The Special Collections unit of the University at Buffalo (UB) Libraries seeks dynamic and collaborative applicants for the position of James Joyce Curator in the Poetry Collection. Founded in 1935, the Poetry Collection is the library of record for 20th- and 21st-century Anglophone poetry and houses the UB James Joyce Collection, the world’s largest and most comprehensive collection of manuscripts and other works by and about the renowned Irish writer. Currently, the university is designing a UB James Joyce Museum in historic Abbott Hall to create a vibrant exhibition and engagement center where a wide and inclusive audience can experience the remarkable resources of the collection and celebrate Joyce’s literary life and works.
With the support of endowed funds, and in close coordination with the Curator of the Poetry Collection, the James Joyce Curator will play a significant role in guiding the future success of both the James Joyce Collection and the James Joyce Museum. The primary duties of this new faculty position include:
Public services and programming:
- Directing the daily activities of the UB James Joyce Museum.
- Providing public presentations and tours for individuals and groups.
- Planning compelling exhibitions in alignment with the Joyce Museum’s strategic goals.
- Organizing events and programming (both online and in-person) for different audiences; examples may include lectures, readings, open houses, Bloomsday celebrations, and community reading groups.
- Helping to develop a docent program and school visits for K-12 students to the museum.
- Training and supervising student assistants as needed.
Research and instruction services:
- Supporting visiting scholars and students in their research both in person and virtually.
- Providing course-integrated instruction with primary sources—including both introductory and advanced special-topic presentations related to Joyce—for visiting undergraduate and graduate classes.
- Answering reference questions and handling reproduction requests.
Collection development:
- Working within established budgets to select new Joyce-related editions, scholarly publications, and other materials for the UB James Joyce Collection in order to maintain its bibliographic comprehensiveness.
- Working collaboratively with the Poetry Collection’s processing archivists and catalogers on metadata and description.
- Developing digital collections with the Libraries’ digital strategies group.
Outreach and engagement:
- Providing substantial community outreach and developing regional, national, and international partnerships and collaborations to increase the visibility of the UB James Joyce Collection.
- Fostering relationships and collaborations with other university departments.
- Planning publicity and communication strategies for the UB James Joyce Museum including its website and other publications with the University Libraries communications team.
Advancement:
- Participating with University Advancement in development activities including fundraising, events, donor relations and stewardship, receiving gifts in kind, and grant writing.
Service:
- Working with other colleagues in the Poetry Collection and Special Collections to contribute to setting directions, implementing goals, and providing the services of the unit, including maintaining order in the storage areas.
- Participating actively in teams, working groups, and committees in the Libraries, at the university, and in the profession.
Minimum Qualifications:
- PhD in a related field. Degree must be conferred before the candidate’s starting date.
- Demonstrated expertise in the life and work of James Joyce.
- Familiarity with the evolution of Joyce Studies including today’s emerging trends.
- Understanding of the nature of archival research and the needs of literary researchers.
- Evidence of professional scholarly engagement (e.g., teaching, publications, presentations) and the ability to meet the University at Buffalo’s promotion and tenure standards in librarianship, service, and scholarship.
- Excellent interpersonal, organizational, problem-solving, oral and written communication skills.
- Ability to prioritize projects, work on several projects simultaneously, work independently, and collaborate with library colleagues.
- Ability to work positively and effectively with students, faculty, staff, administrators, and patrons of different ages, from diverse backgrounds, and holding a wide range of knowledge in a complex academic environment.
- Demonstrated awareness of the challenges and opportunities for justice, diversity, inclusion, equity and access in staffing, services, collections, and physical spaces within the Libraries, the university, and in higher education.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Coursework and/or training in library science, archives management, preservation, history of the book, book arts, or other related field.
- Experience (broadly defined) working in a literary special collection.
- Public humanities experience (for example, organizing and running events and programming, creating exhibits, establishing and maintaining positive relationships with different communities through outreach).
- Experience with fundraising and donor relations.
Salary: $65,000 – $80,000
Outstanding Benefits Package: Working at UB comes with benefits that exceed salary alone. There are personal rewards including comprehensive health and retirement plan options. We also focus on creating and sustaining a healthy mix of work, personal and academic pursuit – all in an effort to support your work-life effectiveness. Visit our benefits website to learn about our benefit packages.
To Apply: To be considered for this position, applicants must apply via UB Jobs: https://www.ubjobs.buffalo.edu/postings/56217
In your cover letter, please highlight the most relevant qualifications you would bring to this position based on the posting, and tell us how your background, perspective, and experience will help us fulfill our mission and meet our goals. All candidates who are contacted by the search committee should be prepared to discuss how they see themselves contributing to the University’s equity, diversity, and inclusion efforts.
Candidates invited for final interviews will be expected to give a presentation to faculty and staff of the University Libraries. We are currently reviewing applications and anticipate filling this position by August 2025.
About the University at Buffalo: The University at Buffalo (UB) is one of America’s leading public research universities and a flagship of the State University of New York system. Visit our website to learn more about the University at Buffalo.
About the University Libraries: SUNY’s largest academic research library offers an outstanding array of information resources, technologies, services, and people to support academic achievement.
University at Buffalo is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and, in keeping with our commitment, welcomes all to apply including veterans and individuals with disabilities.