Yale University

Research Librarian

Yale University$68K — $145K *
Education, Government & Non-Profit
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Master's degree from an ALA-accredited library school or related post-graduate degree.
  • Proven experience in providing reference services in a special collections repository.
  • Strong ability to interpret bibliographic records and archival finding aids and train others in these skills.
  • Participation in professional activities related to documentary resources on a regional, national, or international scale.
  • Demonstrated leadership skills with experience in managing and training a diverse staff.

Responsibilities

  • Lead and manage the design and effectiveness assessment of the reference operation at Beinecke Library.
  • Provide onsite and virtual research support through consultations, outreach, and instructional sessions.
  • Collaborate with colleagues to create research support tools and maintain online guides.
  • Contribute to library collections development across various formats.
  • Engage in planning and activities within library-wide committees and professional organizations.
  • Monitor best practices in special collections to enhance reference services.
  • Supervise student assistants and train them on various reference services.

Benefits

  • Hybrid work model promoting work-life balance.
  • Collaborative environment with opportunities for professional growth.
  • Participation in campus-wide and national planning committees.
  • Access to Yale's renowned special collections for professional development.
  • Support for participation in professional organizations and conferences.
Full Job Description
Overview ReportingtotheDirector of Access Services and Operations,theResearch Librarian leadsBeinecke Library’s reference program. Leads the design and managementofan onsite andremote reference program for the Beinecke Library that provides research assistance via in-person, email, phone, and zoom, to track and respond to 8-10,000 inquiries annually. Trains, engages, and coordinates reference program participants from across Beinecke Library and Yale Library special collections. Serves as a leader in Yale Library special collections’ efforts to provide an excellent user experience. Collects statistics and generates reports that help assess the impact of Beinecke and Yale Library special collections on the work of the Yale Library and supports community-wide strategic assessment. Collaborates with colleagues across Yale Library to continually evaluate and improve reference services. Hires and supervises students as needed.  Serves as Yale Library special collections community-wide resource on provision of reference and related user services. Contributes to the development of research support tools. Design, manage, and assess for effectiveness a dynamic reference operation in the Beinecke Library to provide onsite and remote reference assistance. Provide opportunities for staff across the Beinecke and Yale Library special collections to engage with the reference operation and share expertise with researchers.  Share information about processes and workflows with community at large. Participate in library system-wide planning, committees, and work groups, and engage in campus, regional and national professional organizations and collaborative activities. Monitors developments and best practices elsewhere to help ensure the excellence of Beinecke and Yale Library reference and user services. Hire and supervise students as needed.  Librarian ranking information can be found at: http://bit.ly/YULRanksPromotions.  Required Skills and Abilities 1.Demonstrated ability providing reference services in a special collections repository.   2. Demonstrated ability interpreting bibliographic records and archival finding aids; searching catalogs, databases, and other discovery tools; and explaining the use of these tools to researchers.  3. Active and substantive participation in regional, national and international professional activities relating to the use of modern documentary resources.   4. Proven ability to manage, lead, and direct staff in accomplishing both individual and collective goals. Ability to train staff at all levels.   5. Ability to prioritize effectively among competing demands with a focus on providing excellent patron experience. Ability to solve problems collaboratively and creatively.   Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including in explaining complex processes in a way that is easy for both novice and experienced researchers understand.  Preferred Skills and Abilities 1. Experience providing or leading the provision of reference services in an academic special collections repository.  2. Graduate coursework requiring research and writing based on primary sources.  3. Experience with special collections circulation and tracking systems (e.g., Aeon).  4. Experience with special collections assessment, reporting, and impact analysis.  Principal Responsibilities 1. Provides research support to students and faculty in academic departments, schools, and research centers through consultations, instruction sessions, and in-person and virtual reference services. Supports research and raises awareness of information resources through outreach efforts such as department-based office hours, blogs, RSS feeds, mailing list messages, and workshops. 2. Creates and maintains online guides and other research support tools. Collaborates with librarians, GIS specialists, archivists and other providers of information resources to support research and teaching. 3. Develops library collections in all formats. Works closely with the Director of Collection Development, collection, acquisitions and cataloging librarians, and staff on acquiring and receiving resources in all formats (print, databases, datasets, images, a/v, etc.) and preparing them for availability to users. 4. Participates in departmental library research support and collections program planning. 5. Participates in library system-wide planning, committees, and work groups, and engages in campus, regional and national professional organizations and collaborative activities. Monitors developments and best practices elsewhere to help ensure the excellence of Yale’s collections and research support services. 6. May be required to assist with disaster recovery efforts. 7. May perform other duties as assigned. Required Education and Experience 1. Master’s degree from an ALA-accredited library school. In selected instances, a post-graduate degree in a related discipline may be required or substituted for a master’s degree in library science. 2. Demonstrated excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communications and analytical ability. 3. Demonstrated record of designing projects and bringing them to a conclusion in a timely fashion. 4. Experience working collegially and cooperatively within and across organizations. 5. Experience working collaboratively and independently with varied groups within a complex organization and rapidly changing, team environment. Yale University assigns ranks to librarian positions based on a combination of professional experience and accomplishments (see range assigned to this description as noted in the posting position title). Librarian ranking information can be found at: http://www.library.yale.edu/about/departments/lhr/rank.html Job Posting Date 06/15/2026 Job Category Professional Bargaining Unit NON Compensation Grade Library Compensation Grade Profile (LIB) Salary Range $68,000.00 - $145,250.00 Time Type Full time Duration Type Staff Work Model Hybrid Note Yale University is a tobacco-free campus.

About Yale University

Yale University is a private Ivy League research university in New Haven, Connecticut. Founded in 1701, it is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States. Yale has a diverse student body and offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs in a range of academic fields. The university is known for its strong liberal arts program, as well as its professional schools of law, business, and medicine. Yale has produced numerous notable alumni, including five U.S. Presidents and 20 Nobel laureates.
Learn more about Yale University
Size
13,433 employees
Industry
Founded
1701

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