Library Assistant VII, Harvard University Library, Cambridge MA
Posted April 27, 2014
Information and Technical Services actively supports the teaching and research mission of the Harvard Library by managing monograph, serial and e-resource acquisitions, metadata creation, and metadata management for the Harvard Library.
As a member of the Serials Acquisitions & Management unit within the E-Resources & Serials Section, under the supervision of the Manager for Serials Acquisitions, the incumbent collaborates with unit manager and Operations and Performance Specialist to develop innovative methods to improve efficiency and productivity of the unit, introducing automation to reduce repetitive activities while ensuring ongoing quality control and adherence to agreed-upon work standards. In addition, the incumbent will provides timely access to Harvard Library collections by performing activities in support of the acquisition, receipt, and maintenance of serials and e-resources acquired for the Harvard Library’s collections.
Priorities will be set to maximize contributions to the overall goals of the Information and Technical Services Department of the Harvard Library. Staff may be called upon to apply their skills and/or receive additional training in order to contribute to work in other ITS units or teams as occasional, short-term needs occur. Please note that this position is located at 625 Massachusettes Avenue in Central Square.
Duties and Responsiblities:
- Identifies, suggests, and implements innovations and generates ideas with unit manager and staff for improving workflows and creating efficiencies
- Initiates changes to systems and procedures and implements and executes approved changes; collaborates with manager and staff in planning of new projects and work initiatives
- Organizes the workflows related to serials acquisitions and serials management responsibilities of the unit, develops routines and communicates priorities accordingly to team members
- Works with Serials Acquisions
Founded in 1636, Harvard University is preeminent among the world’s research universities. Harvard has grown from nine students with a single master to an enrollment of more than 6,600 undergraduate students, over 14,000 graduate students, and an additional 2,000 part-time students. Over 16,000 people work at Harvard, including approximately 2,100 faculty members. An additional 10,000 individuals have faculty appointments in Harvard-affiliated teaching hospitals.
In the course of 375 years, Harvard’s Library has grown from a single collection of 400 volumes to a 73-unit library system whose holdings include nearly 17 million volumes, more than 21 million digital files, 10 million microforms, 8 million photographs, and an estimated 400 million manuscript items.
For additional information visit the Harvard Library web site at: http://lib.harvard.edu/about-us
Salary Grade: 054
Union: 55 – Hvd Union Cler & Tech Workers
- High School degree or equivalent or work experience required
- Minimum of four years of library work experience or directly related progressively responsible experience required, including skills with an integrated library system and online bibliographic systems; Aleph experience preferred
- At least 3 years direct experience working with serial publications, library acquisitions, or library materials vendors/subscription agents
- Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff, students and stakeholders across the University
- Demonstrated experience using technology to perform daily tasks and solve problems
- Must have excellent organizational, written communication and analytical skills
- Proficiency with Microsoft Windows operating system and Windows software required
- Demonstrated facility with automated systems, including using online databases, working with spreadsheets and knowledge of file management techniques
- College degree preferred and work experience in academic library strongly preferred
- Must have excellent English language communication skills; familiarity with Western European languages desirable
- Ability to work productively and cooperatively in a team environment, with flexibility and versatility in an evolving work situation required; additionally strong attention to detail, the ability to priortize work, mulit taks and have flexibilty is required
- Ability to work independently to perform complex tasks
- Commitment to be part of a continuous learning environment, updating skills as required to perform job duties
- Ability to organize various workflows for the unit
- Must demonstrate strong leadership skills with a team-based attitude
- This position involves occasionally lifting and moving loads weighing in excess of 40 pounds and requires bending, squatting, stretching and climbing small step stools when needed to retrieve books and shelve them
- May require keyboarding for a least six hours a day
- Located in a library office setting, there may be limited exposure to dust and dirt