Global Black Studies Librarian
Brown University
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Job Description:
Brown University Library is a dynamic center of scholarship and academic community, and a vital contributor to Brown's mission as a distinctive, diverse, and world-class research university. Through its foundational services and distinctive programs, the Library fuels the intellectual creativity and academic community that is Brown's hallmark. Reflecting Brown's interdisciplinary ethos, the Library is a highly collaborative organization across individual content area portfolios and Library departments, and through partnership with other academic and administrative units at the University. Exemplifying the University's values of academic freedom, open inquiry, and advancing diversity and inclusion in pursuit of academic excellence, the Library seeks outstanding professionals with a wide array of backgrounds, experiences, and abilities.
The Global Black Studies Librarian is a subject specialist position that contributes expertise and provides support for research and education on the history, politics, and cultures of African-descended people in the United States and globally. Beyond the US, Brown has historic academic strengths relating to the African- diasporic world in Brazil, the Caribbean, and Lusophone Africa, with interest and activity in other parts of Africa and areas of the world continuing to grow. In strong partnership with academic units including but not limited to the Department of Africana Studies, the Center for the Study of Race and Ethnicity in America, and the Ruth J. Simmons Center for the Study of Slavery and Justice, and engaging with faculty and students across the arts, humanities, and social sciences, the position's core functions include library-based instruction on resources and research methods, classroom collaborations with faculty, reference and consultation support, maintaining subject-area excellence in general collections through an anti-racist lens, and collaborating to build special collections and archival resources following non-colonial and non-extractive best practices.
The Global Black Studies Librarian is a member of the Library's Academic Engagement department and reports to the Director of Academic Engagement. The position is also part of the John Hay Library's curatorial team for special collections and archives relating to Black studies and the Black diaspora. Helping to advance the Library's strong and growing emphasis on Black Digital Humanities, the position lends expertise to digital scholarship projects and publications. The Global Black Studies Librarian carries out the work of the position with actions that foster anti-racist, diverse, equitable, and inclusive practices.
The Brown University Library is open to a broad range of ways and contexts in which candidates might demonstrate how they meet these qualifications through work experience, coursework, community involvement work, and life experiences.Please use your cover letter to address how your combination of expertise, experience, and skills are relevant to the work described, addressing each of the required qualifications.
This position will be hired at a Librarian II rank in the Brown University Library's Program for Library Professionals, a professional development program whose aim is to support the advancement of career professionals.
Education and Experience
Required
• ALA-accredited master's degree in library or information science or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in an academic library, cultural heritage setting, or higher education institution in a teaching, administration, or research role.
• Experience with or degree in Black Studies or in a disciplinary field (Anthropology, Art History, History, Sociology etc.) with a specialization in African Americans and/or the Global Black diaspora.
• Fluency with information resources in assigned subject areas.
• Experience evaluating books and manuscripts for acquisition
• Experience with collection-based instruction, including critical evaluation of source materials.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, inclusion, and accessibility and to advancing these values in instruction, engagement, and professional practice.
Preferred
• Curatorial experience, including working with donors and rare book and manuscript dealers preferred
• Experience promoting the use of primary sources through exhibitions, programming, and other outreach.
• Experience with digital scholarship initiatives.
• Reading proficiency in modern languages relevant to Brown University Library holdings, such as French, Portuguese and Creole.
• Knowledge of current research trends and information literacy techniques.
Job Competencies
• Excellence in the following skills: verbal and written communication, interpersonal, planning,organizational, and analytical.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion at every level of the University, andunderstanding of the contributions a diverse workforce brings to the workplace.
• Demonstrated success in delivering effective instruction and research support independently and in a team-based environment.
• Demonstrated ability to provide effective, inclusive, and collaborative curatorial and research services consistent with professional best practices.
• Strong customer-service orientation and commitment to excellent public services, improving the library user experience, and continuous improvement through assessment.
• Demonstrated ability to work cooperatively in a diverse, dynamic, team setting and to balance multiple competing priorities.
All offers of employment are contingent upon a criminal background check and education verification satisfactory to Brown University.
Best consideration date: 4/28/2025
Benefits of Working at Brown:
Information on the Benefits of Working at Brown can be found here .
Recruiting Start Date:
2025-03-03
Job Posting Title:
Global Black Studies Librarian
Department:
University Library
Grade:
Grade 10
Worker Type:
Employee
Worker Sub-Type :
Regular
Time Type:
Full time
Scheduled Weekly Hours:
37.5
Position Work Location:
Hybrid Eligible
Statement on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion:
All positions require demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with faculty, staff, students, and other Brown and community stakeholders with diverse perspectives and demonstrated ability to contribute to an inclusive environment.
Submission Guidelines:
Please note that in order to be considered an applicant for any staff position at Brown University you must submit an application form for each position for which you believe you are qualified. Applications are not kept on file for future positions. Please include a cover letter and resume with each position application.
Still Have Questions?
If you have any questions you may contact .
EEO Statement:
Brown University is an E-Verify Employer.
As an EEO/AA employer , Brown University provides equal opportunity and prohibits discrimination, harassment and retaliation based upon a person's race, color, religion, sex, age, national or ethnic origin, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or any other characteristic protected under applicable law, and caste, which is protected by our University policies.
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Date Posted: 06 April 2025
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