Head Librarian of the W. F. Albright Institute of Archaeological Research, Jerusalem

The W. F. Albright Institute of Archaeological Research in Jerusalem welcomes applications for the position of Head Librarian. The Albright Institute is a U.S. 501(c)3 non-profit organization formed to engage in and facilitate research on the history and cultures of the Near East, to document and preserve evidence from the ancient world as a cultural resource, and to educate the public about the history and cultures of the region. We pursue these goals through engaging in archaeological and historical research and excavation, sponsoring doctoral and post-doctoral research fellowships, and including students and the public in our lecture and research programs. The Albright Library’s Richard J. Scheuer Collection is the heart of the Institute and one of the region's best Near Eastern collections. The library not only serves the needs of Albright fellows, but also constitutes a primary resource for students and scholars from the other foreign institutes in Jerusalem and from the local Israeli and Palestinian academic communities..

The Head Librarian works under the guidance of the Institute’s Director and is responsible for supporting the mission of the Albright by developing and maintaining the 120-year-old collection consisting of ca. 20,000 items, digital resources, institute archives, and artifact collections. The Head Librarian will have the opportunity to rebuild, update, and modernize information resources at the Institute. Duties include maintaining the library's ILS, purchasing and cataloging new acquisitions, maintaining serial holdings, developing and implementing a long-term collecting development policy, budget control, facilities oversight and monitoring, ongoing assessment of library resources, management of daily circulation operations, provide reference/research assistance and instruction to users, and maintain relationships with similar local libraries.

The Albright Institute seeks candidates who possess a Bachelor's degree or higher (Master’s degree is an advantage) in library/information science or related discipline from an ALA (or comparable) accredited program and a minimum of three years of library experience. Experience or degrees in archaeology, history, or related disciplines is an advantage.Candidates should have demonstrated oral and written communication skills in English; proficiency in Hebrew is desirable and Arabic is advantageous. Experience with (or strong willingness to train in) all aspects of ExLibris’s Alma ILS is essential. Experience cataloging with RDA and the LC Classification system is also essential. Acquaintance with discovery tools, electronic databases, and online information searching is desirable. A strong personal commitment, self motivation, and the ability to work independently are highly desirable.

This is a full-time (100%) position at the Albright Institute at 26 Salah ed-Din St in Jerusalem. The successful candidate will be required to comply with a 9-month trial period. Salary and benefits package will be according to Israeli law.

Applicants should submit a letter of application, a full CV, and two letters of recommendation through the Albright Online Application Portal at https://aiarfellowships.smapply.org/. All inquiries and other communications should be addressed to the Director of the Albright Institute, Dr. Matthew J. Adams (mja198@aiar.org). Applications will be considered until the position is filled. 

All candidates will be considered on the basis of their individual qualifications without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or genetic information.