Cambridge University Libraries (CUL) is one of the world’s foremost university and research libraries. A network of over 30 libraries, with the historic University Library at its heart, CUL serves resident members of the University, a local, national and international public, and a global scholarly audience. With approximately 8 million volumes, the University Library building alone houses more than 200 linear km of collections, while UL’s Designated Special Collections are of global significance, including many millions of rare books, manuscripts, photographs, papyri, scrolls and photographs, as well as about 50 linear km of archives, originating from many cultures and places, and created over a very long timescale. Its Special Collections have been Designated by Arts Council England, as ‘one of the world’s great collections of global documentary cultural heritage’. CUL’s holdings cover every conceivable area of human endeavour, written across three thousand years, and in over two thousand languages, and they include manuscripts, maps, music, rare printed material, thousands of personal and institutional archives, as well as very substantial digital holdings. Its collections cover over 1000 languages.

The Centre of South Asian Studies is a world-renowned research centre, serving faculties and departments in the University whose teaching and research touches on the regions of South and Southeast Asia. Its important library collection and unique archival holdings, which include papers, films and photographs, attract scholars from around the world. 

Cambridge University Libraries is now recruiting a South Asian Specialist to lead the management, oversight and development of South Asian and South East Asian collections. They share responsibility with the Centre Archivist for the provision of effective, user-centred services in support of the teaching, learning and research activity of the Centre. The South Asian Specialist is also the curator for the University Library’s internationally significant historic manuscript and print collections from South and South East Asia.  Based primarily in the Centre for South Asian Studies, and reporting into CUL’s Head of World Collections, the South Asian Specialist leads all relevant activity and services relating to the support of South Asian Studies in one of the world’s greatest networks of research libraries.

The South Asian Specialist will have experience of working in a research library with a South Asian collection of international significance. They will ideally have written and spoken fluency in at least one South Asian language. Successful candidates will demonstrate commitment to providing quality service to library users and supporting research.

Application Deadline: 06 March 2023

More details on the role are available here.