Yale University Library, Department of Area Studies and Humanities Research Support
Librarian for South & Southeast Asian Studies
Institution Type: | Library |
Location: | Connecticut, United States |
Position: | Librarian |
Librarian for South & Southeast Asian Studies
Library - Department of Area Studies and Humanities Research Support (DASHRS)
Internal Number: 69676BR
For a full job description and to apply please see: https://bit.ly/YaleCareers-69676BR
Position Focus:
The Librarian for South & Southeast Asian Studies supports the research and teaching mission of Yale as a liaison to the South Asian Studies Council and the Southeast Asian Studies Council at the MacMillan Center. The librarian reports to the Head, Area Studies Group, DASHRS.
The librarian develops strong working relationships with faculty, students, and affiliated researchers across departments, taking initiative to identify and meet their expectations for collections and services. In support of YUL’s public services mission, participates in research education and outreach, such as instruction, orientations, and tours. Provides advanced reference and research consultations, maintains online research guides, conducts collection development, and keeps abreast of relevant technology to support their work. May also have opportunities for involvement in outreach, instruction, exhibits, or collection development of archival and special collections and/or participation in digital initiatives. The librarian is responsible for selection, interpretation, and collection management of imprints in South & Southeast Asian languages. Additionally, the librarian is responsible for collecting materials published in the field of South Asian and Southeast Asian studies (primarily humanities disciplines) published in North America, Europe, and other imprint areas outside of the regions of study. Collection development responsibilities include budgeting and fund management, approval plan oversight, selection of materials in all formats, gift review, and electronic resource acquisition. Works collaboratively with members of DASHRS, colleagues across the Yale University Library system, and with other campus partners to support interdisciplinary teaching and research needs. Establishes and maintains good relationships with dealers, content providers, exchange partners, libraries, and other appropriate institutions in support of assigned areas. Contributes to department strategic planning; participates in YUL committees, task forces, and programs; and is active professionally through service in library organizations, research and publishing, or other means.
Yale University Library’s South Asia Collection dates to the appointment in 1841 of the first professor of Sanskrit, Edward Elbridge Salisbury. From the 1960s through the 1980s, the Library participated in the PL480 Library of Congress cooperative acquisitions program. For the past 20 years, the library has actively focused collecting in South Asian Studies to support of the growing and dynamic research and teaching needs of the South Asian Studies Council.
Starting in 1891, Yale was one of the first American universities to establish courses and library collections on the study of Southeast Asia, with historical collections focusing on Indonesia, Myanmar, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, and the Philippines. From the late 1940s to the present, collection development, teaching, and research interests have broadened to include the 11 countries of Southeast Asia.
This position will be assigned a rank of Librarian 1 (Grade 23) to 3 (Grade 25). Librarian ranks and promotion policies can be found at http://bit.ly/YULRanksPromotions.
Essential Duties:
1. Serves as subject specialist for relevant academic departments and students and faculty throughout the university involved in study of a specific world area. Provides research consultations, instruction sessions, in-person and virtual reference services, and other liaison librarian support. 2. Develops library collections in all appropriate formats (print, digital, audio-visual, etc.) through acquisitions from the relevant imprint area. Builds strong vendor relationships for this purpose. May also acquire materials published about the world area in other regions. 3. Raises awareness of collections through outreach efforts such as maintaining reading rooms, office hours, social media, exhibits, tours, mailing list messages, library workshops, and the sponsorship of academic conferences and lectures. 4. Creates and maintains web sites, online research guides, and other digital tools for research and teaching. 5. May work closely with, or directly supervises, staff who order and process collection materials. May supervise processing of special collections, including decisions on arrangement and description and oversight of finding aid creation. 6. May collaborate with relevant departments on projects related to collection preservation and digitization. 7. Collaborates with librarians, GIS specialists, archivists, special collection curators, etc. to support research and teaching. 8. May collaborate as appropriate with library staff engaged in fund-raising and development efforts. 9. Maintains networks of individuals and institutions located in relevant world areas to facilitate access to information and collections for Yale affiliates. 10. Maintains affiliation with a Council in the Macmillan Center for International and Area Studies at Yale and/or other related Yale programs and organizations, serving as official library representative when appropriate. Actively contributes to the academic activities of these organizations. 11. Participates in departmental library planning for research support and the collections program. Participates in library system-wide planning, committees, and working groups, and engages in collaborations and professional activities at Yale, as well as regionally and nationally. 12. May be required to assist with disaster recovery efforts. 13. May be assigned to work at West Campus location in West Haven, Connecticut. 14. May perform other duties as assigned.
Required Education and Experience:
1. Master's degree from an ALA-accredited library school and an advanced degree in a field related to the study of the relevant world area or an advanced degree in the study of the world area and relevant library experience. 2. Knowledge of the history of, and current trends in, scholarly research related to study of the relevant world area. 3. Excellent communication skills (reading, writing, speaking) in language(s) of the area. 4. Demonstrated excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communications and analytical ability. 5. Demonstrated record of designing projects and bringing them to a conclusion in a timely fashion. 6. Experience working collaboratively and independently with varied groups within a complex organization and rapidly changing, team environment. Yale University assigns ranks to librarian positions based on a combination of professional experience and accomplishments (see range assigned to this description as noted in the posting position title). Librarian ranking information can be found at: http://www.library.yale.edu/about/departments/lhr/rank.html
Required Skill/Ability 1: Demonstrated excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
Required Skill/Ability 2: Excellent communication skills (reading, writing, and speaking) in one of the indigenous languages of South and Southeast Asia, preferably Hindi, Bengali, Indonesian or Vietnamese.
Required Skill/Ability 3: Excellent organizational and analytical skills.
Required Skill/Ability 4: Demonstrated ability to design projects and bring them to conclusion in a timely fashion.
Required Skill/Ability 5: Demonstrated skill in providing high quality, user-centered research support services, preferably in an academic library.
Preferred Education, Experience and Skills: Doctorate in a field of South and Southeast Asian studies. Excellent reading knowledge of additional relevant languages, particularly Burmese, Sanskrit or Urdu. Experience teaching in a library or academic setting. Experience with software for citation management and creation of web content. Experience using archives or libraries in South or Southeast Asia.
Contact: |
To apply for this position please use the following link: https://bit.ly/YaleCareers-69676BR |
Website: | https://library.yale.edu/ |
Primary Category: | Area Studies |
Secondary Categories: | South Asian History / Studies Southeast Asian History / Studies |
Posting Date: | 12/21/2021 |
Closing Date | 03/20/2022 |