Librarian; Japanese Art

Librarian (Japanese Art), IS-1410-11

Final date to receive applications: 23 September 2026

Department: Smithsonian Libraries and Archives

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Washington, DC

Reporting To: Yue Shu

Compensation: $85,447 - $111,087 / year

OPEN DATE: August 26, 2026

CLOSING DATE: September 23, 2026

POSITION TYPE: Trust Fund

APPOINTMENT TYPE: Indefinite

SCHEDULE: Full Time

DUTY

LOCATION:

Washington, DC

Position sensitivity and risk: Non-Sensitive/Low Risk

Who May Apply: Open to all qualified applicants

This is a career ladder opportunity with promotion potential to grade 12. Promotion to the next higher grade, up to IS-12, may occur at management’s discretion upon the supervisor’s recommendation, subject to the availability of funds, classification requirements, satisfactory performance, and the employee's qualifications.

What are Trust Fund Positions?

Trust Fund positions are unique to the Smithsonian. They are paid for from a variety of sources, including the Smithsonian endowment, revenue from our business activities, donations, grants and contracts. Trust employees are not part of the civil service, nor does trust fund employment lead to Federal status. The salary ranges for trust positions are generally the same as for federal positions and in many cases trust and federal employees work side by side.

Trust employees have their own benefit program, which may include Health, Dental & Vision Insurance, Life Insurance, Transit/Commuter Benefits, Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance, Annual and Sick Leave, Family Friendly Leave, 403b Retirement Plan, Discounts for Smithsonian Memberships, Museum Stores and Restaurants, Credit Union, Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center (Child Care), Flexible Spending Account (Health & Dependent Care).

This position is located within the National Museum of Asian Art (NMAA) Library, Smithsonian Libraries and Archives (SLA), Undersecretary for Science and Research, Smithsonian Institution (SI). Co-administered by NMAA and SLA, the position is located within the NMAA.

SLA is the world's largest museum library and archives system and provides authoritative information and innovative services for Smithsonian researchers and curators, as well as scholars and the public worldwide. NMAA's Library (Library), founded in 1923 alongside the Freer Gallery of Art, holds over 100,000 volumes on Asian arts and cultures. As an integral part of the museum's collections—complementing its holdings of Asian artworks, turn-of-the-century American painting, art conservation materials, and allied disciplines—the library serves the Smithsonian's two Asian art museums.

It collects, conserves, and makes its collections accessible while providing comprehensive services that support the institution's research, exhibitions, publications, and educational programs, as well as serving outside scholars, students, and the public. With a half of the collection in East Asian languages and its long history, the library is one of the most important Asian art research libraries in North America.

The primary purpose of this position is to provide reference assistance and research services in art and art history, with a focus on Japanese art and culture, to a diverse clientele of museum staff and external researchers. Key responsibilities include acquisitions, cataloging, overseeing interlibrary loan services and circulation duties, and conducting collection maintenance, digitization projects, outreach initiatives, and management of interns, student workers, and volunteers.

Additional functions include collection development and maintenance, preservation, budget management and monitoring, and facilities oversight.

The position requires full professional proficiency in…