Librarian for the Fairbank Center Collection at the H.C. Fung Library

Job Summary

This is a dedicated academic librarian position responsible for supporting the research, teaching, and learning related to the study of contemporary China in the social sciences across the university. It combines deep subject knowledge, advanced language skills, and expertise in interdisciplinary perspectives in the social sciences. It provides high-level research assistance, develops a premier collection, and fosters scholarly engagement with counterparts in China and beyond. Across all aspects of the position, research support, teaching, collection building, collaboration, technical services, and management and administration, the position works to ensure that the library remains an indispensable hub for research and learning about contemporary China. This is a part of the Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies, reporting directly to the Faculty Director.

Job-Specific Responsibilities

Research and Instruction Support

• Provides research consultation services for faculty, students, and visiting scholars working on China-related topics.
• Delivers classroom instruction sessions on library resources and strategies for navigating Chinese-language materials.
• Collaborates with faculty to integrate library resources into syllabi and to support the development of courses.

Collection Development and Management

• Acquires, curates, and manages essential materials in both English and Chinese, including print, archival and special collections.
• Identifies, selects, and evaluates materials to support teaching and research needs, using knowledge of the language, scholarly trends, and social/political landscapes.
• Develops finding aids, and oversees management of the stacks, the reading room, and special collections.
• Maintains strong relationships with domestic and international vendors, networks, and partner institutions to acquire rare or difficult-to locate materials.
• Manages all Alma system transactions: ordering and invoicing both books and journals, claiming missing journals, running batch jobs for special projects and designing and generating reports in Alma analytics.
• Manages all contacts with vendors, setting up vendors in B2P and Alma, and using all relevant procedures, requirements, regulations, and policies related to specialized expertise.

Collaboration, Outreach, and Scholarly Engagement

• Works closely with faculty, researchers, and Center leadership to support academic initiatives and scholarly programs.
• Engages in outreach to promote library resources within and beyond the University.
• Develops and sustains collaborative projects with libraries, archives, academic institutions, and individuals in China and elsewhere.
• Ensures the collection remains the preeminent global resource for research on contemporary China.
• Participation in a variety of China-related Center activities.

Technical Services

• Catalogs English- and Chinese-language materials, performing both copy and original cataloging.
• Handles routine technical workflows such as preparing materials for binding and scanning/copying requests.

Management and Administration

• In consultation with Fairbank Center leadership, provides strategic direction for the collection, aligning acquisitions and services with institutional priorities and scholarly needs.
• Monitors global scholarly output across disciplines.
• Oversees library operations, budget, facilities, and long-term planning in collaboration with the Fairbank Center and other academic units.
• Represents library at Fairbank Center Executive Committee to oversee and advise on library developments, budget concerns, and related issues.
• May supervise staff, student, or temporary employees.