Oregon Legal Research Blog
Excerpts from the full Rare Book Librarian job posting, which you can find at the Yale University careers website:
Required Education and Experience
Master’s degree from an ALA-accredited program for library and information science.
Required Skill/Ability:
Minimum of five years professional experience in special collections librarianship or related fields such as the rare book trade.
Demonstrated ability with current information technologies, publishing formats, and databases.
Strong communication and interpersonal skills, emotionally intelligent and positive attitude. Demonstrated ability to work collegially and collaboratively across units. Demonstrated ability to think independently, consult appropriately, and solve problems.
Preferred Education, Experience and Skills:
JD from ABA-accredited law school or advanced degree in history. Demonstrated knowledge of legal history. Demonstrated reading proficiency in French, German, Italian, Spanish, or Latin. Experience with digitization of historical materials and creation of online exhibits and guides, and print catalogs or monographs.
Description:
Under the general direction of the Associate Director for Collections and Access, the Rare Book Librarian oversees activities of the Law Library relating to rare books, preservation, and legal history. The Rare Book Librarian promotes use of rare books and understanding of legal history through collection development and management, preservation activities, exhibits, publications, instruction, and participation in Law Library reference and public service activities.
The Rare Book Librarian gives reference and research assistance to users of the Law Library Paskus Danziger Rare Book Room.
Develops the Law Library rare book collection and related collections such as the Law Faculty Collection.
Works with the Associate Director for Collections and Access to develop collection development goals for the rare book and related collections.
Works with rare book dealers to achieve collection development goals.
Works closely with Rare Book Cataloger on issues relating to cataloging and coverage of Rare Book Room.
Helps to advise the legal archives program at Manuscripts & Archives, Sterling Memorial Library.
Oversees preservation and book repair operations of Law Library and works closely with Collections and Access Services staff on preservation-related issues.
Creates exhibits, exhibition catalogs, web sites, guides, bibliographies, and other publications relating to rare books and legal history.
Works with Law Library staff, vendors, and other outside entities on reprint publications and digitization projects drawing on Law Library collections.
Manages and maintains the Rare Book Room and related collections.
Works with Collections and Access Services staff on stack maintenance, space, and circulation issues, including transfer of materials to the Library Shelving Facility.
Serves as liaison to Law School faculty interested in using rare book collection materials in teaching and classroom activities.
May co-teach courses relating to legal history research and lecture to classes interested in historical collections.
Serves as a referral person for reference questions relating to archives and historical collections.
Performs outreach to Law School and University faculty and students, the University Library, researchers and scholars throughout the world, alumni, and potential donors, relating to Law Library rare and historical collections and related services.
Serves on Law Library committees, working groups, and task forces and may serve on University Library groups as well.
Participates actively in professional activities relating to rare books, preservation, law librarianship, and legal history.
Essential Duties
1. Oversees preservation and book repair operations of the Law Library and works closely with Collections and Access Services staff on preservation-related issues.
2. Creates exhibits, exhibition catalogs, web sites, guides, bibliographies, and other publications relating to rare books and legal history.
3. Works with Law Library staff, vendors, and other outside entities on reprint publications and digitization projects drawing on Law Library collections.
4. Manages and maintains the Rare Book Room and related collections. Works with Collections and Access Services staff on stack maintenance, space, and circulation issues, including transfer of materials to the Library Shelving Facility.
5. Serves as liaison to Law School faculty interested in using rare book collection materials in teaching and classroom activities. May co-teach courses relating to legal history research and lecture to classes interested in historical collections.
6. Serves as a referral person for reference questions relating to archives and historical collections. Performs outreach to Law School and University faculty and students, the University Library, researchers and scholars throughout the world, alumni, and potential donors, relating to Law Library rare and historical collections and related services.
7. Serves on Law Library committees, working groups, and task forces and may serve on University Library groups as well.
8. Participates actively in professional activities relating to rare books,preservation, law librarianship, and legal history.