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The University of Chicago Library

Bibliograher for Music

THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO LIBRARY


BIBLIOGRAPHER FOR MUSIC

The University of Chicago Library is seeking candidates for the position of Bibliographer for Music. The Bibliographer is responsible for developing and maintaining the Library's music collections in all relevant formats and provides specialized reference service and bibliographic instruction for faculty and students. This position supervises staff of 2 FTE including the public services assistant and student personnel. The Bibliographer participates in Library committee work at the divisional and interdivisional levels and may be invited to serve on academic committees.
The Music and Recordings Collection, of approximately 120,000 books and scores and 32,000 audio and video recordings, supports the research and teaching programs of the Department of Music (http://music.uchicago.edu/html/main.html) in four fields of study: music history, theory, ethnomusicology, and composition. The Department numbers 17 faculty and some 50 graduate students. Collection development in music includes scores, books about music, relevant electronic sources, and recordings of all types in the fields of Western musical history (European and American), ethnomusicology (with special interest in Jewish music and the Middle East), selected areas of non-Western music, and dance. Particular strengths of the music collection include Chopin, J.S. Bach, early music, musical biography, and the literature of jazz. The Chicago Jazz Archive, consisting of sound recordings and sheet music relating to the history of Chicago jazz, constitutes a unique research resource.
The Library, in collaboration with the Department of Music, welcomes applications from candidates who are also qualified to teach in the Department of Music and to carry on their own scholarly projects.
The Library provides generous support for collection building including a strong commitment to electronic formats and to ongoing retrospective acquisition of out-of-print material. The Bibliographer enjoys opportunities to work collaboratively with faculty and students as well as with fellow bibliographers, the general reference department, the Chicago Jazz Archive, the Special Collections Research Center, the Digital Library Development Center, and the preservation librarian. More information on the Library, its collections and initiatives is available at: http://www.lib.uchicago.edu/e/

The Bibliographer for Music reports to the Assistant Director for Humanities and Social Sciences.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES

Collection Development
Establish and communicate goals and objectives for the music and related music-based arts collections, including a long-term collecting policy and an ongoing program for periodically evaluating it.
Communicate with faculty, library colleagues, and students in order to be responsive to needs, changes, and developments in the discipline and in the University's programs.
Maintain materials selection, preservation, serials monitoring, and gifts review activities on a current basis.
Establish and maintain good relationships with dealers, libraries, and other institutions concerned with music.
Establish collaborative and cooperative working relationships with other bibliographers, the Curator of the Chicago Jazz Archive, and the Director of the Special Collections Research Center.
Work with the Library Development Office, the Assistant Director for Humanities and Social Sciences, and other specialized staff to identify and develop donor sources and special funding opportunities for the music collections; participate in contacts with donors and potential donors including the preparation of reports and personal visits when appropriate.

Reference and Public Services
Ensure, through leadership, a service-oriented, efficient, and effective staff, and proper organization and maintenance of Library equipment and facilities related to music.
Initiate specialized instruction opportunities for music faculty and students regarding the Library and its resources as well as bibliographic methods and research strategies.
Actively develop and maintain appropriate content in electronic finding aids and subject web pages for music.
In addition to providing specialist reference service, offer general reader assistance to all patrons.

Management
Propose, justify, and manage assigned acquisitions and staff budgets.
Supervise staff in a range of activities that support the music collections.
Participate as appropriate in the activities of library and scholarly organizations at the local, regional, and national levels.
Submit a written annual report of collection development, public services, and professional activities to the Assistant Director for Humanities and Social Sciences.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education: A graduate degree from an accredited library school or a Ph.D. in music is required.
Experience: Substantial work experience in a research library related to the field of music is required, with five or more years of appropriate experience highly desirable. Evidence of extensive specialist bibliographic and reference work in music is essential. Good planning and management skills are required as is supervisory experience.
Skills: Candidates must be able to work effectively with faculty, students and staff and possess excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communications skills. Reading fluency in German as well as Italian or French is required. A high degree of computer literacy and a demonstrated interest in the application of information technologies in the humanities is expected.

SALARY AND BENEFITS

Appointment salary based on qualifications and experience. Benefits include retirement plan, insurance, and paid time off. There is a tuition benefit plan for college age and younger children.

APPLICATION:

The application should include resume and names, addresses, e-mail addresses, and telephone numbers of three references. Review of application will begin upon receipt and continue until the position is filled. Applications received by October 15, will be assured consideration. Application by e-mail is strongly encouraged; please send to chicagomusic@lib.uchicago.edu with attention to Denise Weintraub. Applications may also be sent to the Personnel Office, The University of Chicago Library, 1100 East 57th Street, Chicago, Illinois 60637. EOE

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