The University of Pittsburgh Library System (ULS) is seeking a dynamic librarian and Chinese specialist to head its East Asian Library (EAL) and to promote the services and unique materials that support teaching and research at the University of Pittsburgh. Reporting to the Associate University Librarian for Archives & Special Collections, this position provides strategic leadership in research support, collection building, and innovative, technology-enhanced library services and programming within the EAL. Additionally, the position focuses on primarily supporting Chinese language librarianship in a regional and global context.
The ULS maintains one of the nation’s major East Asian collections with nearly half a million volumes in Chinese, Japanese and Korean studies and over 8,000 electronic resources. While the largest part of the collection is made up of Chinese materials, the growth of the Korean and Japanese areas in recent years has been robust. There are notable strengths in classics, literature, archeology, Ming-Qing and modern history, art history, politics, economic history, linguistics and pedagogy, contemporary religious studies, film studies, medical history, and Japanese woodblock prints (ukiyo-e). The EAL is also particularly known for innovative digital humanities projects, such as the CR/10 Project which comprises over 100 interviews of Chinese men and women who shared their memories of the decade-long Cultural Revolution. EAL subsequently created a feature-length film on the project. Additionally, as the holder of the largest collection of Chinese village gazetteers in North America, the EAL created an innovative database that provides access to detailed economic, historical and socio-political data extracted from the gazetteers.
RESPONSIBILITIES
The incumbent is responsible for the overall administration of the personnel, collection, services, and activities of the East Asian Library, comprised of one other faculty librarian, 0.5 FTE staff member, and several student workers. In addition to carrying out administrative duties, the position requires the incumbent to serve as a Chinese specialist with knowledge of librarianship practices, resources, and networks in the CJK domain.
The incumbent performs a range of strategic, managerial, and supervisory duties that include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Oversee and maintain collection development for Chinese materials and provide regular and in- depth reference and information services to Pitt faculty, students, and regional library patrons.
- Oversee efforts to discover unique and valuable Chinese and other East Asian materials and bring them to the attention of the ULS Associate University Librarian of Archives & Special Collections for acquisition.
- Serve as the central liaison for Chinese studies with other ULS departments and with faculty, visiting scholars, and students from departments and centers at Pitt.
- Serve as the central liaison with the University of Pittsburgh’s Asian Studies Center (ASC) and a member of its Advisory Board.
- Initiate and develop digital humanities projects focused on Chinese, Japanese, and Korean language materials to support teaching and research. Work with other ULS departments to process and promote digital projects.
- Seek and secure appropriate grant funding opportunities to help further the work of the East Asian Library’s special projects.
- Hire, train and supervise undergraduate and graduate students working on special and experiential-learning projects in the East Asian Library.
- Oversee East Asian Library’s daily operation, including working with ULS Assessment and Quality Assurance on annual statistics, including developing, maintaining, and implementing policies, procedures, rules, and regulations regarding all materials in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean languages, including acquisition, reference service, training, and instruction.
Librarians at the University of Pittsburgh are members of the faculty and are expected to demonstrate continuous professional development in addition to performing their specific responsibilities. This expectation includes such activities as participating in and contributing to departmental, library, and campus-wide committees or working groups as well as to the profession at a regional, national, and /or international level, maintaining a broad awareness of current and emerging issues that affect their particular areas of expertise, participating in relevant publishing and presentation opportunities, and pursuing knowledge of professional trends and developments that can be applied to evolving research, services and collections. Approximately 10% of the librarian’s time should be directed toward such activities, which will be included as part of the annual evaluation.
Specifically, the incumbent in this position is expected to:
- Keep abreast of and contribute as appropriate to current developments in the profession, especially as they relate to Asian studies and international studies librarianship.
- Contribute to the profession through publications, presentations, teaching, and other professional activities.
- Seek out appropriate roles in professional associations, research and/or publication on the regional, national, and international level.
- Participate actively in ULS and campus-wide working groups and committees, as appropriate.
The incumbent is also expected to contribute to the University community or the local community through service that utilizes his/her professional expertise.
QUALIFICATIONS
Required:
- An accredited Master’s degree in Library or Information Science with two years’ relevant professional experience; or the equivalent in education and training (e.g., an advanced degree in Chinese studies and relevant experience in libraries, other kinds of collections, or research services).
- Proficiency in Chinese, as well as excellent oral and written communication skills in English.
- Knowledge of the publishing industry in mainland China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong.
- Commitment to the international and interdisciplinary strengths of Pitt’s academic programs.
- Ability to work independently and collegially with librarians and users.
Preferred:
- Advanced knowledge of Chinese history, literature, and culture.
- Familiarity with other languages of the East Asian region
- A critical understanding of current and developing patterns of scholarship and publishing in Chinese studies, including publications and research in non-Chinese languages of China and in Sinitic-language communities around the world.
- A graduate degree in Chinese Studies.
- Experience using bibliographic utilities for searching and cataloging in non-Roman scripts.
- Experience working directly with vendors, publishers, and creators in mainland China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong.
- Possess technical skills or knowledge to create digital humanities projects that focus on East Asian resources.
