Library Director, Winterthur Museum, Garden, & Library, Wilmington, DE
Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library is seeking an experienced library professional and scholar to serve as Library Director for the Winterthur Library, the preeminent research library for the study of material culture, decorative arts, and interdisciplinary cultural heritage in the United States. The Library Director position offers a unique opportunity to join an institution at an exciting time of strategic growth, as well as collaborate with Winterthur leadership and staff to craft a fresh vision and culture. The Library Director reports to the Interim Director of Academic Programs and will be a member of the senior leadership team. They will have an opportunity to shape a staffing plan to complement and reinforce the existing full-time staff of two employees.
The ideal candidate is an innovative and service-oriented leader who values library collections work and historical inquiry, and who possesses vision and extensive library and information management skills. The Library Director will work closely with Library staff and collaborate often with conservators, curators, educators, and the full range of talented staff and volunteers at Winterthur.
The Library Director is a highly visible advocate for the Library both within Winterthur and outside the institution and has an opportunity to build on strong relationships with communities ranging from schoolchildren to senior scholars. They will teach and mentor students in two world-class graduate programs, the Winterthur Program in American Material Culture (WPAMC) and the Winterthur/University of Delaware Program in Art Conservation (WUDPAC). They will collaborate with museum educators to creatively engage a wide range of audiences with library materials. They will partner with conservation staff to support emerging professionals through initiatives such as the HBCU Library Alliance Summer Conservation Internship program, and they provide key support for scholars and professionals who use the Library in intellectually groundbreaking ways through the visiting Research Fellowship program.
The Library Director will work with leadership, staff and Trustees to develop comprehensive strategies for philanthropy and other forms of support. These include innovation in areas such as digital collections development, scholarly communication,
user-centered services, rights management, archival processing, collections development, facilities management and collections care, diversity and inclusion, change management, employee engagement, and the ongoing professional development of staff.
We encourage individuals of diverse backgrounds, cultures, experiences, identities, and abilities to apply for this extraordinary opportunity to join an evolving Library and Winterthur community whose core values include agility, excellence, innovation, integrity, inclusion, and transparency. In sum, we’re looking for someone who can help build a vibrant future for the library collections and transform their vision into tangible outcomes.
Formally founded in 1951, and established within the current space in 1969, the Winterthur Library is a globally recognized independent research library and is one of the most important centers of scholarship and learning about material culture, decorative
arts, domestic life, craft, conservation, and materials relating to American history in a global context. Winterthur’s library resides in the Louise du Pont Crowninshield building on the Winterthur campus located within 60 acres of naturalistic gardens nestled
in the Brandywine Valley and near the vibrant city of Wilmington, Delaware.
Principal Responsibilities
Minimum Experience: Master of Library Science (MLS, MSLS, MLIS) with 5-8 years progressive work experience in a research library or with special collections, but individuals with other advanced degrees and recent related library experience and demonstrated management skills are encouraged to apply.
Preferred Experience: Master of Library Science (MLS, MSLS, MLIS) plus advanced studies in History, American Studies, Art History, Art Conservation of related field. 8+ years of progressive work experience in a research library or special collections
Knowledge/Skills:
Compensation: Starting at $80,000
Benefits: Including, but not limited to, medical, dental, and vision insurance; generous paid time off plan; 403b with employer match for eligible employees.
Work Schedule: Monday–Friday 8:30 am–4:30 pm, plus one additional monthly Saturday. Occasional evening and weekend work as necessary to accommodate programs, meetings and events.
***Review of applications will begin December 3rd
Apply at: https://winterthurmuseum.applytojob.com/apply/cx7TRw9oHC/Library-Director?source=ARLIS