flea

But in some ways I would love to, and I think I'd be reasonably competitive.

POSITION ADVERTISEMENT, PLEASE POST

COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT LIBRARIAN FOR THE BLEGEN LIBRARY IN ATHENS

The American School of Classical Studies at Athens (ASCSA) invites applications for the position of Collection Development Librarian for the Carl W. Blegen Library in Athens. The American School of Classical Studies at Athens (ASCSA) is one of the world's leading research and teaching institutions dedicated to the advanced study of all aspects of Greek culture, from antiquity to the present day. Founded in 1881, the ASCSA provides graduate students and scholars from over 180 affiliated North American colleges and universities a base for research and study in Greece. The ASCSA operates two major research libraries in Athens (the Blegen Library and the Gennadius Library), supports archaeological research and excavations in the Ancient Agora of Athens, in Corinth, and elsewhere in Greece, and disseminates information about its research through an active publications program.

The ASCSA is a primary resource for American and international graduate students and scholars in Hellenic studies, from antiquity to the present day. The Blegen Library is a non-circulating library dedicated to the entire field of classical antiquity, with special emphasis on the language, literature, art, history and archaeology of Greece, with over 93,000 volumes, ca. 700 print periodical subscriptions, and ca. 400 electronic subscriptions. The library primarily serves a constituency of North American students and scholars, and there is a large group of international library users, including many Greek scholars.

Key responsibilities of the Collection Development Librarian of the Blegen Library are as follows:

* Undertakes the selection and acquisition of materials and the development of the collection in all languages and all formats.
* Classifies library resources in accordance with a unique classification scheme.
* Manages the Library's approval plans and publications exchange program.
* Provides research assistance to members of the American School of Classical Studies and visiting researchers who are library users.
* Works closely with colleagues to ensure timely and accurate cataloging and processing of materials.
* Advises the Head Librarian on all matters relating to collection development, maintenance and preservation and participates in the development of relevant policies

Position requirements:

* Advanced degree in classics or classical archaeology (PhD preferred).
* Appropriate experience in an academic research library highly desirable.
* Fluency in English and Modern Greek and knowledge of Ancient Greek and Latin as well as the languages of scholarly research (German, French, Italian, etc.)
* Familiarity with bibliographic tools available for researchers and knowledge of the American and European book trades.
* Demonstrated skills and experience in relevant information technology, including its use and management, and possessing a comprehensive understanding of the technology-driven information environment.
* Understanding of unique needs of a graduate research library and familiarity with current issues in academic librarianship.
* Strong organizational and communication skills and the ability to work both independently and as part of a team.

The position is full-time. Salary commensurate with experience. Generous benefits package. Successful candidate will be expected to live and work in Athens, Greece.

Send a letter of application, a curriculum vitae, and three letters of reference to Karen M. Bohrer, Head Librarian, Blegen Library, American School of Classical Studies at Athens, 54 Souidias Street, GR-106-76 Athens, Greece or email application to kbohrer@ascsa.edu.gr. Review of applications will begin on January 20, 2010 and will continue until the position is filled. ASCSA is an EO/AA employer. Website: http://www.ascsa.edu.gr.

John Hope Franklin died today. I'd never heard of him until I came to Duke and helped him at the Reference desk. I looked up a book in our online catalog and directed him to the stacks, and, assuming him to be a community patron (he was then near 90) I asked if he needed help finding the right call number. He gently told me he thought he could handle it. As he walked off my coworker came over ans asked if I knew who that was.

Interestingly, in the tributes to him "gentle" is a recurring word, though he also was forthright in speaking out about his experiences with racism, as in when he was taken for a coat check clerk at a dinner after receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom, in 1995.

If you've never heard of him until now, take a minute to learn at the web site duke has set up: http://www.duke.edu/johnhopefranklin/index.html

For house people, the Sanborn fire insurance maps are great. Here's Athens in 1918:

http://dlg.galileo.usg.edu/sanborn/CityCounty/Athens1918/Sheet9.html

Our house isn't there, which is not a surprise since we were told it was built in either 1920 or 1928. But it's fun to go back (Athens goes back to 1885) and see which houses in our neighborhood appear when.