IMLS Judaica Researcher

Department Introduction

The University of Denver Libraries, comprised of the Main Library at the Anderson Academic Commons, a remote storage facility called the Hampden Center, and the Bonfils Stanton Music Library in the Newman Center, is a highly collaborative organization that serves a diverse population, ranging from our students, staff, and faculty to public and other academic patrons from the surrounding region. The Anderson Academic Commons is the campus centerpiece for collaborative teaching, learning, and engagement.

The University of Denver Libraries are central to discovery and creative interaction among students and faculty, and provide collections, services, personnel, and systems that support the teaching and research programs of the University. The institution is dedicated to the goal of building an inclusive faculty and staff committed to teaching and working in a multicultural environment.

Reporting to the Beck Archives Curator, this is an Institute of Museum and Library Services grant‑funded, part‑time, non‑benefitted, temporary position at the University Libraries' Beck Archives of Rocky Mountain Jewish History. In this position the employee will review the antiquarian Judaica in Special Collections, documenting each volume including any markings—stamps, marginalia, etc.—and entering them into a spreadsheet. The ideal candidate is a current or recent graduate from an MLIS program or someone with experience with Jewish texts, familiar with handling antiquarian books, basic reading knowledge of Hebrew, and a basic understanding of provenance research.

Under direction of the Curator of the Beck Archives, duties and tasks will be assigned with the highest priority grant work in mind.

This is a grant‑funded, temporary position, the appointment length is at least six months.

This is a non‑benefited position not to exceed 1,000 hours in a calendar year.

• Follow Library of Congress call numbers to review antiquarian Judaica in Special Collections.
• Utilize Microsoft Excel for documenting metadata and provenance markings.
• Handle antiquarian/delicate books with care and according to best practices.
• Utilize a basic understanding of provenance research to identify and document stamps, marginalia, and markings.
• Perform basic research on stamps, bookplates, and markings.
• Utilize translation tools—like Google Translate—to decipher stamps, bookplates, and markings.
• Document markings through cell phone photographs and insert images into spreadsheet.

• Ability to follow established procedures
• Ability to take direction
• Ability to work independently
• Ability to use Microsoft Excel
• Excellent attention to detail

• Willingness to work with materials that are related to the Holocaust and the Pale of Settlement
• Experience with or willingness to learn best practices for handling antiquarian books
• Understanding of descriptive metadata

• Basic reading knowledge of Hebrew, German, and Polish
• Familiarity with provenance research and associated best practices
• Ability to do machine translation
• College degree, BA or BS

Must be available to work a schedule Monday – Thursday, sometime between the hours of 9 a.m.

- 5 p.m., 5-10 hours per week.

The hourly rate for the position is $20.00. The University of Denver has provided a compensation range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting. The University may ultimately pay more or less than the posted compensation range. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information, but not based on a candidate’s sex or any other protected status.

The University of Denver offers some benefits for non‑benefited employees. The University of Denver is a private institution that empowers students who want to make a difference. Learn more about the University of Denver.

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