(P/T) Exhibitions Educator at the New York Public Library

Job Title: Exhibitions Educator

Department: Branch Services & Programs

Employment Type: Part Time

Location: 39th Street Building

Compensation: $25.00 / hour

Description

Exhibitions Educators will join a team that is responsible for facilitating field trips to the Polonsky Exhibition of the New York Public Library’s Treasures and within the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building to K-12 students. Exhibitions Educators will report to and work closely with the Manager of Collections Education and the Field Trip Coordinator to ensure that K-12 students and educators have a positive experience as they learn about The New York Public Library’s history, exhibitions, and collections.

The field trip program is part of the Center for Educators and Schools, and supports the Library’s mission of inspiring lifelong learning, advancing knowledge, and strengthening communities. For some students, a field trip to the Stephen A Schwarzman Building and the Polonsky Exhibition of the Library’s Treasures is the first encounter with research libraries and collections; we aim to ensure that students feel welcome, engaged, and interested in returning throughout their academic and personal futures.

We are looking for someone we can count on to:

Own

  • Engaging facilitation of K-12 exhibitions field trips that ensure students feel welcome in library spaces and interested in library collections
  • Historical accuracy and cultural competence for thematic tours they facilitate
  • Practice of openness and flexibility for learner-centered experiences

Teach

  • Exhibitions-based content to K-12 students and educators
  • Information about The New York Public Library to K-12 students and educators
  • Research skills to K-12 students

Improve

  • Educators and students’ awareness, knowledge, and interest in The New York Public Library and its collections

Some expectations for this role are that within1 month, this person will:

  • Learn the scope of the role and the field trip program goals
  • Develop 1-2 ideas for thematic field trips
  • Practice field trip tours with colleagues

3 months, this person will:

  • Facilitate K-12 field trips in the Polonsky Exhibition
  • Attend staff trainings
  • Contribute ideas and materials to the field trip team

6 months and beyond, this person will:

  • Iterate, reflect, and collaborate with colleagues to improve the field trip program offerings
  • Contribute to the development of the field trip program’s marketing and social media presence
  • This role is grant funded and the anticipated ending is June 30th, 2023. It can possibly be extended.*

Responsibilities

  • Learn the field trip program methods and library/exhibition content
  • Commitment to punctuality and reliability
  • Facilitate positive learning experiences for K-12 students and educators on field trips in the Polonsky Exhibition and other exhibitions in the Stephen A Schwarzman Building
  • Use best practices with teaching in exhibitions, and adhere to the Center’s intellectual integrity
  • As needed, creatively contribute to the growth and development of the field trip program through planning thematic tours and writing program descriptions, and developing supplementary materials
  • Attend staff meetings and professional development opportunities

Required Education & Certifications

Required Education, Experience & Skills

  • Bachelor’s degree in Education, Museum Education or Studies, or a related field or a Bachelor’s degree in History, Literature, Art, Material Culture, or related field in combination with experience teaching

Required Experience

  • 1-3 years experience teaching K-12 students with objects and artifacts, historical documents and records, rare books, manuscripts and archives, historical landmarks, and/or visual and performing arts
  • 1-3 years experience teaching content in Black Studies, LGBTQ+ Studies, Indigenous Studies, Latina/Latino Studies, Women’s Studies, and/or cultural and ethnic studies

Required Skills

  • Teaching with best practices in museum education and/or progressive education (student-centered, object and inquiry-based teaching, Visual Thinking Strategies)
  • Multilingual fluency/Language in addition to English, preferred
  • Excellent communication, written and verbal, for varied audiences, including public speaking, managing group discussion, classroom management, and listening skills
  • Cultural competence
  • Strong organizational and time management skills with high attention to detail and ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously
  • Ability to adapt and improvise plans
  • Ability to deal effectively with a wide variety of personalities and situations requiring diplomacy, tact, friendliness, poise and firmness

To Apply:

Apply via LinkedIn

More…

Please Note: Effective August 2, 2021, absent a qualifying exception for medical or religious reasons, newly hired employees of the New York Public Library must present proof of receipt of a COVID-19 vaccination and may not begin employment at the Library until 14 days after their receipt of their second dose of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines or 14 days after their first dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Newly hired employees who need additional time to receive their vaccination prior to their start date may request an adjournment of their start date with their hiring manager. The Library will consider such requests on a case by case basis, depending upon the Library’s operational needs, among other factors. The Library will further consider exemptions for prospective employees who cannot become vaccinated due to a qualifying medical condition or a sincerely held religious belief or practice. Candidates who receive a conditional offer of employment and who seek a medical or religious exemption to the Library’s vaccination policy will be provided with additional instructions at the time of the conditional offer.

Core Values

All team members are expected and encouraged to embody the NYPL Core Values:

  • Be Helpful to patrons and colleagues
  • Be Resourceful in solving problems
  • Be Curious in all aspects of your work
  • Be Welcoming and Inclusive

Work Environment

  • Office setting
  • Public library setting
  • Workshop/classroom setting

Physical Duties

  • Limited physical effort is required
  • May involve some light physical labor such as the moving of supply boxes or program supplies
  • Light lifting required
  • Requires travel within NYC

Pre-Placement Physical Required?

No

Union/Non Union

Non-Union

FLSA Status

Non-Exempt

Schedule

  • 5-20 hours scheduled between Monday and Friday, 8:30 AM to 2 PM, with some flexibility.
  • Opportunity to work occasional afternoons, evenings, and Saturdays for special tours and educator programs, with hours interchangeable
  • Schedule subject to change
  • A hybrid work environment is possible occasionally, with a combination of in-person and some remote hours, but the Exhibitions Educators are expected to be onsite for field trip programs. Remote work is limited to NY, CT, and NJ.