Join the British Museum as a Project Assistant Librarian and play a pivotal role in preserving rare historical texts.
Overview
£26117
Bloomsbury
Expires at anytime
The British Museum, a beacon of cultural heritage established in 1753, invites applicants to become part of its mission to conserve and share over two million years of human history. This prestigious institution is not only a leading tourist attraction but also a guardian of invaluable collections, offering a unique work environment with a wealth of professional and personal growth opportunities, competitive benefits, and a commitment to diversity.
- Conduct a comprehensive audit and stock take of the Museum's rare book holdings.
- Update catalogue records and report on progress to the Senior Librarian.
- Identify and evaluate the rarity and value of materials.
- Liaise with various stakeholders within the Museum.
- Assess and coordinate preservation or conservation efforts.
- A degree in librarianship or information management accredited by CILIP or an equivalent qualification.
- Experience in a large specialist library or heritage research collection.
- Proficiency in project processes, including risk management.
- Knowledge of RDA/AACR2 and MARC standards on major library management systems.
- Ability to compile and present accurate statistical reports.
The British Museum is recruiting two Project Assistant Librarians to support the library team on a fixed-term project to audit, stock take and review the British Museum’s physical rare book holdings across the library collection with a view to recording, assessing, and conserving material. This role would suit a newly qualified librarian.
Key areas of responsibility include devising the processes for and conducting a full audit of rare book holdings, updating relevant catalogue records, providing the Senior Librarian with regular progress reports, identifying and evaluating material for rarity and value, communicating and consulting with stakeholders across the Museum, and assessing any preservation or conservation requirements and arranging their delivery.
The ideal candidate will have a degree in librarianship or information management that is accredited by CILIP, or a degree in any subject followed by an accredited postgraduate qualification in information management. Experience of working in a large specialist library or heritage research collection, project processes including risk management, cataloguing to RDA/AACR2 and MARC standards on a major library management system, and the ability to collate and report accurate statistical information are also required.
The British Museum, founded in 1753, is one of the leading visitor attractions with a remarkable collection spanning over two million years of human history and culture. The Museum offers a competitive benefits package including generous annual leave allowance, membership of the civil service defined benefit pension scheme, free entry to a wide range of museums and exhibitions, participation in private and public Museum activities, interest-free travel, bicycle, and rental deposit loans, professional and personal development opportunities, and discounts on food and gift shop purchases.
The Museum is committed to promoting equality of opportunity for all staff and job applicants and values the benefits that a diverse workforce brings to a museum which represents world culture. The Museum also adheres to the HMG Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) for pre-employment screening of Civil Servants.