Curator – Modern Greek Collections

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Description

Part Time (14.24 hrs per week), Fixed Term for 18 months

Job purpose:

To develop, manage and promote the Library’s collections relating to Greece and Cyprus for the benefit of researchers, Greek and Cypriot communities in the UK and the wider public
To develop selection profiles for contemporary Greek and Greek Cypriot publications, content development plans and monitor collection management processes, including conservation and preservation
To liaise with colleagues in the Collection Management cataloguing team and catalogue as required
To work as part of a team of curators in the European and American Collections, Western Heritage Collections and with other teams across the Library, to improve access to and promote the collections by participating in the development of events, online resources and exhibitions and social media presence
To make a personal contribution to the Library’s research and other strategies based on individual specialist knowledge of the collections and particular field(s) of studies

The British Library holds one of the most important collections of manuscript, printed books, sound and digital resources for the study of Hellenic culture outside Greece and Cyprus. As a member of the South East European team you will help to build the Modern Greek collections through acquisition and donation and seek to make this intellectual heritage accessible to anyone, for research, inspiration and enjoyment. You will manage and curate the post-1850 physical and digital collections, and be responsible for contemporary acquisitions from the Greek-speaking countries of Europe. You will assist those using the Modern Greek collections across all periods and will try to encourage their use both on site and online. This activity will include providing linguistic, cultural and professional knowledge and expertise in these areas. As part of the South East European team you will contribute to section tasks and projects. The role will also involve working with colleagues in other departments to support and further the Library’s overall strategic priorities.

You will have a first degree-level in a relevant subject area, degree level knowledge of Modern Greek or equivalent, and a willingness to develop further linguistic and cultural knowledge relating to the South East European area as required. You will have experience of relevant work in a research library or similar institution and, ideally, a library qualification or post-graduate degree in a discipline relevant for the role, such as Modern Greek, Literature, History or Politics. You will have proven ability to engage with a range of audiences, including the general public and academics, and an understanding of current research trends in Modern Greek Studies. You will have research interest in and understanding of the cultures of Greece and Cyprus and their written heritage. You will assist in implementing digital technologies to make our collections more accessible via online and digital platforms. The ability to work both independently and in a team is important for this role.

Resources managed
Part of the European and Americas acquisitions budget

Main tasks
Content development and collection management

Developing the collections across a broad range of both physical and digital formats, ensuring that selection decisions give best value for money from the acquisitions budget and are in accordance with the Content Strategy and responsive to the changing research and publishing environment
Contributing to the development of Content Strategy and Collection Development plans relating to Modern Greek Collections
Devising and monitoring approval plans for the content area (where feasible) in liaison with Collection Development Implementation
Undertaking appropriate selection of non-current or non-print content
Monitoring cataloguing undertaken by Collection Management and external
providers, and cataloguing material selected which is not covered by Content and Metadata Processing teams (usually non-current or non-print)
Answering enquiries relating to these collections promptly and efficiently
Monitoring the conservation and preservation needs of the collection and assisting in the preparation of bids for in-house and external binding and conservation work
Helping implement new technologies to make the collection more accessible
through on line presence or through digital tools
Monitoring cataloguing carried out by Collections Management and cataloguing any material not within their remit, eg non-print or non-current
Checking the security needs of the collections, identifying any potential concerns and helping to frame recommendations to address them
Assisting in the project management of programmes of work, liaising with relevant departments and teams as necessary

External engagement, partnership development and digitisation

Promoting and interpreting the collections for a variety of audiences (e.g. scholars, other service users and the general public) through exhibitions (physical and online), publications, media interviews, conference papers and talks
Assisting in the organising of conferences, study days and other events to promote the collections and bring them to a wider audience
Organising and participating in training days and research seminars for students and other users of the collections
Contributing ideas to and undertaking work in support of Library digitisation projects, for example the Google Books Digitisation Project
Supporting external engagement with researchers, funding bodies, and with delivery partners to provide a more co-ordinated and responsive approach to the national research agenda and the needs of higher eduction
Helping other parts of the Library to support and further the Library’s overall strategic priorites e.g. selecting collection items for display at fund-raising or promotional events, assisting in answering media enquiries, etc.

Resources management

Managing on a day to day basis the acquisitions budget for Modern Greek published material under the supervision of the Lead Curator, Southeast Europe
Seeking out Continuous Improvement (CI) opportunities within the Section and undertaking projects that drive continuous improvement locally and corporately
Reviewing, inputting to and implementing feedback from the regular Staff Surveys undertaken for the Library
Reviewing, inputting to and implementing Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

Minimum requirements (essential)

First degree level qualification in a relevant subject area
Degree level knowledge of Modern Greek, or equivalent
Employment experience in a research library, or experience of researching
library, archive or museum collections with demonstrable outputs
Research interest in, and understanding of, the history and cultures of Greece and Cyprus and their written heritage and of contemporary life in these regions
Willingness to acquire further linguistic and cultural knowledge relating to other
parts of Europe as required
The ability to work both independently and in a team
Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to interpret curatorial and technical vocabularies and write and edit web content
High level of time-management skills
Information technology skills, including social media, web-based skills and an understanding of the use of cultural heritage collections in a digital research context
The ability to solve problems creatively

Additional requirements (desirable)

Professional qualification in information management (such as Chartered Librarian or equivalent)
Project management experience
A working knowledge of at least one other relevant European language
Experience or familiarity with information technology skills underpinning digital research methods and practices (e.g. geo-referencing, text mining)

As one of the world’s great libraries, our duty is to preserve the nation’s intellectual memory for the future and make it available to all for research, inspiration and enjoyment. At present we have well over 170 million items, in most known languages, with three million new items added every year. We have manuscripts, maps, newspapers, magazines, prints and drawings, music scores, and patents. We make our collections and programmes available to all. We operate the world’s largest document delivery service providing millions of items a year to customers all over the world. What matters to us is that we preserve the national memory and enable knowledge to be created both now and in the future by anyone, anywhere.

In return we offer a competitive salary and a number of excellent benefits. Our pension scheme is one of the most valuable benefits we offer, as our staff can become members of the Alpha Pension Scheme where the Library contributes a minimum of 20.6% (this may be higher dependant on grade. Another significant benefit the Library provides is the provision of a flexible working hours scheme which could allow you to work your hours flexibly over the week and to take up to 5 days flexi leave in a 3 month period. This is on top of 25 days holiday from entry and public and privilege holidays.

For further information and to apply, please visit quoting vacancy ref: 04000
Closing date: 06 March 2022
Interview date: 28 & 30 March 2022

We are unable to provide sponsorship under the UK Skilled Worker visa for this role, as it does not meet the eligibility criteria required for this immigration route