Andrew W. Mellon Curator of Rare Books and Prints

The Folger Shakespeare Library, on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, is seeking an established curator to join the Collections division as our next Andrew W. Mellon Curator of Rare Books and Prints.  The Curator, reporting to the Director of Collections and Exhibitions, oversees and develops the Folger’s world-renowned collection of 16th- and 17th-century books and prints, ensuring its care, accessibility, and growth in alignment with the Folger’s priorities. Working collaboratively across departments, this position plays a vital role in shaping the future of one of the world’s most significant collections of early modern materials. 

The Folger Shakespeare Library holds one of the world's largest collections of materials relating to Shakespeare and his works, from the 16th century to the present day, alongside an extraordinary array of books, manuscripts, and prints from the 1500s to the early 1700s. The collection includes about 260,000 printed books; 60,000 manuscripts; and 90,000 prints, drawings, photographs, paintings, and other works of art, as well as extensive performance history holdings from playbills to films, recordings, and costumes. In addition, the Folger’s collection encompasses more than 100,000 monographs and periodicals published between the 1830s and 2025, as well as electronic resources, supporting scholarship on Shakespeare, his works and impact, and the early modern world. Find out more on the Folger’s website. 

The Andrew W. Mellon Curator of Rare Book and Prints leads the development, stewardship, interpretation, and promotion of the Folger’s early modern printed collections. In partnership with the Librarian, curatorial and exhibition teams, the Curator shapes collection development priorities, advances scholarly and public engagement, and champions innovative approaches to access and interpretation. This role also contributes to institutional initiatives by connecting the collection to exhibitions, research programs, and educational and public outreach that illuminate the continuing resonance of early modern materials in contemporary life. 

A successful candidate will be a recognized leader in early modern books or prints with deep scholarly expertise, curatorial experience, and a collaborative spirit. They will bring both intellectual rigor and creative vision with the ability to connect historic materials to diverse audiences and current conversations. The Curator will demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in all aspects of their work. They will thrive in a dynamic, cross-disciplinary environment that values curiosity, communication, and shared stewardship. 

The schedule for this role is Monday-Friday 8:45 am-4:45 pm with occasional evening or weekends for events, as scheduled. This position will be primarily on-site with the possibility of hybrid modality. The selected candidate must be within a commutable distance to the DC office (DC, MD, VA) by their start date.     

Health & safety: The health and well-being of all staff, contractors, and visitors is our top priority. While the Folger no longer requires masks or vaccinations (except for AEA spaces), we support and encourage individuals to take the safety precautions they are most comfortable with, and we ask that individual choices are respected. The Folger offers organization-funded healthcare plans for full-time staff and extensive leave options to all staff in the case of any health issues that arise. 

Supervisory Duties: The Curator has no direct reports but may mentor staff and oversee temporary grant-funded staff, interns, or fellows. 

Duties: 

Collection Development and Stewardship  

• Develops and maintains the Folger’s collection of 16th- and 17th-century books and prints in alignment with collection development policies and priorities. 

• Collaborates with the Librarian, curators, and staff to build collections that reflect current and developing research needs. 

• Selects and approves rare materials for addition to the vault collection in collaboration with Acquisitions and Curatorial teams; fosters positive working relationships with vendors and book dealers. 

• Serves on the Open Stacks Collection Development Committee, with shared responsibility for reviewing requests for additions to the reference collection and review of subscriptions, as needed. 

• Serves on the disaster recovery team. Serves as an occasional courier for rare or valuable material being transported or delivered to/from the Folger or to other institutions. 

Collection Care and Access 

• Develops and updates policies and practices related to access, handling, restricted use, loans, and collection maintenance for the early modern printed collection. 

• In consultation with Head of Conservation and Associate Librarian for Researcher Services, reviews and recommends conservation priorities for works on paper and printed books to support continued research and discovery in the collection.  

• Develops long-term preservation plans with conservation team. 

• Works with the Conservation staff to plan and prioritize annual treatment projects and review treatments for approval for exhibition display.  

• Surveys heavily used or sensitive parts of the collection to inform rehousing and long-range conservation planning, and assists in preparing loan materials. 

• Partners with the Associate Librarian for Research Services and other members of Researcher Services on the handling and circulation of restricted or fragile items.   

• Consults with the cataloging team to enhance bibliographic control and description, contributing new research to enhance discoverability of the collection.  

• Partners with fellow curators and exhibitions staff to select materials for both permanent and temporary exhibition rotations.  

• Working closely with Exhibitions staff, develops exhibition content, including wall panels, object labels, catalogs, and related interpretive elements, ensuring all materials are accessible, engaging, and aligned with the exhibition narrative.  

• Serves as lead curator on designated exhibition projects. 

• Reviews and advises on the selection, presentation, and conservation needs of early modern printed materials for exhibitions and loans. 

Public and Scholarly Engagement  

• Provides expert research support to staff, researchers, and the public, independently, with researchers, and in collaboration with Researcher Services. 

• Interprets the collection through exhibitions, lectures, presentations, and publications, including regular contributions to The Collation blog. 

• Participates in tours, docent trainings and staff orientations, and shares contextual knowledge regarding the collection and exhibitions as needed.  

• Advances public-facing programming and engagement initiatives that connect the collection with diverse audiences. 

• Engages in professional development and continual learning related to rare books and prints professional practices. 

Institutional and Departmental Support  

• Works with the Director, Librarian, and other senior leadership on donor cultivation and stewardship including tours and presentations as needed. 

• Participates in grant-funded and institutional initiatives seeking opportunities to connect the collection with Folger-wide programs. 

• Upholds and models the highest professional and ethical standards of curatorship and fosters a positive, inclusive workplace culture. 

• Other duties as assigned. 

Education and Experience:  

• M.L.S. or equivalent library experience required.  

• Graduate-level degree in a relevant subject (e.g. early modern theater and performance studies, early modern history or literature, book history, printmaking history, Shakespeare) or equivalent experience. 

• Minimum of three years of scholarly or professional experience with early modern collections with accomplishments in areas such as collection development, exhibitions, research services, digital humanities, or teaching.   

• Demonstrated record of scholarly publication or other relevant professional achievement. 

• Experience working with dealers and auction houses.  

• Experience collaborating with book and paper conservators. 

• Knowledge of early modern text technologies, including analytical bibliography, and knowledge of art.   

• Experience making academic material accessible and meaningful to non-specialist audiences or experience synthesizing complicated information and presenting that information to non-specialist audiences. 

• Familiarity with best practices and ethical standards in curatorship, acquisitions, conservation and preservation, and cataloging. 

• Experience developing partnerships and fostering relationships with peer institutions, libraries, and collections desirable. 

Skills and Knowledge: 

• Scholarly understanding of bibliography, the history of the book, the history of printmaking and printing.   

• Proficiency in caring for rare and fragile primary research material and an understanding of the appropriate roles of digital surrogates in a research environment.   

• Bibliographical knowledge of languages most relevant to early printing history (Latin, Italian, French, and German) and a reading competence in at least one.   

• Knowledge of basic cataloging principles; familiarity with MARC 21 and DCRM(B) or DCRM(G). 

• Knowledge of copyright and confidentiality issues as they impact work in special collections.    

• Familiarity with key systems and tools such as Aeon, Airtable, and OpenAthens. 

• Excellent organizational, interpersonal, and communication (verbal and written) skills.    

• Ability to manage multiple priorities with patience and accuracy, both independently and collaboratively. 

• Digital literacy sufficient to interpret and share knowledge of the collection across platforms.  

• Demonstrated sensitivity, empathy, and care when working with diverse communities and handling culturally or historically sensitive materials. 

• Ability to adapt to change, navigate challenges, and embrace new opportunities in a dynamic work environment. 

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements: 

This job operates in a professional office environment. The employee may be exposed to various components of an office environment such as fluorescent lighting, pollen, dust, recycled air, cooling fans, semi-enclosed areas, central heating, seasonal warmer temperatures, and office noise. The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.     

• Normal work week is Monday-Friday, 8:45am-4:45pm. Occasional additional hours for special projects (scheduled in advance).     

• Ability to stand, walk, and move about public spaces for extended periods of time.  

• Ability to carry, push, or pull objects up to 30 lbs.   

• Ability to work at a computer for an extended period of time, with accuracy.          

• Willingness and capacity to work in an office environment at a workstation, and to come and go repeatedly throughout the day as is necessary, to perform various responsibilities.          

• Capacity to communicate, in person using video, phone, or electronic communication methods, which can be understood by others.  

• Occasional travel; this person serves as a courier.