Job Opening Title: Senior Archival Specialist-Curator
Employer Name: Chicago Public Library
Job Location: Chicago
Application Deadline: November 5, 2021
Salary Range: $62,700
Link to job posting: Go to City of Chicago job site, and search for position 351805. https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/dhr.html
Years of experience required: 1-3 years of experience performing main job responsibilities
Job Description (if URL to posting not available). Please include instructions for how to apply.: An exciting opportunity to join the Chicago Public Library in a newly organized Archives and Special Collections Division as a Curator in the Exhibits department, helping coordinate art exhibition opportunities between artists and related stakeholders across all 81 CPL locations. Curator may facilitate or manage internal exhibit requests from CPL staff, or help facilitate external art exhibition opportunities or partnerships, for example as the liaison to the City of Chicago’s Department for Cultural Affairs and Special Events with the latter’s Percent for Art program, which places culturally significant artwork at library branches across the system. Under general supervision, this position functions as a first-line supervisor, both performing and supervising staff’s professional duties relating to the curation, installation, exhibition, and care of special collections materials and/or historically significant records, and performs related duties as required. The Exhibits Curator:
ESSENTIAL DUTIES
• Plans, assigns and reviews the work of staff involved in the curation, installation, exhibition, and care of special collections materials and/or historically significant records (e.g., books, manuscripts, photographs, ephemera, maps, ledgers, museum artifacts)
• Prepares and helps install archival and special collections materials for exhibitions, community displays, and public or scheduled tours
• Prepares loan agreements, insurance forms and condition reports to document and authorize the purchase, exchange, loan or display of artifacts
• Assesses the physical condition of exhibition materials, furniture, and facilities, and identifies items to be repaired, conserved, or replaced. May work with vendors or schedule services for conservation, shipping exhibit furniture or traveling exhibits
• Works directly with exhibit designers, graphic designers, artists, exhibit-related vendors, and CPL staff to determine placement, consistency and accuracy of exhibit elements as required. Candidate has competencies in OSHA and ADA rules related to exhibitions for safety and accessibility.
• Acts as liaison to City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) for Percent for Art projects or Artist-in-Residence projects, which facilitates and manages public art projects at CPL locations
• Compiles data and prepares comprehensive reports on unit activity
• Helps manage annual Exhibits budget
• Work with staff across CPL locations and divisions to promote exhibitions of archives and special collections materials, and collaborate on or provide guidance for related programming or events
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS Education, Training, and Experience • Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Master’s degree in Archival Studies, OR a Master’s degree from an accredited American Library Association (ALA) Library Science
CODE: 0507 CLASS TITLE: SENIOR ARCHIVAL SPECIALIST program with nine credit hours in archival science or archival administration studies, OR a Master’s degree in History or a directly related field with nine credit hours in archival science or archival administration studies. One year of work experience related to the responsibilities of the position is also required.
Licensure, Certification, or Other Qualifications • Some
WORKING CONDITIONS • General office environment • May be exposed to dust and fumes EQUIPMENT • Standard office equipment (e.g., telephone, printer, photocopier, fax machine, calculator) • Computers and peripheral equipment (e.g., personal computer, computer terminals, hand-held computer, scanner) • Materials and equipment used in the conservation, preservation and display of special collections
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS • No specific requirements
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES, AND OTHER WORK REQUIREMENTS Knowledge
Considerable knowledge of:
• *applicable department policies, procedures, rules and regulations
• *handling archival or special collections materials, some in fragile conditions
• *ADA requirements
• *OSHA regulations
• *Museum and/or exhibition protocols, and ethics
• Supervisory methods, practices and procedures
Archives Gig 