Job Description
Librarian II - Berg Collection
Application Deadline: 24 July 2026
Department: Research Libraries
Employment Type: Full Time
Location: Stephen A. Schwarzman Building
Reporting To: Carolyn Vega
Compensation: $70,393 / year
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.
Part of the Rayner Special Collections Wing of the Humanities and Social Sciences Research Library, the Henry W. and Albert A. Berg Collection of English and American Literature comprises some 35,000 printed volumes, pamphlets, and broadsides, and 2,000 linear feet of archives and manuscripts, representing the work of more than 400 authors. The collection spans the fifteenth century to the present, with particular strength in nineteenth-, twentieth-, and twenty-first-century literary manuscripts and author archives.
The Librarian II will play a key role in the Henry W. and Albert A. Berg Collection of English and American Literature by providing excellent public service in the form of reference work and varied forms of outreach, by coordinating access operations, and by supporting the department through activities that may include writing, classes, and presentations.
Responsibilities:
Reporting to the Curator of the Berg Collection, the Librarian II will:
- Deliver welcoming and inclusive public service to all staff, researchers, and visitors by coordinating research appointments and providing prompt and expert research and reference assistance in person and remotely
- Supervise patron collection use and ensure the preservation of materials by providing supportive instruction on the handling of special collections
- Coordinate access services, including collection retrieval for circulation
- Maintain departmental practices, standards, workflows and documentation to manage the care, description, and access of collections including under-described material and remote access to digital surrogates
- Serve on the reference desk, coordinating day-to-day activities as needed; support the public service needs of other Rayner Special Collections Wing divisions as needed
- Contribute to gathering and maintenance of related statistics and documentation
- Work closely with the curatorial team to collaborate with colleagues across the Library on collection documentation, management, and preservation projects
- Provide direction to paraprofessional staff as needed
- Perform other related duties as required
Required Education, Experience & Skills
Required Education & Certifications
- ALA-accredited Master’s degree in library, archival, or information studies
Required Experience
- Experience working at a research library, special collections, or archives
- Experience with English-language literary collections and/or a related academic field
- Experience in a public-facing service role
Required Skills
- Ability to ensure the care, safe handling, and secure custody of collection items
- Ability to communicate clearly with a variety of stakeholders, including colleagues and researchers
- Ability to successfully collaborate with a diverse community of colleagues
- Excellent verbal and written skills
- Commitment to friendly and access-forward customer service
- Knowledge of cataloging principles and best practices for arrangement, description, classification, and collection management
- Ability to read and interpret English-language manuscript material from the seventeenth century to the present
- Experience with Microsoft Office Suite and Google Drive Apps
Managerial/Supervisory Responsibilities
More...
Core Values
All team members are expected and encouraged to embody the NYPL Core Values:
- Be Helpful to patrons and colleagues
- Be Resourceful in solving problems
- Be Curious in all aspects of your work
- Be Welcoming and Inclusive
Work Environment
- Office setting
- Special collections library setting
Physical Duties
- Ability to lift moderately heavy boxes and books up to 25 lbs and move items to and from shelves
- Ability to work around moderate levels of dust generated during normal activities and movement of objects
- Ability to observe patron activity and inspect collection materials
Pre-Placement Physical Required?
No
Union/Non Union
Local 1930
FLSA Status
Non-Exempt
Schedule
Onsite; Tuesday - Saturday, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
This job description represents the types and levels of responsibilities that will be required of the position and shall not be construed as a declaration of all of the specific duties and responsibilities for the role. Job duties may change if Library priorities change. Employees may be directed to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description as needed.
The New York Public LibrarySalary Statement
At the Library, we believe that pay transparency and pay equity are important to ensuring we source the best candidates and keep the best employees. When making a determination as to the appropriate salary for a candidate, we consider a variety of factors such, including, but not limited to, the position requirements, the skills, prior experience, and educational background required or preferred for the job, the scope and impact of the role within the organization, internal peer equity, and the candidate's specific training, experience, education level, and skills. No single factor is conclusive; the Library reserves the right to consider any and all relevant factors and make a decision consistent with its policies.
Union Salaries are determined by collective bargaining agreement(s).
