Librarian at the Osler Library of the History of Medicine Call for applications
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Deadline to apply: April 6, 2026, 23:59pm
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Assistant Librarian or Associate Librarian (tenure track)
Duration: three years, with possibility of renewal
Salary minimum: salary commensurate with experience
The Librarian provides a wide range of library and information services, drawing on the Osler Library’s extensive holdings, including 40,000 modern monographs and journals, more than 75,000 rare book titles, approximately 300 meters of archival material, several hundred medical artifacts, and a substantial collection of prints. Using these collections, the Librarian supports teaching, learning, research, and outreach activities at the Osler Library of the History of Medicine. The role includes contributing to comprehensive collections management and curation, as well as highlighting the collections through outreach, exhibitions, and communications. The Librarian fosters a collaborative environment and ensures that library services are responsive, inclusive, and aligned with institutional goals. In partnership with the Head Librarian of the Osler Library of the History of Medicine, the Librarian works to develop, preserve, and promote the library’s holdings.
THE McGILL LIBRARIES
Located in Montréal, one of the world’s great multicultural and multilingual cities, McGill University is internationally recognized for its excellence as a leading institution of higher education and research. For nearly 200 years, through the work of dedicated people, McGill has been breaking ground in diverse fields and contributing solutions to some of the world’s most significant issues. McGill is also the most internationally diverse research-intensive university in Canada, with over 32% of its students coming to McGill from more than 150 countries. The University systematically appears on the annual list of the best employers in Montreal.
The McGill Libraries are committed to delivering high-quality, innovative information products, services and programs that focus on client needs and support the University’s strategic mission and directions. The McGill Libraries proactively supports the teaching, learning and research needs of faculty and students to fulfill McGill’s strategic mission of excellence as a research-intensive, student-centred university.
The McGill Libraries has the largest collection in Quebec and is one of Canada’s largest academic libraries with over six million monograph titles and 150,000 e-journals and databases. The Libraries are a member of the Canadian Association of Research Libraries (CARL), the Association of Research Libraries (ARL), the Bureau de coopération interuniversitaire (BCI), the Center for Research Libraries (CRL), and the HathiTrust Digital Library.
INFORMATION FOR PROSPECTIVE STAFF
Information about the University and the McGill Libraries can be found on the University’s web site. As a tenure stream appointee, the successful candidate is expected to satisfy the requirements in the Regulations Relating to the Employment of Librarian Staff.
DUTY STATEMENT
Primary Purpose of Position
The assist the provision of a range of library and information services and collections to support teaching, learning, research, and outreach activities.
Duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- Provide a range of in-person and remote library and information services to support teaching, learning, research and outreach activities; create guides to support user engagement and resource discovery around special collections.
- Curate and make accessible the Osler Library’s diverse holdings, which consist of rare books, manuscripts, archives, and artifacts, as well as a modern circulating collection.
- Develop and maintain communication links and liaise with the Department of Social Studies of Medicine to ensure library and information needs are understood and met.
- Assist in development of history of medicine collections.
- Contribute to fundraising and development by working with the Head Librarian on grant applications and donor engagement.
- Help with organizing and planning activities that highlight collections: e.g., visits and workshops; exhibitions at McGill, or beyond, including external museum loans; communications (e.g., publications and social media).
- Work in partnership with other Libraries and University staff and sections, as well as external groups, on specific projects.
- Coordinate and support the work of library staff in designated service areas, fostering collaboration and ensuring service quality; assign and supervise projects for student employees and interns.
- Contribute to resource description for entry into content management systems (Sofia discovery tool and/or Access to Memory (AtoM). Supervise staff in the same.
- Assist in ensuring that proper conservation and preservation standards are followed for all formats and media types.
- Serve on various library, faculty, and university committees and represent the Osler Library on external committees.
- Maintain awareness of current trends in the library, education, and information environments.
- Engage in scholarly activities and professional service consistent with University Regulations.
- Advance the equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility as well as reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples through the McGill University Libraries' services and within the Libraries as a workplace.
- The duties listed above are representative and not exhaustive; responsibilities may evolve in response to institutional and library needs.
Reporting relationship
This position reports to the Head Librarian, Osler Library of the History of Medicine .
SELECTION CRITERIA
Required:
- A Master’s Degree in Library or Information Studies (MLIS, MIS, or MI)
- Experience in an academic, special, or research library, or equivalent relevant experience, particularly in rare books, special collections, or archives.
- Excellent organizational, user service, and teamwork skills.
- High level of professionalism, commitment to the organization and its mission, and ability to work flexibly in a changing environment.
- Ability to understand and respond to priorities and trends in the library and university environments.
- Fluency in oral and written English is required. McGill University is an English-language university where day-to-day duties may require English communication both verbally and in writing.
- Understanding of how to teach in a culturally sensitive way.
- Demonstrated commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility of services or work environment.
Desired:
- Experience working with archival collections; understanding of archival concepts.
- Academic background in history (particularly history of medicine), humanities, or medical sciences.
- Strong preference for French language skills; other languages considered an asset.
- Experience creating and installing exhibits on historical themes.
- Ease delivering educational classes, workshops, and tours to a variety of audiences.
- Experience or demonstrated interest in supervising student employees and in coordinating workflows.
- Active participation in professional organizations.
- Familiarity with copyright and/or privacy legislation as required for consultation, reproduction, and dissemination of collections.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
Applications should address the above selection criteria, be accompanied by a letter of interest, curriculum vitae, and the names and addresses of three referees.
*** Applicants are encouraged to indicate any accommodation needs related to job duties
We anticipate conducting in-person interviews between May 25 and June 5, 2026.
Before applying, please note that to work at McGill University, you must be both authorized to work in Canada and willing to work in the province of Quebec at the campus where the position is based / located.
McGill University is an English-language university where most teaching and research activities are conducted in the English language, thereby requiring English communication both verbally and in writing.
McGill University is committed to equity and diversity within its community and values academic rigour and excellence. We welcome and encourage applications from racialized persons/visible minorities, women, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, ethnic minorities, and persons of minority sexual orientations and gender identities, as well as from all qualified candidates with the skills and knowledge to engage productively with diverse communities.
At McGill, research that reflects diverse intellectual traditions, methodologies, and modes of dissemination and translation is valued and encouraged. Candidates are invited to demonstrate their research impact both within and across academic disciplines and in other sectors, such as government, communities, or industry.
McGill further recognizes and fairly considers the impact of leaves (e.g., family care or health-related) that may contribute to career interruptions or slowdowns. Candidates are encouraged to signal any leave that affected productivity, or that may have had an effect on their career path. This information will be considered to ensure the equitable assessment of the candidate’s record.
McGill implements an employment equity program and encourages members of designated equity groups to self-identify. It further seeks to ensure the equitable treatment and full inclusion of persons with disabilities by striving for the implementation of universal design principles transversally, across all facets of the University community, and through accommodation policies and procedures. Persons with disabilities who anticipate needing accommodations for any part of the application process may contact, in confidence, accessibilityrequest.hr@mcgill.ca.
All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply; however, in accordance with Canadian immigration requirements, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.
