Job Description

Reporting to the Dean of the Joan and Donald E. Axinn Library, the Director of Special Collections oversees all aspects of stewardship, access, preservation, and engagement with materials of local and global scholarly significance. Hofstra University seeks a dynamic and community-focused Director of Special Collections to lead, develop, and promote the Axinn Library’s special collections, including the Long Island Studies Institute, University Archives, and Rare Books and Manuscripts.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Provides strategic leadership and operational management for Special Collections, including oversight of reading room and reference services, collection management and preservation activities, inventory and space utilization, grant writing and donor development, budgeting, and workforce development.
• Supervises and mentors staff, fostering an inclusive, collaborative environment.
• Develops and implements policies for collection development and management, preservation, and digital access in concert with the Dean.
• Collaborates with faculty to integrate research with primary source collections into coursework.
• Leads outreach, exhibition development, and public programming to expand community engagement, with particular emphasis on the Long Island Studies Institute.
• Cultivates donor relationships, manages gifts, and pursues grants and external funding.
• Develops a communications program, digital initiatives, and social media strategy to improve awareness and use of collections.
• Serves on university and professional committees and promotes the work of Special Collections at conferences, events, and within the broader archives and library communities.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• ALA-accredited master’s degree in library and information science required.
• Minimum of 5–7 years of experience working with special collections or archives.
• Supervisory or program management experience.
• Demonstrated understanding of best practices in community-centered collection development and management.
• Experience with digital curation and preservation.
• Knowledge of metadata standards used in archives and special collections.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree (M.A. or Ph.D.) in the humanities or social sciences preferred.
• Experience with donor cultivation, fundraising, and grant writing.
• Knowledge of Long Island and New York history.

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