Curator, Printed Heritage Collections (20th century)

Location: St Pancras
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full time (36 hours)
Grade: B
Salary: £34,608 per annum

About the role
This is an exciting opportunity to work with one of the greatest collections of 20th and 21st century British collections in the world.

The post is based within the Library's Printed Heritage Collections team, which has curatorial responsibility for early books, periodicals and ephemera published across Europe and the Americas, but with a strong focus on British materials. You will work across the broad period 1450-2000, but with a strong primary emphasis on materials printed in Britain and Ireland during the 20th century. In addition, 20% of this post relates to material published in Britain and Ireland in the 21st century (curated by Contemporary British Collections). You will participate in managing these collections and share responsibility for acquiring further material in line with the Library's policies and guidelines. In addition you will participate in interpreting the material for a wide range of users, whether through facilitating research for the academic community; contributing to programmes of digitisation; taking part in the Library’s cultural programmes; cataloguing; or contributing to information on our website aimed at schools and lifelong learners. You will be part of a team that aims to make our rich collections accessible and relevant to as wide a range of people as possible. This job will suit those with a good knowledge of the publishing scene in 20th and 21st century Britain within its wider cultural and social context. This will be underpinned by relevant professional or academic qualifications. You will also have experience of employment in a research library, academic or other appropriate environment, and of interpreting materials for general audiences. The ability to work independently and as part of a team is essential.

About us
We are the national library of the UK and we are here for everyone. Our shelves hold over 170 million items – a living collection that gets bigger every day. Although our roots extend back centuries, we aim to collect everything published in the UK today, tomorrow and far into the future. Our trusted experts care for this collection and open it up for everyone to spark new discoveries, ideas and to help people do incredible things.

We have millions of books, and much more besides. Our London and Yorkshire sites hold collections ranging from newspapers and maps to sound recordings, patents, academic journals, as well as a copy of every UK domain website and blog. Our public spaces provide a place to research, to meet friends, to start up a new business or simply to get inspired by visiting our galleries and events. We work with partners and libraries across the UK and the world to make sure that as many people as possible have the chance to use and explore our collections, events, and expertise. And we’re always open online, along with more and more of our digitised collection.

What we can offer you
- A competitive salary.
- A fantastic pension scheme with minimum employer contributions of 28.97% (this may be higher dependent on grade).
- Flexible working hours, with the ability to take up to 5 days flexi leave in a 3-month period.
- 25 days holiday.
- Full details of employee benefits can be found on our Careers: Benefits

Closing date: 9 February 2025
Interview date: 21 February 2025

We are unable to provide sponsorship under the UK Skilled Worker visa for this role.

We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian, Mixed Race and other ethnically diverse candidates and disabled candidates. We would like to increase the representation of these groups within The British Library to ensure our workforce is as diverse as the public that we serve. Creating an inclusive workplace is the core of our business and a way to engage the diversity of thought that is essential to achieve our aims.

Museum Website: https://ce0752li.webitrent.com/ce0752li_webrecruitment/wrd/run/ETREC179GF.open?WVID=5071482BMD