University of Pennsylvania, University Libraries-Area Studies Collections
South Asian Studies Librarian
Institution Type: | College / University |
Location: | Pennsylvania, United States |
Position: | Librarian |
South Asia Studies Librarian
C Rank
University of Pennsylvania Libraries
The University of Pennsylvania Libraries seek an innovative and energetic South Asia Studies Librarian to develop and manage the South Asia collection and to provide library services for the interdisciplinary field of South Asian Studies at Penn.
The University of Pennsylvania has engaged in research and teaching on South Asia since the late nineteenth century and currently supports undergraduate- and graduate-level research on South Asia through the Department of South Asian Studies as well as a number of other departments and programs. Penn also has a federally funded Title VI South Asia Center. To support these research and teaching activities, the Library acquires materials of research and teaching value in a wide range of formats in Indic and other South Asian languages, as well as related European-language materials. With collections dating back to the early nineteenth century, Penn has one of the premier South Asia collections in the United States. In addition to its particular strengths in the traditional areas of anthropology, archaeology, art history, classical Indology, history, linguistics, literature, religion, philosophy, and political science, the collection now reflects expanding academic study of subjects such as cinema, popular culture, business, and health.
The Penn Libraries include fifteen libraries and an off-site high density storage facility. System-wide scholarly resources number nearly 7.5 million books, 188,000 current serials (of which 182,000 are e-journals) and 850 databases. The library is a leader in the development of digital library services and collections and is aggressively experimenting with and adopting new technology in research and teaching, including courseware.
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League comprehensive research university in Philadelphia founded in 1740 by Benjamin Franklin and his circle. It comprises twelve schools, 4,722 faculty, and an enrollment of 21,000 students, equally divided between undergraduate and graduate/professional school students.
Position Summary:
Reporting to the Coordinator, Area Studies Collections, the South Asia Studies Librarian selects and acquires scholarly resources from and about the region of South Asia, in a wide range of subjects in both South Asian and European languages. The incumbent supervises the technical processing of materials acquired from vendors in South Asia. The incumbent will also perform original cataloging of acquired materials in conjunction with other library staff. They provide specialized reference services, instruction, and consultations with scholars and students from the Penn community and beyond, as well as maintaining a seminar room with its own reference collection and teaching facilities. The South Asia Studies Librarian will have knowledge of changing patterns of scholarship and publishing in relevant fields of study and will be committed to the international and interdisciplinary strengths of Penn’s academic programs.
While continuing to focus on traditional formats, the South Asia Studies Librarian will actively promote new library services and is expected to seek out external funding opportunities and develop collaborative partnerships worldwide. In addition, the Penn Libraries have a number of unique South Asian manuscript resources, which the incumbent will steward, develop, and promote.
Overall responsibilities:
Overseeing a budget of about $140,000, develops and manages the South Asia collection from and about the geographic region, which includes Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sikkim, and Sri Lanka, with some coverage of Tibet. Also acquires materials from and about the diasporic community of South Asians in the US, UK, and elsewhere in the world outside of South Asia proper. The primary languages covered include most notably Sanskrit (Vedic and Classical), Hindi, Urdu, Bengali, Tamil, and Telugu, as well as English, French and German to support research in South Asia Studies.
Provides specialized reference, instruction, and academic liaison services primarily to faculty and graduate students with research interests in South Asia Studies. Works closely with the faculty and students, especially graduate students, from several other departments and schools where South Asia is included as a topic of study within more general coursework.
Manages, coordinates, and participates in the process of acquisition and bibliographic control of all types of resources in the languages of the region, using an integrated library system and the OCLC bibliographic utility. Performs original and complex copy cataloging for resources in the vernacular and provides appropriate classification and subject analysis according to national and local standards often in conjunction with other library specialists. Serves as a resource person, both within the South Asia Unit and throughout the Libraries, on matters pertaining to the bibliographic control of resources from the region as well as the maintenance of the integrity of the online South Asia catalog data.
Develops and maintains the South Asia Collection website, http://www.library.upenn.edu/collections/sasia/
Participates in the larger field of South Asia librarianship on the national and international levels with a particular emphasis on fostering meaningful collaboration.
Promotes effective relationships with colleagues, especially those in other Area Studies Units and other humanities bibliographers, their respective campus constituencies, and donors. Stewards endowments and participates in development activities related to the South Asia Collection and the Area Studies collections more broadly.
Supervises and trains one full-time library specialist and one part-time technical services assistant.
Contingent on training and experience, may have additional assignments in teaching courses related to South Asia Studies.
Qualifications:
An accredited Master’s degree in library or information science or the equivalent in education and training. A minimum of three years of relevant professional experience in an academic research library, or comparable experience. Advanced knowledge of South Asian history, literature, and culture with a graduate degree in South Asia Studies strongly preferred. Knowledge of the publishing industry in the South Asia and trends in scholarship. Fluent written and spoken command of one or more South Asian languages, as well as excellent oral and written communication skills in English. Ability to work independently and collegially with professional colleagues and scholars at all levels.
Rank and Salary: Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. Includes a generous benefits package, additional information available at http://www.hr.upenn.edu/jobs/benefits.asp.
To Apply: Potential candidates are invited to submit a letter of application that addresses the needs and qualifications of the position, along with their resume and the names, addresses, and phone numbers of three references who can address the suitability of the candidate for the position described, as well as complete an on-line employment application at https://jobs.hr.upenn.edu/postings/32815.
Review of applications will begin December 1, 2017.
The University of Pennsylvania is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer.
Contact: |
Brian Vivier
Coordinator, Area Studies Collections University of Pennsylvania Libraries 525 Van Pelt-Dietrich Library Center 3420 Walnut Street Philadelphia, PA 19104-6206 USA 215-898-3412
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Website: | https://jobs.hr.upenn.edu/postings/32815 |
Primary Category: | South Asian History / Studies |
Secondary Categories: | Library and Information Science |
Posting Date: | 12/08/2017 |
Closing Date | 03/08/2018 |