Indigenous Studies Librarian

Newberry Library•Chicago, IL

9h•Onsite

About The Position

Reporting to the Director of Reader Services, the American Indian and Indigenous Studies Librarian performs reference, instruction, and outreach duties, with special emphasis on American Indian and Indigenous Studies and the histories of Latin America, the Philippines, and Hawaii, the major strengths of the Ayer and Greenlee collections at the Newberry Library. The Librarian also serves in other functional areas related to these collections, based on the needs of the Library. Between 2026-2030, this position will mainly focus on supporting a Mellon Implementation grant, “Expanding Indigenous Access and Stewardship at the Newberry Library.” The Mellon-funded Implementation grant is a five-year community-driven initiative that centers Indigenous voices, builds lasting relationships, and creates accessible, sustainable pathways to Indigenous histories and knowledge. Building on a 2020–2023 Mellon-funded planning grant and larger institutional initiatives, the project will fund community-led research, digitization, and training—ensuring that American Indian and Alaska Native nations have greater access to and control over the presentation of historical materials that contain their histories and knowledge. This position is part of a bargaining unit represented by AFSCME Council 31.

Requirements

MLS or MLIS from ALA-accredited institution.
Coursework in American Indian and Indigenous Studies and/or Latin American history required.
Strong general knowledge of the humanities required.
Excellent interpersonal skills and strong public service orientation requiring tact, patience, and flexibility required.
Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively and communicate effectively with diverse library users and staff required.
Ability to work independently and collegially required.
Strong leadership, project management, communication, and organizational skills required.
Capacity for working flexibly and creatively in a changing environment required.

Nice To Haves

Reading and speaking knowledge of Spanish, Portuguese, or an American Indian language strongly preferred.
Experience in a research library providing reference, instruction, and outreach preferred.
Experience in a special collections, archives, or museum setting preferred.
Knowledge of a variety of print and electronic reference sources and the scholarly literature of American Indian and Indigenous Studies preferred.
History of working with and providing information services to an American Indian community or tribe preferred.
Knowledge of genealogical resources and practice preferred.

Responsibilities

Provide reference assistance to library patrons in person, on the phone, and via email—especially but not limited to specialized reference assistance relating to the Ayer and Greenlee collections and American Indian and Indigenous Studies:
Responds to reference and genealogy correspondence;
Serves at the library’s reference desk, registers patrons in the Welcome Center, and responds to questions at other service points as needed;
Provide instruction, tours, and library orientation to tribal nations, visiting groups, resident fellows, and classes;
Participate in Mellon grant-related projects and meetings
Participate in the development of print and online content for instruction, outreach, promotion of Newberry collections, and service to readers;
Participate in reference service planning, collection management, library committees, special projects, and other tasks or activities as needed for the achievement of departmental goals;
Keep abreast of current developments in librarianship, pedagogy with primary sources, and instructional technologies;
Participate in other tasks or activities needed for the achievement of departmental goals.