Library Development Fellow

Division/Department: Development

Fellowship coordinator: Amber Cullen, Director of Development and Associate Dean of the Library

The University of Chicago Library’s Development team engages alumni, parents, and friends to raise support for acquisitions, civic engagement, conservation, digital scholarship, fellowships, and other activities enabling the Library to serve its patrons and local community.

Over the course of many decades, the Library has secured hundreds of gifts that have been set-up as permanent endowment funds ensuring the Library has guaranteed annual income streams. In order to have an precise assessment of the Library’s endowments (specifically their restricted purposes and stewardship requirements), we are seeking a Fellow to research the original documents held by the University and create an accurate and detailed overview for regular use by Library staff.

Library Graduate Student Fellowships provide students with opportunities to develop new skills and knowledge and/or explore careers in academic libraries and archives. In turn, the Library benefits from students’ subject expertise and knowledge of research approaches. Fellows work closely with a Library mentor during the course of their experience and have opportunities to interact with and learn from other Library staff.

Specific activities may include:

• Reading through contracts to discern endowment restrictions and stewardship requirements.
• Documenting, with a high degree of accuracy, the information sought after from the contracts.
• Creating a usable end-product (most likely a spreadsheet) that can be used regularly by Library staff.

Qualifications:

• Enrolled in a UChicago graduate program and in good academic standing during the period of the fellowship.
• Manage confidential information with discretion and tact.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office tools.
• Work independently.
• Familiarity with contracts or written agreements is desired.

While initial appointment is for a single academic quarter, reappointment for additional quarters may be possible for the successful Fellow. The Fellowship carries a stipend of $3,300 for the academic quarter with expectation of 150 hours of effort.

Applications received by Friday, December 8 receive assured consideration. Submit a cv or resume and a letter of interest to Amber Cullen (acullen@uchicago.edu) to apply.