[LIBJOBS] USA - New-York Historical Society - Vice President and Director of the Patricia D. Klingenstein Library

Job Title: Vice President and Director of the Patricia D. Klingenstein Library

 

Organizational Summary

 

The New-York Historical Society

 

The New-York Historical Society collects, preserves, and interprets American history and art for a broad national and international public. Since 1804, the Historical Society has assembled vast holdings of American paintings, sculpture, books, manuscripts, decorative arts, artifacts, architectural materials, prints, drawings, photography and ephemera that document the history of New York and the nation. The mission of the Historical Society is to use these collections to help the public understand the complex and diverse past behind the nation and world that we know today. The Historical Society engages a broad audience through a series of initiatives that enliven and illuminate the past, from groundbreaking exhibitions of history and art that capitalize on the Historical Society's extraordinary museum and library collections, to intellectually engaging programming and educational activities.

 

Library Collection

 

The Patricia D. Klingenstein Library at the New-York Historical Society is one of the oldest independent research libraries in the United States. Collection strengths include local history of New York City and State, colonial history, the Revolutionary War, American military and naval history, religions and religious movements of the 18th and 19th centuries, the Anglo-American slave trade and conditions of slavery in the United States, the Civil War, American biography and genealogy, American art and art patronage, the development of American architecture from the late-18th century to the present, 19th- and 20th-century portraiture and documentary photographs of New York City, and charitable organizations serving underserved groups in New York City including the homeless, widows and orphans.

 

Position Description

 

Reporting directly to the President and CEO, the Vice President and Director of the Patricia D. Klingenstein Library oversees the Library and is a member of the Historical Society's senior management team.  The Vice President/ Director of the Library will work closely with Senior Staff to carry out a strategy for improving the intellectual, visual, and physical access to the Library's holdings and for making the Historical Society the Nation's center of history scholarship.  

 

Responsibilities

 

·         Oversee the management of all aspects of Library operations;

·         Oversee and manage activities of Library managers;

·         Develop extensive knowledge of the Library's strengths and history;

·         Participate in institutional strategic planning;

·         Participate in Senior Staff meetings and activities;

·         Develop and oversee digitization projects and performance;

·         Plan, develop and carryout offsite storage operations;

·         Initiate and manage all collection management activities, including acquisitions program;

·         Oversee Aeon implementation;

·         Participate in and oversee activities of the Library Committee;

·         Represent the Library on all institutional management boards and committees, on IRLA and on other national or international collaborations;

·         Plan and oversee development and performance of major grants;

·         Develop relationships with private collectors to enhance the Historical Society's collections and develop digitization program for private collectors;

·         Participate in fundraising activities for Library;

·         Oversee management of institutional archives;

·         Work with staff on curatorial projects, as needed;

·         Develop library exhibitions to showcase selections from the Historical Society's permanent collection;

·         Work with local faculty and user community to assure positive public outreach;

·         Participate and oversee design of Library security installations, procedures and guidelines; and

·         Work with CEO and CFO to develop Library annual budget.

 

Qualifications

 

·         Librarian of great stature or an academic in a field, or in fields consistent with the Historical Society's Library collection who possesses superior credentials (the Ph.D. and/or at least ten years of experience are preferred);

·         Strong leadership management and team building skills including the ability to motivate, set goals, delegate and monitor effectiveness;

·         Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills;

·         Public presence and energy;

·         Capable of communicating great appreciation and enthusiasm for the Library collection, both internally and externally, through presentations to Board member and to the Historical Society's various publics; and

·         Skilled and effective fundraiser.

 

 

For consideration please send cover letter, resume and salary requirements to hr1@nyhistory.org. In the subject line please reference the job title. The New-York Historical Society is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

 

 

--

Henry Felix Raine

Director of Digital Programs and Library Technical Services

New-York Historical Society

170 Central Park West

New York, NY 10024

Voice: (212) 485-9257

henry.raine@nyhistory.org

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www.nyhistory.org/library/blog/