Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance

Reference Librarian and African American History Subject Specialist

The Library Company of Philadelphia seeks a Reference Librarian and African American History Subject Specialist. As Reference Librarian, she or he will work as part of a team assisting all readers with our printed special collections in the Scheide Reading Room. As a subject specialist, the Reference Librarian will be the primary voice on staff to assist readers with the use of our African American history resources in the library. She or he will also provide support for the Director of our Program in African American History to promote greater awareness and use of this renowned collection. 

Duties include:   

  • Providing research assistance to all library users
  • Assisting fellows and readers in using the African American history collection 
  • Providing instruction on digital resources
  • Tracking collections use in the Koha ILS circulation module
  • Paging and re-shelving collection materials
  • Answering remote reference inquiries via phone, email, etc. 
  • Providing on-site support for the Director of the Program in African American History and for PAAH activities, such as public programs, the annual month-long Mellon Scholars summer program, and the selection of PAAH fellows 
  • Developing the African American history collection by recommending acquisitions of rare books and graphics 
  • Providing support to manage the Fellowship program 
  • Compiling monthly and yearly statistics as needed  
  • Writing content for the LCP website, newsletter, annual report, etc. 

Qualifications: B.A. required, M.A. or M.L.I.S. preferred; experience working with the public and handling special collections in a library setting desired; demonstrated writing ability; good verbal communication; ability to work in a team and individually; ability to work on several projects simultaneously. 

 

The Library Company of Philadelphia is an equal opportunity employer, dedicated to a policy of nondiscrimination in employment on any basis including race, creed, color, age, sex, gender, religion or national origin. Successful applicants will be asked to show proof that they can legally work in the U.S. 

  

Founded in 1731, the Library Company of Philadelphia is an independent research library concentrating on American society and culture from the 17th through the 19th centuries. Free and open to the public, the Library Company houses an extensive non-circulating collection of rare books, manuscripts, broadsides, ephemera, prints, photographs, and works of art. Our mission is to foster scholarship in and increase public understanding of American history before 1900 by preserving and interpreting the valuable materials in our care. The Library Company connects with thousands of visitors annually, ensuring that the lessons of the past will continue to amaze, instruct, and inspire future generations. We serve a diverse constituency throughout Philadelphia and the nation, offering comprehensive reader services, an internationally renowned fellowship program, online catalogs, and regular exhibitions and public programs. 

The Library Company of Philadelphia seeks a Reference Librarian and African American History Subject Specialist to assist library users and to support the Program in African American History.