Reference Services Librarian

About Us

At The Huntington, we believe that having a team of diverse backgrounds and voices working together will enable us to support and promote the appreciation of the humanities, the arts, and botanical science. The Huntington is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities regardless of race, religious creed, color, national origin, disability, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation or any other characteristic protected by local, state or federal law.

The Huntington

Founded in 1919, The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens is a collections-based research and educational institution open to the public, housing world-class library, art, and botanical collections. Its mission is to support research and promote education in the arts, humanities, and botanical science and to display and interpret its extraordinary resources for diverse audiences.

The Culture

Here we are committed to the highest of standards in all that we do – from preserving and protecting the collections, to exhibitions, educational and scholarly programming, visitor and reader services, and beyond.  Achieving excellence across these pursuits requires a diversity of perspectives, expertise, experience, and methodologies. 

At The Huntington, our organizational Culture is shaped by the following core values: Intellectual curiosity, Collaboration, Stewardship, Belonging, and Integrity.

• Intellectual Curiosity: Knowledge, lifelong learning, and a spirit of inquiry are at the core of our mission and organizational culture.

• Collaboration: Teamwork and a collaborative attitude are important at all levels of The Huntington. We foster relationships internally among our departments and externally with organizations throughout the community.

• Stewardship: We are committed to the care and development of our collections, our financial and physical resources, our staff, and our community.

• Belonging: We strive to attract and maintain a workforce of individuals with diverse talents, backgrounds, and perspectives. Our organizational culture promotes a sense of welcome, inclusion, and connection.

• Integrity: We value respect and honesty, working to fulfill our mission with honor and ethical principles.

Job Description

About the Role

The Huntington Library is one of the world’s great independent research libraries, with more than 12 million items spanning the 11th to the 21st century. Every year, researchers from over 30 countries make more than 20,000 visits to the Library’s reading rooms, and thousands more remote researchers make use of the Library’s virtual services and digital collections. Some 80 Library staff members play a critical role in cultivating and expanding access to the collections, creating new opportunities for discovery and engagement, and ensuring that collections are preserved for the future.

Under the direction of the Associate Director and Head of Reader Services and in coordination with the Access Services Librarian, the Reference Services Librarian leads Reference and related front-of-house operations for the Reader Services department, supervising three Reader Services Coordinators. This role triages reference and imaging requests, manages researcher correspondence, coordinates visits for individuals and occasional groups, and supports the creation of LibGuides and other library training initiatives. The librarian also oversees copy center production, imaging workflows, and virtual reading room services, and guides projects to enhance the library’s digital presence and researcher experience. The librarian will work collaboratively with library leadership, curators, and colleagues across departments on day-to-day assignments and strategic projects. The Reference Services Librarian navigates the library’s collections with ethical standards, transparency, and sound judgment, and demonstrates a commitment to providing inclusive, accessible service as part of a cohesive team. This is a fully onsite role, offering immersive, in-person collaboration and direct engagement with our dynamic and world-class collections.

Essential Duties:

Team Leadership:

• Actively contributes to strategic decision-making as part of the Reader Services leadership team.

• Supervise, mentor, and evaluate a team of three to four library assistants.

• Document assignments, track accomplishments, and provide regular performance feedback.

Reference & Imaging Management:

• Evaluate and triage incoming reference and imaging requests, referring complex issues to curatorial departments.

• Record and verify appropriate rights statements prior to fulfilling imaging requests to ensure compliance and proper use of materials.

• Supervise Copy Center production and DSLR/DAMS workflows, ensuring efficient asset production, metadata curation, and timely service.

• Manage the Virtual Reading Room Service, coordinating appointments, facilitating remote access to collections, and resolving service-related issues.

Digital Experience & Application Management:

• Apply UX best practices to improve the usability and accessibility of library vendor systems and web applications.

• Collaborate with library and Huntington partners to ensure that digital touchpoints (cross-collections search, DAMS) support user needs and connect to library services.

• Serve as the in-house expert for LibApps, managing its configuration, integration, and continuous improvement. Contribute to the creation of LibGuides and library training initiatives. Provide training and support to staff and patrons on effective use of LibApps for library operations.

• Collaborate with interdepartmental/interinstitutional teams to integrate digital services with traditional library offerings, enhancing the overall user experience.

• Curate and synthesize annual metrics on system usage and user feedback.

Other Duties:

• Staffs and schedules service desks as needed.

• Plays a key role in updating department documentation, procedures, and communications to researchers.

• Participate in special projects as required and back up other library units to ensure seamless service delivery.

• Serve as a key manager in the department in the absence of the Associate Director.

Candidate Requirements and Experience

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Educational Background:

• MLIS degree required; additional humanities degree preferred.

Experience:

• At least 3 years of post-degree professional library experience in public services and/or digital services.

• Familiarity with reference ticketing software (e.g., LibAnswers) and discovery/access control systems.

• Experience with DSLR image capture, postprocessing workflows, DAMS, and copyright guidelines.

Interpersonal Skills:

• Excellent supervisory, communication, and writing skills.

• Proven ability to collaborate with library leadership, curators, and colleagues to leverage collections, uphold ethics and transparency, manage upward with professionalism, use sound judgment.

• Proven ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a fast paced, high-volume environment.

• A dedication to serving diverse populations with a welcoming, inclusive, and accessible approach.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in public services working with special collections.

• Prior supervisory experience in a library environment.

• Experience with LibApps, Aeon, and DAMS

• Pay Range: $76,000.00- $84,000.00. Commensurate on experience.

• Medical, Dental, Vision  

• 403(b) retirement plan and matching retirement plan with an outstanding employer match 

• Hybrid remote work schedule available for applicable positions 

• Considerable paid time off, including annual leave, sick leave, and holidays 

• Discounts for staff in The Huntington Store and restaurants 

• Free admission to various museums and cultural institutions 

• Free passes each month to welcome family and friends to visit the grounds