Associate Director for Global Studies

Overview

The New York Public Library (NYPL) has been one of the world’s great public research libraries for more than 130 years. Its research centers provide opportunities for engagement with in-depth and unique collections, inspirational reading rooms, exhibitions, programs, and a range of research services. The Collections and Research Services division encompasses several departments focused on managing the ongoing development of our exceptional research collections, advancing unified discovery and expanded access to our collections, both in-person and online, and ensuring stewardship of the collections at every stage of the collections lifecycle.

NYPL’s collections are truly international in scope, with historical and ongoing strengths in published materials from Western and Eastern Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. Through collaboration with ReCAP and MaRLI (Manhattan Research Library Initiative) partners, NYPL continues to develop comprehensive international collections that serve as a vital resource for advanced research in global studies for the consortium, the CUNY system, and scholars worldwide.

NYPL seeks an experienced and collaborative leader to oversee the collection development, research, teaching, and learning efforts of the Global Studies curators, a team of language and subject experts that collaborate with staff across the Library to help build our international holdings and connect these collections to scholars, students, diaspora communities, and the general public. The Global Studies curators have principal responsibility for collecting international materials for the Library’s general research collections, and collaborate with curators and selectors across the research libraries to support the development and diversity of their international holdings.

The Associate Director will also work with stakeholders across the Library and with external partners to advance strategic initiatives related to international collections.

• Oversight for collection development of international materials across NYPL’s research libraries, from countries outside the U.S., as well as diaspora communities, by providing strategic direction, alignment around our institutional goals, and supporting collaboration across the Library

• Communicate the strategic importance of international collecting for NYPL and the academic, popular, and diaspora communities we serve

• Explore the depth and breadth of NYPL’s historic collections, both the general and special collections, the extent of collaborative agreements, and opportunities for further coordinated collecting

• Enhance internal partnerships and collaborate across the Library for international collections, as well as with strategic partners

• Build working relationships with the Global Studies team
• Meet key NYPL internal partners and stakeholders in Book Ops and the research centers
• Gain an understanding of the Library’s strategic initiatives
• Meet global studies leaders at ReCAP, CUNY, and MaRLI partner libraries

• Understand the scope of NYPL’s international collecting program
• Meet with key vendors and other external stakeholders, especially CUNY faculty

• Maintain strong, collaborative partnerships with selectors, curators and collection leadership in the research centers, as well as with education, programming, and exhibitions teams
• Collaborate with Book Ops colleagues, vendors, and ReCAP partners to improve workflows for acquisition and processing of international materials, including ReCAP’s collaborative collection development efforts
• Develop a clear sense of the near‑ and long‑term roadmap for international collections at NYPL, and a broader understanding of their leadership role

• Manage a growing team of area studies curators developing international collections in print, e‑resources, and special collections
• Cultivate strong, collaborative relationships with colleagues across the Library in public service and special collections departments to develop and promote international…