[Web4lib] Cornell University Library Vacancy

[Michele Hegedus]

The following academic position is available at Cornell University Library:

Curator of the Wason East Asia Collection
Cornell University Library

The Opportunity:  Cornell University Library seeks an experienced and 
dynamic senior librarian to serve as Curator of its Wason Collection on 
East Asia. The Wason Collection is one of North America's largest research 
collections on East Asia, with more than 550,000 volumes.  Long recognized 
for its extensive holdings on China, the Japanese collection is now one of 
the fastest growing in North America, and efforts are underway to create a 
strong Korean language research collection.  Applicants must have 
appropriate experience and the ability to aggressively develop the 
Collection and to extend its use as part of expanding teaching and research 
at Cornell.  The Curator must also serve as a strong advocate for the 
Collection, campus-wide and globally.

The Wason Curator leads a program dedicated to supporting excellence in 
teaching, learning, and research, and success in these efforts requires 
close cooperation with the faculty of Cornell's East Asia 
Program.  Enthusiastic advocacy on behalf of the Collection and its users, 
including faculty, undergraduate and graduate students, and visiting 
scholars is essential in realizing the full potential of this distinguished 
curatorship.  Success also requires commitment to the international and 
multi-cultural nature of Cornell's programs and contribution to the 
evolving scope of the University's global mission.

Staffing of the Wason Collection includes individuals responsible for 
selection of materials supporting Chinese, Japanese, and Korean 
studies.  The Wason Curator will be expected to exercise leadership in the 
selection of all materials for Chinese studies.  Technical service support 
for the Collection is provided centrally.  Rare items of unique value are 
maintained by the Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections.  While 
continuing to emphasize the importance of traditional formats, the Curator 
should also promote digital initiatives, expanding the Collection and its 
use, and promoting awareness of its strengths and services.  Enhancing the 
Collection also requires active participation in seeking external funding 
and in developing collaborative partnerships worldwide.

Duties and Responsibilities:  The curator will report to the Associate 
University Librarian for Instruction, Research, and Information Services 
(IRIS), the library's largest organizational entity. Exercising general 
responsibility for supervising and coordinating the department's 
activities, the Wason Curator hires and supervises the Collection's staff, 
plans and manages its budget, interprets general library policies as they 
relate to the Collection, contributes to reference and instruction related 
to East Asia in general and China in particular, and serves as principal 
liaison both with other library departments and with faculty and visiting 
scholars.  The Wason Curator has principal responsibility for selection of 
Chinese language materials in tandem with the Chinese Studies Bibliographer 
and supports the selection of Western, Japanese, and Korean language 
materials.  In addition, the Curator advises the Library Technical Services 
on the ordering and cataloging of East Asian materials.

The Curator works closely with the faculty and students of Cornell's East 
Asia Program in developing holdings and in providing necessary support for 
the Program's research and teaching activities.  Appropriately qualified 
candidates wishing to offer an annual course in East Asian Research Sources 
and Methods will also be considered for an adjunct faculty appointment.

In addition to these specific responsibilities, the Curator will be 
expected to actively contribute to both the overall goals of the Cornell 
University Library and to the larger field of East Asia librarianship on 
the national and international level.

Requirements:  A professional degree in librarianship or an advanced degree 
in Chinese studies.  Demonstrated administrative and supervisory skills and 
extensive experience, including six years in a progressively responsible 
role in the Asian collection of a research library or the 
equivalent.  Demonstrated success in collection building, promoting digital 
initiatives, and soliciting external funding.  Fluency in both written and 
spoken Chinese, as well as excellent verbal and written communication 
skills in English.  Evidence of strong knowledge of current research trends 
and methods in Chinese studies.

A record of initiative, leadership, personnel management skills, and 
collegial good will and enthusiasm for cooperative endeavors involving 
librarians, faculty, and students are all essential for the successful 
candidate.

Benefits: Comprehensive benefits package including 22 vacation days, 11 
paid holidays, health insurance, life insurance, and university retirement 
contributions (TIAA-CREF and other options).  Professional travel funding 
available.

Application Procedure:  To apply for this position go to 
http://www.ohr.cornell.edu/jobs/, search under the job category of 
Librarians, and select posting number 05138.    Follow the instructions for 
online submission. Please include a cover letter, resume, and the names, 
phone numbers, and addresses for three references.  Applications requested 
by April 1, 2006.  Review of applications will begin immediately and will 
continue until the position is filled.  Salary will be competitive and 
commensurate with experience.

For further information, contact Susan Markowitz, Director of Library Human 
Resources, 201 Olin Library, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853-5301.

Cornell University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer 
strongly committed to diversity.
We value qualified candidates who can bring to our community a variety of 
backgrounds and experiences.


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Michele Hegedus
Library Administration
201 Olin Library
(607) 255-5181
(607) 255-6788 Fax