
Works as part of a collaborative team to support library activities, goals, and initiatives, including but not limited to reference and research support, programming, instruction, digital projects, and outreach.
Collaborates across institutional departments to support exhibitions, publishing, digital collections, donor cultivation, and public programming. Serves on library and museum teams, committees, and working groups as assigned.
May supervise interns, graduate assistants, and students who provide support for collections management, research services, outreach and engagement, and other library initiatives.
Participates actively in professional development opportunities. Maintains up-to-date knowledge of trends, issues, and emerging technologies in special collections.
Performs other duties as assigned.

Job Requirements

Minimum Experience: Master’s degree in Library/Information Science from an ALA accredited program, or equivalent degree with formal experience and/or training that specifically addresses the skills required for the position with three to five years professional experience developing and engaging special collections in an academic, museum, or research library.

Preferred Experience: MA or PhD in subject area related to Winterthur’s collections, including history, American studies, art history, English, or related field with five plus years professional experience developing and engaging special collections in an academic, museum, or research library

Knowledge/Skills:

Knowledge of special collections and archival theory, issues, trends, and best practices, including descriptive standards, metadata, preservation principles, and concepts related to physical and digital (digitized and born-digital) collections materials.
Research background and/or educational training in subject areas related to Winterthur’s collections, including American history, American studies, art history, material culture studies, English, or related fields.
Demonstrated ability to teach, engage, and communicate effectively with diverse student, scholarly, and public audiences across a variety of learning styles.
Strong presentation and public speaking skills.
Established record of scholarly and professional contributions, including through publication, presentation, and professional service.
Excellent communication, organization, time management, problem-solving, and research skills.
Experience with automated library systems (such as Virtua, Alma/Primo) and common archival, special collections, and digital content management systems (such as ArchivesSpace, CONTENTdm, Islandora, etc).
Reading knowledge of one or more languages other than English, preferably in French, German, Spanish, Italian, Latin, or Dutch.

Essential Functions

Valid Driver’s License, and ability to successfully complete a Defensive Driving Course.  
Ability to work at a computer for up to 8 hours a day.
Ability to stoop, kneel, and crouch; to climb ladders and lift, carry, and reach overhead to support materials; to push and pull carts of varying weights; and to lift up to 30 pounds unassisted.
Ability to tolerate dusty environments.
Ability to tolerate temperatures of 60-65 degrees for short periods.

Apply

To view the full job description and apply, please visit: https://winterthurmuseum.applytojob.com/apply/Zsnq0wOMrM/Curator-Of-Special-Collections