Job Description

Swarthmore College is a highly selective liberal arts college located in the suburbs of Philadelphia, whose mission combines academic rigor with social responsibility. Swarthmore has a strong institutional commitment to inclusive excellence and nondiscrimination in its educational program and employment practices and encourages candidates who will further advance the goal of fostering a diverse and inclusive community. As one of the nation’s finest institutions of higher learning, Swarthmore College is global in outlook and draws students from around the nation and world. The 425?acre campus is a designated arboretum, complete with gardens, rolling lawns, a creek, wooded hills, and hiking trails in the Crum Woods.

Who We Are:

The Swarthmore College Libraries cultivate scholarship and intellectual curiosity in our community through access to collections, expertise, and spaces. In collaboration with our academic partners, we teach the craft of research and foster a critical understanding of the contexts in which knowledge is developed and disseminated. For more information, see the Swarthmore College Libraries website . 

The opportunity: 

Reporting to the Associate Director of Research, Instruction, and User Services, the Performing Arts Librarian is responsible for research consultation, instructional services, collection development, and resource advocacy for the departments of Music, Dance, and Theater. As a member of the research and instructional services team, the Librarian participates in planning the key departmental activities that advance the research, scholarship, teaching, and learning activities of our community. They will also coordinate collection development and resource advocacy for their subject areas.

The Performing Arts Librarian is responsible for the management of the Underhill Library, including planning and development of services, staffing, physical collections and space management, and facilities planning and maintenance. They hire, train, and supervise 10-15 student assistants who are responsible for staffing the library during all open hours, including evenings and weekends. 

The Performing Arts Librarian, in collaboration with Collection Management and Digital Initiatives staff, establishes best practices in the acquisition and preservation of music materials and the digitization of archives of the College’s music, dance, and theater performances and the associated materials.

The Librarian is an integral part of a collegial team and will have the opportunity to participate, in collaboration with colleagues, in one or more of the following areas - user experience, web design and development, instructional design, library systems- to enhance the Libraries’ work and support the mission of the College.

Essential Responsibilities 

• Develops the Performing Arts collections to ensure their relevance and availability to all students and faculty in the Music, Dance, and Theater departments for their educational and research needs.
• Provides leadership for continuing a digital archive of the College’s performing arts events. 
• Management of the Underhill Library for Music and Dance.
• As a member of the Research and Instruction team, works to develop strategic directions and on various projects to enhance library services. Serves as the subject liaison to the Music, Dance, and Theater Departments. 
• Collaborates with colleagues across the library to support the development of the library’s digital environment, with responsibilities in one or more of the following areas: user experience, web development, instructional design, or library systems. 

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Directly supervises 10-15 students (3.5 FTE) during the academic year and .5 student FTE during summers. 

Who you are: 

• Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and in a collaborative, team-based environment.
• Evidence of commitment to inclusive, welcoming, and effective user services and environments. 

What you bring: 

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree from an ALA-accredited program or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Demonstrated experience in Music librarianship.
• Experience with library research resources and tools in relevant subject areas. 
• Knowledge of scholarly publishing and research dissemination practices for fields related to music and performing arts, including trends in digital scholarship.
• Experience or demonstrated interest in the development of library digital environments. 

Preferred Qualifications

• Additional degree in a relevant discipline. 
• Experience supervising students.
• Educational experience or background in music.
• Subject knowledge of dramatic arts, dance, and other performing arts.
• Experience with library instruction, training, or classroom teaching.
• Experience in working with digital humanities tools and approaches.
• Experience with user experience, web design, instructional design, or library systems.

Physical Demands

• Occasionally needs to move or lift heavy boxes and book carts.
• Ability to climb stairs. Frequently needs to access different floors in the Underhill Library. 

Working Conditions

• Typical office setting within an active department.

What You Will Get:

You’ll work at one of the world's most renowned liberal arts Colleges, with incredible benefits, a stunning 420-acre campus, and a collaborative work environment. Join a team of passionate, creative people who work hard and have fun supporting the College students, faculty, and staff.

We want to hear from you if you are excited about this role! For full consideration, submit applications with an uploaded resume, including a cover letter, by April 7, 2025. Applications received after this date may be reviewed on a rolling basis until the job has been filled. A cover letter indicating how your qualifications and experience have prepared you for this position. If you have experience that meets any of the preferred qualifications, please include a detailed explanation of any such experience in your cover letter and how it meets the preferred qualification(s).

PA Criminal Required

Swarthmore College requires a PA Criminal background check for all staff positions prior to the start of employment.

Education Verification Required by Position

An education verification is required for this position because a college degree is a required qualification for this position.

Preview our Benefits Flyer . We offer benefit plans starting at zero cost! Upon benefit eligibility, the College contributes 10% of an employee’s salary to their retirement account. Employees are 100% vested in their accounts on the date participation begins.

Swarthmore College actively seeks and welcomes applications from candidates with exceptional qualifications, particularly those with demonstrable commitments to a more inclusive society and world. Swarthmore College is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.

About Swarthmore College

Since its founding in 1864, Swarthmore College has given students the knowledge, insight, skills, and experience to become leaders for the common good. Offering a liberal arts and engineering curriculum, the College is private, yet open to all regardless of financial need. It is also decidedly global in outlook, drawing students from around the world and all 50 states. The diversity of perspectives represented by Swarthmore students, faculty, and staff - including different viewpoints, identities, and histories - contributes to the community's strong sense of open dialogue and engagement with ideas and issues.

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