Deadline to apply: March 18, 2022, 11:59pm
Assistant Librarian or Associate Librarian (tenure track)
Duration: three years, with possibility of renewal
Salary minimum: salary commensurate with experience
The McGill Library seeks an innovative, service-oriented, and collaborative professional archivist/liaison librarian to curate the Moshe Safdie Archive and perform additional liaison duties in Rare Books and Special Collections (RBSC). The position provides a range of library, archival, and information services to support research and teaching; contributes to comprehensive collections management and curation of materials; and actively promotes the collections through outreach, exhibition, and communications. The incumbent is a member of the ROAAr (Rare & Special Collections, Osler, Art and Archives) and undertakes fundraising, development, and grant applications and administration to further support of the library and promotion of the ROAAr collections.
ROAAr collections actively support the teaching, learning and research needs of McGill students and faculty from all disciplines, and an international research community. The primary RBSC holdings are in the humanities and social sciences and in particular Canadiana, history, literature, the history of ideas, travel and exploration, the history of the book, art and architecture form the core of the collection. The Moshe Safdie Archive is the largest of the 100+ fonds of Canadian architects administered by the Canadian Architecture Collection (CAC) and one of the most extensive individual collections of architectural documentation in Canada. Moshe Safdie, the McGill-trained architect, author and educator, is ranked among the major architects practicing globally. Currently consisting of more than 80,000 architectural drawings, 140 linear metres of project files, plus sketchbooks, photographic documentation, and architectural models, the Moshe Safdie Archive records the progression of Safdie's career from his first unpublished McGill University papers to Safdie Architects' latest projects.
Located in Montréal, one of the world’s great multicultural and multilingual cities, McGill University is internationally recognized for its excellence as a leading institution of higher education and research. For nearly 200 years, through the work of dedicated people, McGill has been breaking ground in diverse fields and contributing solutions to some of the world’s most significant issues. McGill is also the most internationally diverse research-intensive university in Canada, with over 32% of its students coming to McGill from more than 150 countries. The University systematically appears on the annual list of the best employers in Montreal.
The McGill Library is committed to delivering high-quality, innovative information products, services and programs that focus on client needs and support the University's strategic mission and directions. The Library proactively supports the teaching,
learning and research needs of faculty and students to fulfill McGill’s strategic mission of excellence as a research-intensive, student-centred university.
The McGill Library has the largest collection in Quebec and is one of Canada’s largest academic libraries with over six million monograph titles and 150,000 e-journals and databases. The Library is a member of the Canadian Association of Research Libraries (CARL), the Association of Research Libraries (ARL), the Bureau de coopération interuniversitaire (BCI), the Center for Research Libraries (CRL), and the HathiTrust Digital Library.
Information about the University and the McGill Library can be found on the University’s web site. As a tenure stream appointee, the successful candidate is expected to satisfy the requirements in the Regulations Relating to the Employment of Librarian Staff
Primary Purpose of Position
To assist in the provision of a range of library and information services and collections to support teaching, learning, research, and outreach activities.
Duties
Duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
Curate and make accessible the Moshe Safdie Archive. This includes managing, processing, arranging, and describing the collection for entry into McGill’s content management system (AtoM) and/or Sofia Discovery tool, as well as space management. Curate additional RBSC collections as assigned.
Integrate RBSC collections into University teaching, learning, and research, and to the broader research community. Develop and maintain communication links and appropriate liaison with relevant University units. Work closely with McGill’s School of Architecture on initiatives aimed at enhancing interaction with the Safdie Archive, including: student use of original archival materials; jointly organized exhibits; and support for virtual public lectures.
Engage with donors and undertake fundraising, development and outreach activities to build and improve access to Library collections, in coordination with the unit Head. Seek grants and other funding support to further develop, promote, and protect collections.
Advise researchers on discovering, accessing and using effectively the full range of library and information resources available. Conduct information literacy/skills classes and training programs for relevant audiences.
Animate the collection through various means, including: communications (e.g. publications and social media), organizing visits and workshops with classes and other groups; developing regular exhibitions in Library or McGill campus venues, or beyond, including external museum loans.
Work in partnership with ROAAr units and other library and University staff and sections, as well as external groups on specific projects.
Assist in the development of the Library’s collections to ensure teaching, learning and research needs are met.
Assist in ensuring that proper conservation and preservation standards are followed for all formats and media types.
Contribute to campus-wide development of a strategy for long-term preservation of born-digital files, with particular emphasis on architectural CAD (computer-aided design) files.
Represent the library on various library, faculty and university-wide committees as required.
Engage in scholarly activities and professional service and develop a dossier for promotion and tenure, consistent with University Regulations.
Additional duties as assigned based on individual knowledge and skills.
Reporting relationship
The position reports to the Assistant Head Librarian, Rare Books & Special Collections.
Required:
A minimum of a bachelor’s degree and recognized professional library qualifications or an equivalent accredited degree with formal training in archival theory and practice is required. Advanced study or knowledge of 20th-century architecture or design history is also highly desirable.
Knowledge of archival collection arrangement and collections management tools.
Professional experience in an academic, special or research library, or equivalent relevant experience is highly desirable.
Knowledge of and experience in the use of relevant information resources, including electronic and networked resources, and information and communications technology.
Ability to conduct information skills classes for small and large groups.
Familiarity with copyright and/or privacy legislation as required for consultation, reproduction, and dissemination of collections.
Organized, with high attention to detail. Ability to work independently and as part of a team; prioritize and balance multiple projects.
Excellent oral and written communication skills, including abilities in both English and French.
Capacity to supervise other staff and coordinate workflows.
Applications should address the above selection criteria, be accompanied by a letter of interest, curriculum vitae, and the names and addresses of three referees.