Assistant Rare Books Curator
Job description
Job Title: Assistant Rare Books Curator
Department: University Library and Collections
Grade: Grade 6
Salary range: £28,929 - £35,308 per annum
Working arrangements: 35 hours per week with the option of working on average 1 day a week off campus
Duration of contract: 36 months from start date
Closing Date: Monday 29th May 2023
Potential Interview Date: Tuesday 6th July 2023
The University
At Durham University we are proud of our people. A globally outstanding centre of educational excellence, a collegiate community of extraordinary people, a unique and historic setting – Durham is a university like no other. Across the University we have a huge variety of roles and career opportunities, which together make us a large and successful community, which is a key hub of activity within our region and nationally. Whether you are at the very start, middle or end of your career, there is a role for you. We believe everyone has their own unique skills to offer. We would be thrilled if you would consider joining our thriving University. Further information about the University can be found here
The Role and the Department
What you will be doing
Working closely with the Rare Book Curator, the Assistant Rare Books Curator will support the development, management, and promotion of materials printed before 1830 and modern special collections. We want to significantly expand our current academic teaching programme and community engagement activities. This role therefore offers a unique opportunity to think and work creatively with experienced and knowledgeable colleagues to make our early printed books accessible to new and existing audiences through delivering undergraduate and postgraduate workshops, providing teaching support and facilitating access to our collections for researchers and members of the public.
With the recent introduction of a new Library Management System (Alma/Primo VE), the postholder will also help review the policies and procedures relating to cataloguing rare materials, and how these appear in our online catalogue. Improving the metadata of our printed collections and cataloguing new acquisitions is a key part of the role.
The role’s responsibilities include:
Facilitating intellectual and physical access to our printed collections by contributing to the development and delivery of services, events, and resources to support research, educational and engagement activities for a range of audiences;
Creating and enhancing early printed book and special collections catalogue records to full DCRM(B) standard using MARC21 and LC authority files, incorporating copy-specific information to ensure accessibility;
Engaging with current issues and developments in the field of rare books librarianship to inform working practices and standards , which may also involve attending training and networking events outside the University;
Supporting collections care in collaboration with colleagues, including Conservation;
Supporting the development of the early printed book collections at Palace Green Library;
In cooperation with senior colleagues, providing advice to academic and non-academic researchers, students, and members of the public, on services and collections;
Occasionally supervising interns or volunteers working on or with printed book collections
Any other reasonable duties.
The postholder also contributes to the delivery of the public service in the search room at Palace Green Library to facilitate research access to the collections. The role may occasionally require working in the evening or at the weekend.
University Library and Collections is currently taking part in a hybrid working pilot scheme, which means that there may be an opportunity to work from home on average for one day a week, depending on business needs. There is also the opportunity to enrol in our flexi-time scheme.
We are committed to continuing professional development and some training can be offered to help the successful candidate succeed in this role.
About the University Library and Collections
In January 1833 Bishop William van Mildert donated 160 volumes to found the University Library, located on Palace Green and in the same year Durham’s first university museum opened to the public. Today the University Library and Collections offers spaces, collections, expertise and services supporting education, research, the wider student experience and cultural and educational outreach. Collections and services operate across a wide estate of libraries, archives, museums, galleries and exhibition spaces, including the UNESCO World Heritage Site on Palace Green. Our nationally and internationally recognised collections span early books, archives and manuscripts, museum objects and art, print and electronic materials and include a repository of digitised materials, research outputs and research data. Our users encompass anyone engaging with our collections, services and facilities in person or remotely, this includes university staff, researchers from around the globe, students in higher education from Durham and other universities, school pupils and teachers, Durham’s local residents and tourists.
We are an ambitious and developing team with a focus on providing the best experience for our students, researchers and the wider community. We are valued partners working with students, professional services and academics across the University, and professionals and organisations regionally, nationally and internationally.
The University Library and Collections is made up of six sections: Collections; Customer Services; Education, Learning and Engagement; Research and Systems; Museums, Galleries and Exhibitions; and Finance and Administration. Staff work flexibly between the sections, 7 enabled by cross-cutting groups, Collections, Education, Engagement, User Experience, Operations, Research, Staff Development and a Programme and Project Steering Group.
The Collections team, under the leadership of the Head of Collections, has broad responsibility for the acquisition, cataloguing, management, preservation and conservation of collections, including modern print and electronic collections, archives, and rare books. Their work also includes the administration of reading lists, inter-library loan, and the provision of search-room and enquiry services for archives and special collections. Their expertise and collections knowledge (alongside colleagues across the department, for example in our museums team) are used in support of learning, teaching, research and public engagement activities.
The Archives and Special Collections at Palace Green Library comprise exceptionally rich and varied material, dating from early medieval to modern, and including manuscripts, archives, rare and open access books, maps, prints, photographs, born-digital and digitised material and some objects.
Working at Durham
A competitive salary is only one part of the many fantastic benefits you will receive if you join the University: you will also receive access to the following fantastic benefits:
- 27 Days annual leave per year in addition to 8 public holidays and 4 customary days per year – a total of 39 days per year. The University closes between Christmas and New Year.
- No matter how you travel to work, we have you covered. We have parking across campus, a cycle to work scheme which helps you to buy a bike and discount with local bus and train companies.
- Lots of support for health and wellbeing including discounted membership for our state of the art sport and gym facilities and access to a 24-7 Employee Assistance Programme.
- On site nursery is available and children’s clubs in the summer holidays.
- Family friendly policies, including maternity and adoption leave, which are among the most generous in the higher education sector (and likely above and beyond many employers).
- There is a genuine commitment to developing our colleagues professionally and personally. There is a comprehensive range of development courses, apprenticeships and access to qualifications and routes to develop your career in the University. All staff have dedicated annual time to concentrate on their personal development opportunities.
- The opportunity to take part in staff volunteering activities to make a difference in the local community
- Discounts are available via our benefits portal including; money off at supermarkets, high street retailers, IT products such as Apple, the cinema and days out at various attractions.
- We offer generous pension schemes.
Durham University is committed to equality diversity, inclusion and values
Our collective aim is to create an open and inclusive environment where everyone can reach their full potential and we believe our staff should reflect the diversity of the global community in which we work. As a University equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) are a key part of the University’s Strategy and a central part of everything we do. We also live by our values and our Staff Code of Conduct. At Durham we actively work towards providing an environment where our staff and students can study, work and live in a community which is supportive and inclusive. It’s important to us that all of our colleagues are aligned to both our values and commitment to EDI.
We welcome and encourage applications from members of groups who are under-represented in our work force including people with disabilities, women and black, Asian and minority ethnic communities. If you have taken time out of your career, and you feel it relevant, let us know about it in your application. If you are a candidate with a disability, we are committed to ensuring fair treatment throughout the recruitment process. We will make adjustments to support the interview process wherever it is reasonable to do so and, where successful, reasonable adjustments will be made to support people within their role.
What you need to demonstrate when you apply/Person Specification
When you apply it is important that you let us know what skills/experience you have from a similar role and/or what skills/experience you have which would make you right for this role. Further information about the role and responsibilities is at the end of this job description. Where a criteria has an asterisk* next to it, it may be given additional weighting when your application is considered.
Your application should cover the following criteria:
Essential Criteria
- Excellent oral and written communication skills and the ability to develop effective working relationships, both internally and externally.
- Strong digital competence with demonstrable skills in using core digital tools including internet, email, , Library Management Systems, such as Alma, and online bibliographic resources used in rare books cataloguing digital communication tools, and Microsoft 365 applications .
- Post-graduate degree in Library and Information Studies or in a subject relevant to working with early printed books (or equivalent experience)
- Evidence of personal development to maintain skills, knowledge, and understanding of current issues relevant to early printed books librarianship
- Proficiency in rare book cataloguing to DCRM(B) standard using MARC21, including the ability to interpret and accurately describe copy specific elements such as historical bindings and provenance information
- Demonstrable ability to provide advice and guidance to a range of customers and colleagues
- Some experience of implementing policy and procedures and involvement with future changes for a service area.
- Ability to solve problems as part of a team and resolve issues, plan solutions and make pragmatic decisions.
- Ability to effectively network and exchange advice and information for development purposes.
- Ability to contribute to planning at operational level.
Desirable Criteria
- Basic proficiency in one or more European languages other than English
- Good general understanding of the history of the printed book, particularly in Western Europe from the 15th to the early 20th century
- Relevant experience in a similar role / environment, including working as part of a team
- Some experience of supervising volunteers
- A subject specialism relevant to the printed collections at Palace Green Library
How to apply
To progress to the assessment stage, candidates must evidence each of the essential criteria required for the role in the person specification above. Where there are desirable criteria we would also urge you to provide any relevant evidence. Please don’t forget to check if there is any weighted criteria (see above).
While some criteria will be considered at the shortlisting stage, other criteria may be considered later in the assessment process, such as questions at interview.
Submitting your application
What you are required to submit:
- A CV
- A succinct covering letter which includes clear examples of how you meet the essential and desirable criteria within the Person Specification
Contact details
If you would like to have a chat or ask any questions about the role, Danielle Westerhof, Rare Books Curator, would be happy to speak to you. Please email her at [email protected].
Typical Role Requirements
Service Delivery
- Specialist support with problem solving and query handling, in particular in an archives and special collections setting
- Interpret, curate, and present artefacts, information, data, and resources, for example for teaching and community engagement purposes
- Implement and monitor protocols, procedures, processes and regulations
- Carry out more in-depth investigations, searches and research information and data to identify trends and patterns, including in the field of rare books librarianship and history of the book, and collections-focused research that may result in publication
- Take responsibility for day-to-day decision making within own area of responsibility for operational aspects of service delivery, translating external requirements into practical application and advice
- Record data and information accurately, provide reports and distribute information to key stakeholders in the process of service.
- Responsible, alongside the Rare Books Curator, for curating the set-up, order, display and information pertinent to the service area and / or activity, for example by contributing to exhibitions, teaching and engagement activities, and general promotion of the collections and service
- Ensure the safety and security of service and public areas, responding to incidents and providing reports
- A commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and the University’s values.
Planning and Organising
- Reactive and proactive service provision with others to deliver an excellent stakeholder experience.
- Support the capture of business requirements from users and work with colleagues to translate these into recommendations for future service provision.
- Identify potential service improvements, make recommendations.
- Prepare written reports for consideration by management where required
Communication/Networking/Stakeholders
- Relationship building, network participation internally and externally to build and update knowledge and skills.
- Engage with external peers and specialists in rare books librarianship and subject areas represented in our printed collections to exchange knowledge and information.
- Supervises service users and stakeholders undertaking activities, events, project work and exhibitions.
- Contribute to business meetings, working groups and committees to help shape service delivery and stakeholder expectations.
- Contribute to frontline stakeholder services at Palace Green Library
- Act as a recognised point of contact between the University and key internal and external stakeholders, including donors and employers.
- Carry out internal and external presentations and public relations events promoting the Durham reputation, and encouraging participation and income generation.
- Gather, record, and analyse customer feedback from all service users.
- Develop, plan, deliver, and teach classes, events and activities for students, staff and visitors, including routine lectures and workshops, to raise awareness of the printed book collections
- Work with other functional areas and families across the University to ensure the most diverse and accessible promotion of services, events and activities
- Use a range of digital media and tools to communicate with a diverse range of key stakeholders, both verbally and in written format
- Deliver routine workshops in areas of specialism to undergraduate and postgraduate students.
Knowledge and Experience
- Experienced practitioner in the area of early printed book librarianship, planning and co-ordinating of projects and work streams with interrelated activities.
- Plan and organise own workload with or without involvement with project work streams.
- Any other reasonable duties.
Please note that in submitting your application Durham University will be processing your data. We would ask you to consider the relevant University Privacy Statement https://www.durham.ac.uk/about-us/governance/information-governance/privacy-notices/privacy-notices/job-applicants/ which provides information on the collation, storing and use of data.
SECONDMENT
The post is full time, fixed term for a 3 year period and may be offered on an internal secondment basis subject to the agreement of the current line manager.
When appointing to this role the University must ensure that it meets any applicable immigration requirements, including salary thresholds which are applicable to some visas.
