Library Assistant IV, Harvard Library, Cambridge, MA

Posted September 10, 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 Monograph Acquisitions & Copy Cataloging 3 (MACC 3) unit within the Acquisitions Section, under the supervision of the Manager for MACC 3, the incumbent helps various Acquisitions units by providing timely access to Harvard Library collections by performing a variety of acquisitions and copy cataloging duties for monographs and serials in multiple languages and formats.

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: This is a term position, scheduled to end six months from hire date.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Places orders via Aleph and other systems as appropriate for materials and library workflows within Acquisitions, following bibliographers’ directives regarding materials, vendor and fund assignments
Processes shipments of new materials by receiving titles in Aleph, verifying accuracy of vendor invoices and issuing payments in Aleph, paying careful attention to funding sources as designated by bibliographers
Searches bibliographic and related data in catalogs and online databases (vendor databases, OCLC, websites, etc.) for the purpose of ordering, receiving and cataloging material and updating bibliographic information in Aleph
Creates, edits and reviews bibliographic, holdings and item records for materials in all formats and multiple languages according to established guidelines.
Works on the resolution of routine order, receipt, invoice, bibliographic and holdings problems
Participates in routine cataloging, using prepared copy and/or existing data; edits bibliographic holdings and item record data for materials in all formats according to established guidelines
Communicates with vendors, publishers, bibliographers and financial personnel; conducts professional correspondence when needed to solve problems or follow up on orders
Maintains the privacy of patron records and protects high risk/confidential information contained in University records
May serves as a source of information on established policies and procedures for library patrons and staff
Works according to changing daily priorities, demonstrates flexibility and the ability to shift between multiple tasks effectively
Implements existing procedures, monitors effectiveness and suggests alternatives, as needed
Participates in unit-wide planning and implementation of new policies and procedures
May contribute to routine special projects, including documentation and statistics
May assist in training, scheduling and distributing work to other staff or student workers
May assist with developing training and procedural documentation for unit
Contributes to overall goals of the department as appropriate

Basic Qualifications:

High school diploma or equivalent degree or work experience required
Proficiency with Microsoft Windows operating system and Windows software
Demonstrated facility with automated systems, including using online databases, working with spreadsheets and knowledge of file management techniques
Demonstrated experience using technology to perform daily tasks

Additional Qualifications:

College degree preferred
Library experience, particularly experience in acquisitions or with serial publications, strongly preferred
Experience working with integrated library systems, particularly Aleph, desirable
Familiarity with at least one foreign language desirable
Work experience in a production-oriented and technology-enhanced environment preferred
Excellent oral and interpersonal communication skills.
Ability to perform repetitive work accurately with fine attention to detail
Ability to work productively and cooperatively in a team environment, with flexibility and versatility in an evolving work situation
Ability to work independently following established guidelines and procedures
Ability to keyboard for 6 hours a day
Ability to lift and move loads weighing up to 30 pounds; must be able to push heavy library book trucks
Requires bending, squatting, stretching, and climbing small step stools when needed to retrieve books and shelve them