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Astor Curator and Department Head of Printed Books and Bindings

The Morgan Library & Museum seeks a senior curator to lead its Department of Printed Books and Bindings. The Astor Curator stewards and interprets the Morgan’s renowned printed book collection, extending from the invention of printing to modern first editions. Subject strengths include incunables, fine bindings and printing, illustrated books, children’s books, association copies, and notable publications of major authors in England, France, and America. Among the highlights are three Gutenberg Bibles, a remarkable run of Aldines, Grolier bindings, French book illustration 1700 to 1914, World War I poetry, Man Booker Prize fiction, and the Carter Burden collection of American literature.

The Astor Curator is responsible for developing sophisticated and lively exhibitions that take full advantage of the Morgan’s holdings along with those of other institutions; for promoting awareness and understanding of the collection through public programs, publications, and digital projects; for the long-term growth, preservation, and documentation of the collection; and for supporting the work of outside researchers.

A dynamic individual who is able to move easily between scholarly work and engagement with the Morgan’s various communities, the Astor Curator forges strong relationships with collectors and donors, serves as an articulate ambassador for the Morgan in the scholarly community, and enjoys sharing the collection with the general public. They oversee a staff of two curators and are expected to work collaboratively across departments.

The Morgan Library & Museum is committed to diversity and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. The Morgan strongly encourages applicants with a demonstrated commitment to fostering diversity, inclusion, and gender equity in programming, outreach, hiring, and collection development.

Qualifications:
Seven to ten years’ experience working with primary materials in libraries or other special collections.
A notable record of exhibition and publication development and cataloging.
Knowledge of the antiquarian book trade and experience with acquisitions and building special collections.
Graduate degree in relevant field, Phd preferred; ALA-accredited degree in Library and Information Science desirable.
Strong liberal arts foundation, especially in Western European and American literature and history.
Superior writing and public speaking skills.
Knowledge of printing history, and analytical bibliography.
Ability to interpret literary, historical and bibliographical scholarship for the general public.
Ability to communicate effectively with colleagues, researchers, students, and journalists.
Demonstrable experience working with donors and identifying funding sources.
An excellent track record of managing staff and a commitment to collaboration and teamwork.
Familiarity with the care and handling of rare books.
Reading knowledge of Latin and at least one other foreign language.
Experience with OCLC and online cataloging systems such as Voyager in a special collections environment.
Compensation:
Competitive salary; excellent benefits.

To apply:
Interested applicants should e-mail cover letter with salary requirements and resume to: printedbooksjob@themorgan.org

Please note that due to the high volume of applicants, we are only able to contact those candidates whose skills and background best fit our needs.
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