Project Assistant Librarian: Rare Books

Project Assistant Librarian: Rare Books
Collection Projects and Resources
Full-time 41 hours per week
Fixed term for 12 months
£26,117 per annum
Application deadline: 12pm (midday) on 13 May 2024

About the role:
The 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:
• Devise the processes for and conduct a full audit of rare book holdings.
• Update relevant catalogue records.
• Provide the Senior Librarian with regular progress reports.
• Identify and evaluate material for rarity and value.
• Communicate and consult with stakeholders across the Museum.
• Assess any preservation or conservation requirements and arrange their delivery.

About you:
• 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.
• Experience of project processes including risk management.
• Experience of cataloguing to RDA/AACR2 and MARC standards on a major library management system.
• Ability to collate and report accurate statistical information.
• Strong advocacy skills and ability to build positive relationships with colleagues, research staff and external stakeholders.
• Experience of evaluating, selecting, and organising library resources.
• Experience or understanding of the importance of collection documentation and management policies.

About the British Museum:
Founded in 1753, the British Museum’s remarkable collection spans over two million years of human history and culture. The Museum is one of the leading visitor attractions and its world-famous collection includes the Rosetta Stone, the Parthenon sculptures, Egyptian mummies, the Admonitions Scroll, and the Amaravati sculptures.

The Museum offers a competitive benefits package including:

• Generous annual leave allowance of 25 days (rising to 30 days after 10 years’ service) plus 2.5 privilege days and plus bank holidays.
• Membership of the civil service defined benefit pension scheme (find out here what benefits a civil service pension provides).
• Free entry to a wide range of museums and exhibitions
• Participation in private and public Museum activities, including talks by leading curators from around the world and behind-the-scenes opportunities to learn how museums care for and manage their extraordinary collections.
• Interest-free travel, bicycle, and rental deposit loans.
• Professional and personal development opportunities.
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Discounts on food and gift shop purchases.

Additional details:
For more information about this role, please see the job description.
If you have any additional needs that we should be aware of in order to support you with your application, please provide details to [email protected].

The British Museum is committed to promoting equality of opportunity for all staff and job applicants. We aim to create a working environment in which all individuals can make best use of their skills, free from unlawful discrimination or harassment. We value the benefits that a diverse workforce brings to a museum which represents world culture. The Museum is committed to ensuring that no job applicant suffers unlawful discrimination because of any protected characteristics. Our recruitment procedures aim to ensure that individuals are treated because of their relevant knowledge, skills, and experience.

The Museum also adheres to the HMG Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) for pre-employment screening of Civil Servants.

Museum Website: https://bmrecruit.ciphr-irecruit.com//templates/CIPHR/jobdetail_7299.aspx