Librarian (Japanese Art), IS-1410-12

OPEN DATE: June 9, 2026 CLOSING DATE: July 7, 2026 POSITION TYPE: Trust Fund APPOINTMENT TYPE: Indefinite SCHEDULE: Full Time DUTY LOCATION: Washington, DC Position sensitivity and risk: Non-Sensitive/Low Risk Who May Apply: Open to all qualified applicants What are Trust Fund Positions? Trust Fund positions are unique to the Smithsonian. They are paid for from a variety of sources, including the Smithsonian endowment, revenue from our business activities, donations, grants and contracts.

Trust employees are not part of the civil service, nor does trust fund employment lead to Federal status. The salary ranges for trust positions are generally the same as for federal positions and in many cases trust and federal employees work side by side.

Benefits

, Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance, Annual and Sick Leave, Family Friendly Leave, 403b Retirement Plan, Discounts for Smithsonian Memberships, Museum Stores and Restaurants, Credit Union, Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center (Child Care), Flexible Spending Account (Health & Dependent Care). Conditions of Employment Pass Pre-employment Background Check and Subsequent Background Investigation for position designated. Complete a Probationary Period.

Maintain a Bank Account for Direct Deposit/Electronic Transfer. The position is open to all candidates eligible to work in the United States. S.

is not required to apply.

Requirements

within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement. This position is located within the National Museum of Asian Art (NMAA) Library, Smithsonian Libraries and Archives (SLA), Undersecretary for Science and Research, Smithsonian Institution (SI). Co-administered by NMAA and SLA, the position is located within the NMAA.

SLA is the world’s largest museum library and archives system and provides authoritative information and innovative services for Smithsonian researchers and curators, as well as scholars and the public worldwide. NMAA’s Library (founded in 1923 alongside the Freer Gallery of Art, holds over 100,000 volumes on Asian arts and cultures. As an integral part of the museum’s collections—complementing its holdings of Asian artworks, turn-of-the-century American painting, art conservation materials, and allied disciplines—the Library serves the Smithsonian’s two Asian art museums.

It collects, conserves, and makes its collections accessible while providing comprehensive services that support the institution’s research, exhibitions, publications, and educational programs, as well as serving outside scholars, students, and the public. With a half of the collection in East Asian languages and its long history, the Library is one of the most important Asian art research libraries in North America. The primary purpose of this position is to provide reference assistance and research services in art and art history, with a focus on Japanese art and culture, to a diverse clientele of museum staff and external researchers.

Key Responsibilities

include acquisitions, cataloging, overseeing interlibrary loan services and circulation duties, and conducting collection maintenance, digitization projects, outreach initiatives, and management of interns, student workers, and volunteers. Additional functions include collection development and maintenance, preservation, budget management and monitoring, and facilities oversight. Collections Management (40%) Manages and develops Library collections primarily in Japanese art and culture areas to meet the staff’s needs and support the global community of scholars who depend on the Smithsonian’s extensive resources, exercising professional judgment, subject expertise, and independent decision-making related to Japanese history, culture and art.