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Middle East Librarians Association

Positions Available

MELA will post position announcements as a service to the profession. Positions must be related to the field of Middle East Librarianship. Positions will be posted for a maximum length of six months. To request posting contact MELA Webmaster.

Summary




American University of Beirut, Catalog Librarian.

(posted Feb. 3 2012)

The Jafet Library has an opening for the position of Catalog Librarian , above grade 12. Since this provides an opportunity for promotion from within, please circulate this information and/or post it in your area of jurisdiction so that those interested and having the minimum qualifications may apply in writing to the Human Resources Department (Employment Section) not later than March 1, 2012.

I. Basic Functions:

Performs original and complex copy cataloging of library materials in all languages and formats in accordance with current cataloging standards and practices. Resolves complex cataloging cases, and performs database maintenance and authority control. Participates in developing and implementing cataloging policies and procedures. Assists in preparing reports and compiling related statistical information.

II. Minimum Requirements:

For non-Lebanese citizens, Phd degree is required, successful candidates will be hired at the assistant professor level; benefits include full educational allowance for children, subsidized housing, full health coverage, retirement benefits, and travel, among others. Salary is competitive and will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Within the framework of Lebanese Law, the American University of Beirut is an equal opportunity employer.

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American University of Beirut, Reference and Instruction Librarian.

(posted Feb. 1 2012)

The University Libraries has an opening for the position of Reference and Instruction Librarian , above grade 12. Since this provides an opportunity for promotion from within, please circulate this information and/or post it in your area of jurisdiction so that those interested and having the minimum qualifications may apply in writing to the Human Resources Department (Employment Section) not later than February 9, 2012.

I. Basic Functions:

Designs and gives information literacy classes through the Library Instruction program; plans and conducts outreach activities to students and faculty. Provides in-depth reference service and guides library users in identifying, retrieving, and evaluating information in all formats. Serves as subject librarian for academic departments, acting as liaison and collection selector. Collaborates with colleagues in administrating, assessing, and improving the library’s information resources. Assesses users' needs and participates in the evaluation and improvement of instruction and research services. Keeps up to date with latest professional developments in the field.

II. Minimum Requirements:

For non Lebanese, PhD degree is required, successful candidates will be hired at the assistant professor level, and benefits include full educational allowance for children, subsidized housing, full health coverage, retirement benefits, and travel, among others. Salary is competitive and will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

To apply at AUB

Within the framework of Lebanese Law, the American University of Beirut is an equal opportunity employer.

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MIT Libraries, Archnet Digital Library Content Manager.

(posted Jan. 31, 2012)

The MIT Libraries are seeking a subject specialist with a background in Islamic art and architecture as well as digital content management to develop the Archnet Digital Library. Archnet (http://Archnet.org ) is an international online community for architects, planners, urban designers, landscape architects, conservationists, and scholars, with a focus on Muslim cultures and civilizations. A significant component of Archnet is its Digital Library, which contains content that documents work relevant to scholarship in Islamic architecture and planning, including images and planning documents associated with specific sites and projects, and scholarship applied to these areas that is made freely and openly available.

Responsibilities:

Reporting to the Program Head of the Aga Khan Documentation Center, the Archnet Digital Library Content Manager will be responsible for managing various aspects of the digital library for this online professional/academic community. S/he will participate in building the collection by identifying, evaluating, and acquiring materials including images, digital resources and historic photographs and will archive all original material and all derivatives to the site. The Content Manager will edit, catalog, create metadata and upload materials to the site and will be responsible for acquiring and managing copyright permissions as appropriate. S/he will also report bugs/problems with Archnet to the Site Administrator. S/he will prioritize and coordinate various digital projects such as scanning, uploading, and cataloging; managing workflows, tracking progress and managing deadlines. The Content Manager will play an important role in supporting digital scholarship, working closely with various and diverse colleagues at MIT, the Aga Khan Trust for Culture and the Aga Khan Program in Islamic Architecture Documentation Center at Harvard University. S/he will be expected to keep current with and develop his/her knowledge of emerging technologies and trends in the community.

Qualifications:

:

Required ? Advanced degree (Master's level or higher) in the history of art and architecture related to the study of the Islamic world, or the equivalent combination of education and/or experience. Master's degree in library and/or information science or equivalent experience. Research, writing, and/or copyediting experience. Familiarity with architectural description and/or some editing or curatorial experience. Reading knowledge of at least one Middle Eastern language (Arabic, Persian, Turkish). Expertise in image metadata standards and online data creation and access. Computer skills including facility with databases and digital image file management. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills including demonstrated ability in working successfully within a diverse community. Strong organizational skills with proven ability to manage projects and competing priorities, to adapt to change, and to work successfully in a fast?paced, dynamic environment. Strong analytical and problem?solving skills with ability to be flexible, collaborative, and to work across organizational boundaries. Highly desirable ? Working knowledge of western European languages. Knowledge of the contemporary field of Islamic art and architecture historical study and its constituents. Knowledge of other archival collections projects related to visual culture and history of the Middle East. Ability to write, research, and communicate with donors in multiple languages. Experience working with an online professional/academic community. Two or more years related professional library experience.

SALARY AND BENEFITS:

$51,000 minimum. Actual salary commensurate with qualifications and experience. MIT offers excellent benefits including a choice of health and retirement plans, a dental plan, and tuition assistance. The MIT Libraries afford a flexible and collegial working environment and foster professional growth of staff with management training and travel funding for professional meetings.

APPLICATION PROCESS:

Apply online at: http://hrweb.mit.edu/staffing/. Please include cover letter, resume, and contact information for three references. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until position is filled. MIT is strongly and actively committed to diversity within its community and particularly encourages applications from qualified women and minority candidates.

Through a culture that encourages innovation and collaboration, the MIT Libraries are redefining the role of the 21st century library – making collections more accessible than ever before, and shaping the future of scholarly research. Library staff, at all levels, contribute to this spirit of innovation and to the mission of promoting learning, discovery and the advancement of knowledge at MIT and beyond. “Reinventing the Research Library: The MIT Libraries in the 21st Century” is a short video that looks at how the Libraries are expanding beyond their traditional role to shape 21st century research library ??creating innovative services, reaching out to students and faculty, and leading efforts to increase global access to MIT’s scholarly work.

The MIT Libraries support the Institute's programs of research and study with holdings of more than 2.9 million print volumes and 3.1 million special format items, and terabytes of MIT?owned digital content. In addition, rare special collections, Institute records, historical documents, and papers of noted faculty are held in the Institute Archives and Special Collections. Library resources and services are accessible to students and researchers through the Libraries’ website (http://libraries.mit.edu/), and library spaces are widely available for both collaborative work and quiet study. Traditional library resources are supplemented by innovative services for bioinformatics, GIS, metadata, social science data, and research data management services, as well as multimedia facilities and services for video production, conferencing, webcasting and distance education. The Libraries utilize the Ex Libris Aleph system for its public Web?based catalog and as the support system for user service and processing functions. DSpace@MIT, a digital repository developed over the past ten years by the MIT Libraries, serves to capture, preserve and communicate the intellectual output of MIT's faculty and research community. Other MIT repositories include: Dome, a second DSpace instance, providing access to a sizable image collection and other digital collections owned by the MIT Libraries; the MIT Geodata Repository for a diverse collection of GIS Data; and MIT’s DataVerse for licensed social science datasets. MIT Libraries maintain memberships and affiliations in arXiv, Association of Research Libraries, the BorrowDirect group, the Boston Library Consortium, DDI Alliance, DuraSpace, HathiTrust, CLIR/Digital Library Federation, the Coalition of Networked Information, EDUCAUSE, North East Research Libraries, OCLC Research Library Partnership, ORCID, and Portico.

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George Washington University Libraries, Middle East and North Africa Librarian.

(posted Oct.28, 2011)

Library Assignment: The George Washington University Libraries

Primary Location: The Estelle and Melvin Gelman Library, Washington, DC

GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY:

The George Washington University is located in Washington, DC, a few minutes’ walk from the headquarters of major international organizations, NGO’s, think tanks, U.S. government agencies, and other internationally-focused organizations as well as the White House. This decades-old juxtaposition has lead to a strong synergistic, interdependent relationship between the University and its internationally-focused neighbors. The University is home to the Elliott School of International Affairs, a professional school with a solid reputation. Moreover, globally-focused curricula and courses are spread throughout the university’s schools, departments and programs. Keeping pace with US foreign policy priorities, the University has been rapidly expanding its support for the study of the Middle East and North Africa adding several new faculty positions and in 2007 establishing the Institute for Middle East Studies (IMES). In 2010, the U.S. Department of Education designated IMES a Title VI National Resource Center.

THE LIBRARY:

The George Washington University Libraries has a long history of support for the University’s globally-focused mission. In 2010 the Libraries established the Middle East and North Africa Resource Center (MENA) as part of its Global Resources Center. The GRC has five specialized resource centers that parallel the university’s priorities; these include the China Documentation Center; and the Resource Center for Russia, Eurasia, Central and Eastern Europe; and the Middle East and North Africa Research Center (MENA). MENA’s collections focus on contemporary Middle East/North African politics, society, economics, history and culture. MENA staff members work in collaboration with other GRC staff and the broader GWUL community to develop coordinated services and collections.

JOB DESCRIPTION:

The librarian for the Middle East and North Africa is responsible for developing, planning and managing the services and collections of the Middle East and North Africa Research Center. Primary responsibilities of the position are to develop and manage strong interdisciplinary collections; develop associated programming, provide research and instruction support; conduct ongoing outreach to faculty, students and researchers focusing on the Middle East and North Africa in departments, programs and schools across the social sciences and humanities. The person in this position selects, acquires resources in Arabic, English and other relevant languages published in the region and associated areas.

The incumbent will actively engage in fundraising, grant writing, marketing and outreach in support of MENA and the GRC. The incumbent will evaluate library services and resources required to meet university research and teaching needs in the interdisciplinary fields of Middle East and North African studies; work closely with colleagues both on and off campus to establish library-related relationships; collaborate with the library’s Resource Description Group in describing Arabic-language materials; and, coordinate the delivery of reference and instruction services with librarians offering related services, including the librarian for international relations for courses offered within the Elliott School of International Affairs.

As a member of the Global Resources Center, the librarian will participate in the ongoing development of GRC collections and services. The person in this position will serve on library and university committees, which provides unique opportunities to promote GRC/MENA services and collections across diverse constituencies. The position reports to the Director of Global Resources.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

ADDITIONAL SELECTION CRITERIA:

EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS and ABILITIES PREFERRED:

Appointment Rank and Salary:

Rank and salary commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Review Date:

Review of applications will begin on December 12, 2011 and will continue until the position is filled.

Application Procedure:

Only complete applications will be considered.  Please send a letter containing a brief statement of interest and an assessment of skills related to the basic qualifications, a curriculum vita, and complete contact information for at least 3 references. Submit applications online at: glsjobs@gelman.gwu.edu. Questions may be directed to Emma Mosby, Manager of Librarian Recruitment and Outreach Programs, at: glsjobs@gelman.gwu.edu.

The University and department have a strong commitment to achieving diversity among librarians and staff. We are particularly interested in receiving applications from members of underrepresented groups and strongly encourage women and persons of color to apply for this position.

The George Washington University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.

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Columbia University Libraries & Information Services, Middle East and Islamic Studies Librarian.

(posted Sept. 28, 2011)

Columbia University Libraries & Information Services (CUL/IS) invites applications for the Middle East and Islamic Studies Librarian who will develop distinctive research collections and deliver innovative instructional and research services to the University and broader scholarly communities.

Reporting to the Director of Area Studies, the Middle East and Islamic Studies Librarian will manage a highly-ranked research collection in support of distinguished academic and teaching programs. The Librarian will exercise direct responsibility for building research collections in all formats and subjects from and about the Middle East and about Islamic Studies in a wide range of languages including Arabic, Persian, Turkish, Kurdish, Armenian, English and other languages of significance to the field. Collection development responsibilities include collection budget management and planning, collection assessment and evaluation, identification of appropriate vendors and sources of acquisitions, and active support for efforts to enhance bibliographic access to the collections. In carrying out these responsibilities, the Librarian will work in close coordination with other subject specialist librarians in the humanities, social sciences, and Area Studies and with appropriate technical services units. In addition the Librarian will be responsible for developing initiatives to broaden access to unique and important collections through digital project initiatives and will actively acquire and promote both licensed and freely available digital resources of value to researchers at Columbia and beyond. The Librarian will play a leading role in decisions about the management of extensive print holdings and about access to and preservation of Middle East and Islamic Studies collections.

The Middle East and Islamic Studies Librarian will work closely with faculty, students and other scholars to provide proactive research support and instruction in collaboration with instructional technology, scholarly research, and digital program units within CUL/IS and the University. The Librarian serves as a liaison to the Middle East Institute (a U.S. Department of Education National Resource Center), to faculty in the Department of Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies (MESAAS), the Columbia Global Center in Amman, Jordan, and to a variety of other departments, schools, institutes and centers with programs and interests in Middle East and Islamic Studies.

A central feature of this position will involve forging innovative methods of sustaining and enhancing specialized collecting and research support in active collaboration with Cornell University Library in the context of the 2CUL initiative. In addition to 2CUL, the Middle East and Islamic Studies Librarian will actively develop international partnerships and collaborations and will represent Columbia in appropriate regional, national and international forums such as the Middle East Librarians Association (MELA) and the Middle East Microform Project (MEMP).

The successful candidate will have:

One of the world's leading research universities, Columbia provides outstanding opportunities to work and grow in a unique intellectual community. Set in the Morningside Heights academic village, Columbia also presents the unmatched dynamism, diversity and cultural richness of New York City. The University Libraries, grounded in collections of remarkable depth and breadth, are also building extensive electronic resources and services. The Libraries at Columbia are committed to collegiality, professionalism, innovation and leadership.

We offer a salary commensurate with qualifications and experience and excellent benefits.

To apply for this position please visit the following link: https://academicjobs.columbia.edu/applicants/Central?quickFind=55373

Applications will be accepted immediately and until the position is filled; however, applications submitted before November 4, 2011 will receive priority consideration.

Columbia University is An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. Minorities and women are encouraged to apply.

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Middle East Institute, Library Director

(posted Sept 2, 2011)

The Middle East Institute has an opening for a director to lead, organize and promote the activities of its library. The library houses a collection of English-language source materials on the Middle East that is second only to that of the Library of Congress in the Washington, DC area. A valuable resource for scholars, students, policy analysts and corporate executives, the library comprises some 25,000 volumes, maps, DVDs, CDs and other materials. The collection also includes works in Arabic.

The successful candidate will join MEI at an exciting time, just as the library is about to undergo renovations and its computer system, a significant upgrade. The director will report to MEI’s president.

About MEI

For over six decades the Middle East Institute has endeavored to serve as an objective, non-partisan forum for dialogue and exchange in pursuit of its mission to promote knowledge of the Middle East among Americans and foster mutual understanding and respect between the peoples of that region and citizens of the U.S. MEI publishes the highly respected Middle East Journal. It offers a language instruction and a highly competitive internship programs.

MEI houses a Center for Turkish Studies, a Center for Pakistan Studies, and Oman’s Sultan Qaboos Cultural Center. More than 40 affiliated scholars and experts write and speak on Middle East issues. Please visit MEI’s Web site at www.mei.edu for more information about the scope of our programs and their impact.

The library was established the same year as MEI, in 1946. It is located in a pleasant, converted nineteenth- century coach house overlooking the MEI’s garden at 1761 N Street, NW, Washington, DC.

Responsibilities

The library director will:

Experience and Skills

The successful candidate will have:

Special Working Conditions

Duties are performed indoors in an office environment. Duties may require extended periods of standing, walking sitting, and talking or listening. Duties require occasional climbing of stairs balancing, lifting/carrying items, keyboarding, reaching with hands and arms. Must be able to travel to work-related meetings, workshops, and conferences.

Salary and Benefits

Annual salary starts at $60,000, will depend on experience.

The Middle East Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages applications from qualified individuals regardless of race, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, disability or ethnic background. The Middle East Institute provides generous health plans for medical, dental, life and disability, as well as a 403(b) plan. Employees are eligible for one free language class (Arabic, Hebrew, Turkish, Farsi) per year taught by MEI’s Department of Languages and Regional Studies.

To Apply

Please send cover letter, CV, and contact information for two references to hr@mei.edu

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Harvard College Library, Aga Khan Program for Islamic Architecture. Visual Resources Librarian for Islamic Art and Architecture.

(posted September 2, 2011 )

Reporting to the Public Services Librarian, this position is responsible for research support, collaboration, and outreach for visual materials in the field of Islamic art and architecture to faculty, students, and researchers. Visual materials collections include digital images and slides for teaching as well as other formats documenting all aspects of Islamic art and architecture in the Fine Arts Library including historic photographs, postcards, and ephemera. Additional responsibilities include implementation of appropriate and forward-looking image metadata schemes, digital access, and participation in collection development and management. Works closely with the Bibliographer in the Aga Khan Program for Islamic Architecture and the Photographic Resources Librarian in the Fine Arts Library and the faculty and staff of the Aga Khan Program.

Typical Duties and Responsibilities:

Collection Management, Development, and Access -Identifies, evaluates , and acquires images, digital resources, historic photographs, and other visual materials for the library's teaching and research collection
-Assesses and selects historic photographs and other visual materials in the Fine Arts Library's collection for digitization and preservation (in consultation with the AKPIA Bibliographer and FAL Photographic Resources Librarian)
-Works with AKPIA and other faculty members, students, fellows, and visiting scholars to set collection priorities based on research and curricular needs
-Coordinates and prioritizes production of different digital products (scanning, uploading, cataloging); tracks workflows and timely service to users
-Provides intellectual control for Islamic visual materials in OLIVIA, ARTstor Shared Shelf project, and other catalogues including collaboration to establish best practices and authority control
-Participates in planning and implementing projects involving visual materials
-Develops long-range planning for Islamic visual images collection in consultation with AKPIA faculty and staff

Reference and instructional support

-Provides research services for visual materials in Islamic art and architectural history for faculty, students, and researchers
-Selects and provides teaching images in appropriate formats and other visual resources for classroom lectures and course websites
-Provides individual and group research support including in-class workshops and personalized instruction
-Assists faculty and students in integrating GIS, Prezi , and other visual tools in lectures, course websites
-Prepares online research guides, reference tools, and finding aids for Islamic visual materials
-Assists with image research and provides images, as needed, for Muqarnas and other Harvard and MIT AKPIA publications

Collaboration and outreach

-Collaborates with diverse Harvard colleagues including the Loeb Design Library, NELC, CMES, and Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Islamic Studies Program
-Collaborates with AKPIA Documentation Center at MIT, Archnet, and other external initiatives on the creation and sharing of metadata, content, and services for users of visual materials on Islamic art and architecture such as SAHARA
-Works with other Harvard groups supporting interdisciplinary and digital scholarship such as academic departments and programs, DASH, CGA, and the Library Lab Initiative to develop content and research/teaching opportunities

Supervisory Responsibilities

-Supervises year-round student employees and temporary/project staff (as needed) in the creation of item level and collection-level cataloging and indexing for Islamic visual materials in all formats
-Working together with other stakeholders, develops special projects for access to and dissemination of Islamic visual culture

Basic Qualifications

-Master's degree in library and/or information science or equivalent experience
-Advanced degree at the master's level or higher in the history of art and architecture related to the study of the Islamic world, or the equivalent combination of education, experience and/or background etc.
-3-5 years related professional library experience required
-Knowledge of at least one Middle Eastern language (Arabic, Persian, Turkish)
-Expertise in image metadata standards and online data creation and access
-Computer skills including databases and digital image file management, required
-Excellent interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills required

Additional Qualifications

-Working knowledge of western European languages, especially French and German
-Knowledge of the contemporary field of Islamic art and architecture historical study and its constituents
-Knowledge of other archival collections projects related to visual culture and history of the Middle East
-Ability to use a computer, monitor, keyboard, and mouse

For more information, please visit: http://www.hcl.harvard.edu/news/index.cfm

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No further postings at this time.


© 2005 MELA Last updated: January 31, 2012