News Archives

The American Trust for the British Library Virtual Event: “Selling Falsehoods: Forgeries in Collecting & Scholarship”

The American Trust for the British Library invites you to the fifth annual David N. Redden Conversation, “Selling Falsehoods: Forgeries in Collecting & Scholarship,” a free virtual program and dialogue. This Zoom event, which is open to the public, will be held on Thursday 26 October at 5:30 p.m. ET. Speakers will include RBS faculty member Nick Wilding and longtime RBS supporter Kenneth W. Rendell, among others. Advanced registration is required here. […]

Moore College of Art & Design Virtual Event: “Artists Books at Fifty: Tony White in Conversation with Dianne Vanderlip”

On Thursday, 12 October at 7:00 p.m. ET, Connelly Library, the Department of Fine Arts, and the Galleries at Moore College of Art & Design will sponsor a free virtual event, “Artists Books at Fifty: Tony White in Conversation with Dianne Vanderlip.” In 1973, Vanderlip curated an exhibition titled Artists Books at Moore College of Art and Design, marking the first use of this pivotal phrase in the contemporary context. […]

Assistant Director, Special Collections Research Center — Syracuse University Libraries

Reporting to the Director of the Special Collections Research Center (SCRC), the SCRC Assistant Director plays an important leadership role in the establishment and implementation of frameworks for responsible stewardship and description of an estimated $250–$500 million worth of Syracuse University’s unique and rare collections held within Special Collections, the Belfer Audio Archive, and University Archives. The Assistant Director supervises librarians, staff, and student workers. This position fosters a flexible, collaborative work environment within the Center and with other units within the Libraries and on campus. The Assistant Director demonstrates a commitment to justice, equity, diversity, inclusion, and reparative archives initiatives that grow and develop the SCRC staff, […]

RBS Scholarship and Fellowship Applications Now Available

Rare Book School at the University of Virginia is now accepting applications for its 2023 scholarship and fellowship cycle. […]

Head of Special Collections — Wesleyan University

Wesleyan University is seeking a new Head of Special Collections. Wesleyan’s Special Collections is made up of over 45,000 volumes of rare books ranging from medieval manuscript codices and early printed books to 21st-century fine press books. It also maintains a strong collection of over 1,000 artists’ books with one highlight being those on social justice and related issues. It is part of the newly formed Unique Collections department that includes the University Archives, Archaeology & Anthropology Collections, Center for East Asian Studies Art & Archival Collections, and the World Music Archives. Reporting to the Dietrich Family Associate University Librarian for Unique Collections, […]

RBS Invites You to Apply to Its Fall 2023 Online Courses

Rare Book School is thrilled to share the details about its fall 2023 virtual courses. By offering online-only courses such as these, RBS hopes that students can together learn what bibliographical materials reveal about human history and human nature, how to care for these remarkable objects, and how to share what we know with the wider world. […]

Special Collections Office Coordinator — Princeton University Library

Princeton University Library Special Collections is seeking an enthusiastic, organized individual with strong collaboration and customer service skills to take on the newly established full-time role of Office Coordinator. Reporting to the Assistant University Librarian for Special Collections Public Services, the Office Coordinator will be a welcoming presence at our front desk and provide day-to-day management of the public spaces in SC Firestone Library as well as office support to several areas of Special Collections. The person in this position will coordinate departmental events in SC Firestone and will be responsible for administering the library research grant program. […]

Sneak Peek of Rare Book School’s Fall 2023 Courses

Rare Book School is pleased to announce three online courses that will be offered this September, October, and November. Check back next week for more details, including how to apply. […]

Curator of Maps and Graphics — Clements Library, University of Michigan in Ann Arbor

The William L. Clements Library at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor is looking for a full-time Curator of Maps and Graphics. Reporting to the Director of the Clements Library, this position will be responsible for collection development, conservation, and access for maps and graphic arts materials in the Clements collections. Required qualifications include: 1) an M.A. in Art History, American Studies, Media Studies, History, Geography, Literature, or related areas, or an M.L.I.S. from an ALA-accredited library school with 4-plus years of experience working with graphic & map materials; and 2) knowledge of or experience with current practices and standards related to the identification, […]

American Antiquarian Society Lecture: “Caterina Jarboro, the 1898 Wilmington Riot, and the Challenges of the Archive”

The American Antiquarian Society (AAS) invites you to attend a free, hybrid event, “Caterina Jarboro, the 1898 Wilmington Riot, and the Challenges of the Archive,” which will take place both online and in person at AAS’s Antiquarian Hall, on Wednesday 19 July at 7:00 p.m. ET. Admission is free, but registration is required for both virtual and in-person attendance. For more information and to register, click here. […]

Rare Book School Shares Summer 2023 Lecture Series

Rare Book School is thrilled to announce the lineup for this summer’s lecture series at the University of Virginia, as well as special lectures at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia and the Grolier Club in New York City.

All lectures are free and open to the public. Unless noted, these talks will take place at 5:30 p.m. ET. Lectures are 30–40 minutes in length with approximately 10 minutes for Q&A, and will be followed by a reception. RSVPs are not required. Lecture recordings will be made available by fall 2023. […]

Announcing the 2023–25 RBS-Mellon SoFCB Junior Fellows

The Andrew W. Mellon Society of Fellows in Critical Bibliography (SoFCB) at Rare Book School is pleased to welcome its 2023–25 cohort of Junior Fellows. Many congratulations to all the new Junior Fellows; we look forward to seeing you at RBS!

The names and institutional affiliations of 2022–24 RBS-Mellon SoFCB Junior Fellows are:

Jiayi Chen – Ph.D. Candidate, Department of East Asian Languages and Civilizations, University of Chicago

Du Fei – Ph.D. Candidate, Department of History, Cornell University

Heng Du – Andrew W. […]

Virginia Museum of History & Culture Event: “British Virginia—A Digital Humanities Project”

The Virginia Museum of History & Culture (VMHC) invites you to attend a free, in-person event, “British Virginia—A Digital Humanities Project,” which will take place at the VMHC on Tuesday 25 April at 4:00 p.m. ET. Admission is free, but registration is required. For more information and to register, click here.  […]

Printer of the Press — Colorado College

Colorado College is hiring a new full-time Printer of the Press, who will manage/run the letterpress printshop, work with students and faculty in book arts, produce books for the Press imprint, and teach some courses in letterpress printmaking. Required qualifications include an M.A. in Fine Art or a B.A. in Art with substantial corollary work in Fine Art; and two years of related experience as a letterpress printer, book/graphic designer, small press publisher, and/or teacher of books arts. For more information and to apply, please click here. […]

RBS Fellowship Program Kicks Off New Podcast Series about Archival Materials and Counter Narratives

On Wednesday, 29 March 2023, the Andrew W. Mellon Fellowship for Diversity, Inclusion, and Cultural Heritage at Rare Book School launched Counter Narratives in Practice, a podcast series about multicultural heritage collections, storytelling, and representation in galleries, libraries, archives, museums, and beyond. This podcast is part of a larger project that highlights the work of the RBS Cultural Heritage Fellows.

The Fellows, led by book historian Allie Alvis, worked together from across the U.S. to tell stories about the archival materials in their collections and how those stories can prompt thinking about counter narratives in professional practice. […]

The Dark Archives Scholarship Fund: Call for Applications, Starting 27 March 2023

In partnership with its donors, the Guild of Book Workers is pleased to announce an upcoming funding opportunity, The Dark Archives Scholarship Fund. The scholarship is designed to help expand funding opportunities in the area of Book Arts education. The funds, of up to $800, may be used by any individual identifying as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) towards taking or teaching a book arts class. Applications will be accepted beginning 27 March 2023 on this webpage. […]

RBS in the News: “For Rare Book Librarians, It’s Gloves Off. Seriously.” – a New York Times Article by Jennifer Schuessler

The following article by Jennifer Schuessler, which features Barbara Heritage (RBS Associate Director & Curator of Collections) appeared in The New York Times on 9 March 2023. Click here to view the article via nytimes.com.  

Last month, The New York Times reported on an ultrarare medieval Hebrew Bible that was headed to auction with a record-smashing estimate of up to $50 million.

The reaction was swift.

“Why are they handling this without cotton gloves? Shame on them,” one reader wrote in the comments section, referring to photographs showing someone touching the worn pages. […]

Two New Job Opening — Wells College

Wells College is hiring two new positions: Director for the Book Arts Center and Victor Hammer Fellow. Review of applications for both positions will begin on 1 March 2023. […]

RBS Announces M. C. Lang Fellows in Book History, Bibliography, and Humanities Teaching with Historical Sources

With pleasure, Rare Book School announces the fourth cohort of M. C. Lang Fellows in Book History, Bibliography, and Humanities Teaching with Historical Sources. Congratulations to all, and we look forward to welcoming you to RBS this summer! […]

RBS General and Buice Scholarship Awards for 2023 Announced

Rare Book School is pleased to announce the recipients of its General Scholarship Committee awards, as well as the winners of the Buice Scholarships for returning RBS students. Congratulations to these recipients! […]