Librarian II, Picture Collection

Compensation: $70,393 / year

Final date to receive applications: 4 October 2026

Department:
Research Libraries

Location:

Stephen

A. Schwarzman Building

For more than 125 years, The New York Public Library (NYPL) has been an essential provider of books, information, ideas, and education. With collections numbering more than 56 million items and serving more than 16 million patrons in person each year and millions more online, NYPL’s reach is both local and global. Our mission is to inspire lifelong learning, advance knowledge, and strengthen our communities.

At our world‑class research centers–including the Humanities and Social Sciences Research Library at the Stephen

A. Schwarzman Building, the Library for the Performing Arts, and the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture–expert staff facilitate the work of our diverse communities, offering inspiring reading rooms, programs, exhibitions, fellowships, and a dynamic range of research services. Their work is supported by dedicated staff on the Collections and Research Services teams. We are proud to be the most public and widely used research library in the world.

The Miriam & Ira

D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints, and Photographs is composed of five collections that represent one of the most significant art and art historical research collections in the country. The Picture Collection provides an encyclopedic array of pictures organized into subjects to support artistic, cultural, historical, and comparative research. New York’s diverse community of artists, designers, students, scholars, film producers, and historians has relied on the Collection for visual research for over 100 years.

The Librarian II plays a key role within the Picture Collection by providing excellent public service in the form of reference work, instruction, outreach, writing, and works with colleagues across the Stephen

A. Schwarzman Building to ensure an optimal experience for all visitors to the Library. The Librarian II is collaborative, service-oriented, and committed to equitable access to collections for all researchers.

• Provides excellent research and reference assistance to scholarly and general users, in the reading room and remotely
• Develops and teaches classes for the public, educational, and cultural institutions, and participates in the Library’s outreach and instruction strategy
• Performs collection development tasks within the Picture Collection, including the selection and description of visual materials according to national and local subject heading standards
• Assists in the implementation of social media initiatives in collaboration with the Social Media team, Wallach Division team, and guest curators
• Regularly creates and updates online content, including research guides, and assorted educational materials
• Maintains a personal program of continuous education and professional development
• Participate in NYPL-wide initiatives through participation on committees, task forces, research library meetings, and other relevant groups
• Contributes to accurate and timely reporting of statistics, providing insights that inform service enhancements, resource allocation, and strategic decision-making
• Perform other related duties as required

• ALA accredited Master’s degree in Library and Information Studies

• Demonstrated engagement with visual studies through academic background, training, interest, or expertise
• Experience providing welcoming and expert public service, reference or customer service in a research library or similar setting
• Experience teaching and participating in community outreach initiatives

• Successfully demonstrates excellent interpersonal, public…