Curator of African American Collections

Curator of African American Experience Collections

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Position Overview: Kenneth Spencer Research Library (KSRL) at the University of Kansas (KU) Libraries seeks a creative and collaborative curator for our established and growing African American Experience (AAE) Collections. These collections are a major area of research and focus, documenting the legacy of African American individuals, families, businesses, churches, and schools through correspondence, photographs, organizational, educational and business records, books, pamphlets, and newspapers.

The curator will spearhead efforts to build and share collections that reflect the lives and experiences of African Americans in Kansas and the region. They will work with colleagues to develop an established, community‑based collecting program that supports the teaching and research missions of the university.

The curator will collaborate with KU faculty and other instructors teaching in varied subject areas, and with students and other scholars, to interpret the rich resources of the collection through instruction, reference service, and public outreach. Working collaboratively across the Libraries and the campus, the curator will also support and collaborate on robust cataloging and description, preservation, and digitization of collection materials.

Reporting to the Director of the Kenneth Spencer Research Library, the curator will also participate in the work of KSRL and KU Libraries as a whole and may supervise student assistants or project staff. This on‑site position will require periodic in‑state travel and occasional work in the evenings or weekends.

• Build relationships with individuals, families, and social, business, and political communities across the state to develop African American Experience collections through purchases and donations.
• Consult with and support organizations, individuals, and communities that wish to preserve and document their collections locally.
• Partner with library and university colleagues to integrate original resources and perspectives into classes across the KU curriculum, and to strengthen students’ primary source literacy.
• Participate in developing and delivering instructional and outreach programming and activities including classes and tours; physical and virtual exhibits; and posts for Spencer Library’s shared blog.
• Plan and staff outreach events and activities to promote knowledge and use of the African American experience collections, including traveling exhibits and presentations to potential users and donors, groups, clubs, etc.
• Serve as a public point of contact for this collection, including inquiries from the media, and demonstrate the ability to advocate for the importance of historical materials in understanding the past, present, and future.
• Share in providing reference assistance to students, faculty, and the public, and consult on reference requests in assigned areas of responsibility.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues across the Libraries to promote the collections through digital initiatives, social media, community events, K‑12 outreach, tours, and other means.
• Work collaboratively as a member of project teams and other groups to advance the libraries’ strategic priorities.
• Work collaboratively with faculty and other librarians to design and deliver library instruction to students.

Contribute to the profession’s collective knowledge by engaging in scholarly research activity. Research opportunities may involve the publication of articles, books, book reviews, grant‑supported inquiry, or editorial work.

Engage in service to the Libraries, the University, and to professional organizations by participating in committee work, projects, and other contributory achievements. Service and research percentages may not ordinarily be less than 5% each, and will generally total between 10% and 20%.

• ALA‑accredited master’s degree in Library/Information Science or equivalent from a foreign institution by date of appointment, OR a PhD in library…