Rare Books Librarian pay range

What the state says the job is

This is advanced and highly specialized professional library work in overseeing rare books and other special collections in the State Library of Pennsylvania. An employee in this job oversees the acquisition, conservation, and restoration of rare books and special collections in the State Library of Pennsylvania. Work involves overseeing inventory, authenticating and restoring materials, formulating special collections policies, creating programs and exhibits, negotiating gift agreements, evaluating contracts, and providing reference and consultative services to outside researchers. Work includes overseeing a self-contained physical location within the State Library with its own heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC), storage spaces, exhibit space, point of service area, and security. Work may include supervising lower-level library staff.

Examples of the work

• Oversees the rare book and special collections within the State Library, including monetarily and historically valuable rare materials. • Acquires rare books and items for special collections by purchasing them from the antiquarian book trade through dealers and by arranging for gifts from donors. • Performs specialized cataloging of rare collections materials by cataloging materials with details that reflect the unique aspects of individual items, such as provenance and physical characteristics like bindings, typography, paper, and format. • Manages an acquisition purchase fund and makes strategic purchases to enhance the collections.

Minimum qualifications

• Two years of professional library experience in the acquisition and maintenance of rare books or special collections, and a master's degree in library sciences, library technology, or a closely related field; or • Three years of professional library experience in the acquisition and maintenance of rare books or special collections; or • An equivalent combination of experience and training.