Job posting: Collections Care Manager at the Boston Public Library
Listing Start Date: May 2, 2025Expires: May 30, 2025n
The Boston Public Library is seeking a Collections Care Manager to provide leadership in the care of research and special collections. The incumbent will join a new and energetic cohort of colleagues across the organization working together within a thriving, community-centered public library to meet the unique and rewarding challenges of stewarding the types of specialized collections typically found in museums and academic institutions.Situated in the BPL’s Central Library in Copley Square, the Research and Special Collections teams work to support the overall mission of BPL, and the strategic roles outlined in the 2025 Strategic Plan.
About the BPL’s collections
Collected since the library’s founding in 1848, Research and Special Collections represent the BPL’s ongoing commitment to providing free and open access to specialized materials primarily held by museums and private or academic libraries. The Research Collection spans five centuries and includes monographs, serials, periodicals, pamphlets, journals, illustrated portfolios, newspapers, maps, and microfilm, among other formats. Special Collections spans millennia and includes artifacts, archival materials, rare books and manuscripts, prints, photographs, AV, and more.
Equity Action PlanBoston Public Library is committed to racial equity and to becoming an anti-racist organization and formed an action plan in 2020 in response to systemic racism, inequity, and injustice prevalent in our society. You can read more about the action plan and the steps BPL is taking to address diversity, equity, and inclusion here.
Qualifications:
We strongly encourage applications from candidates who can demonstrate a nuanced understanding of collections care practice and can contextualize that practice across a range of uses and needs within an institution that is uniquely situated at an intersection of research, special, and public librarianship. We have a particular interest in candidates with a successful record of collaborating across teams and departments.
The selected candidate will not be expected to come to this position with expertise in every area of the work; however, applicants should demonstrate an ability to cultivate needed expertise and to apply professional judgement to collections care challenges. To support ongoing learning and growth in these areas, BPL provides generous funding for professional development.
Residency requirement
Please note that the City of Boston residency requirement applies to this position, which means that the successful candidate must be a resident of the City of Boston on or before the date of hire.
How To Apply:
For further information and to apply to this position, please visit the City of Boston employment website. Please combine your cover letter and resume in a single PDF file and attach them together in the resume upload section of the website.
Here’s a direct link to the job post on the City of Boston website.
Apply by:
May 30, 2025
Salary:
$89,000 – $116,000 /
About this Organization:
Over 3.5 million people visit the Boston Public Library every year to use its collection of more than 20 million books, maps, manuscripts, photographs, prints, drawings, and other items. Another eight million people connect with the BPL through its website bpl.org to use its services and the growing collection of electronic resources, downloadable media, and digitized materials. The BPL is a department of the City of Boston and governed by a board of trustees appointed by the Mayor.