Technical Services Library Assistant, Harvard Library, Cambridge, MA
Posted March 17, 2015
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 Americas & Europe 3 unit within the Acquisitions Section, under the supervision of the Manager for Monograph Acquisitions & Copy Cataloging Americas & Europe 3, the incumbent provides timely access to Harvard Library collections by performing a variety of acquisitions and copy cataloging duties for monographs in multiple languages and formats with the primary focus on materials for the Aga Khan Program.
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 ITUS units or teams as occasional, short-term needs occur.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Places orders via Aleph and other systems as appropriate with the primary focus on the Aga Khan Program, following bibliographers’ directives regarding materials and fund assignments
- May contribute to ordering materials for other libraries and workflows within the MACC A&E 3 unit as time allows
- Serves as the primary liaison with partners regarding scoping, digitization and invoice payment for the Aga Khan Program
- 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 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 resolution of routine order, receipt, invoice, bibliographic and holdings problems
- Places orders for time sensitive materials such as course reserves and follows up with priority processing, including expedited copy cataloging
- Uses PCard for both routine purchases from established vendors and for more complicated orders from unfamiliar sources
- Performs routine and more complex copy cataloging and may serve as primary resource for the team for copy cataloging issues and bringing unresolved questions to the manager
- Orders and copy catalogs works in parts
- Runs Cognos reports for bibliographers and for the unit as needed
- Secures public performance rights for classroom viewing and/or library presentation of DVDs
- Communicates with vendors, publishers, bibliographers and financial personnel; conducts professional correspondence when needed to solve problems or follow up on orders including invoice payment issues.
- Maintains the privacy of patron records and protects high risk/confidential information contained in University records
- 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
- Suggests innovations and generates ideas for improving workflows and creating efficiencies
- Participates in unit-wide planning and implementation of new policies and procedures
- May contribute to or oversee special projects, including documentation, training and statistics
- May assist in hiring, training, scheduling and distributing work of other staff or student workers
- Assists with developing training and procedural documentation for unit
- Contributes to overall goals of the department as appropriate
Basic Qualifications:
- High school diploma or equivalent education or work experience required
- Previous library or related work experience required, including skills with integrated library system and online bibliographic systems including familiarity with OCLC and ALEPH required
- Working knowledge of Arabic or Persian required. Familiarity with one or more other Middle Eastern language, especially Turkish, is desirable
- 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
Additional Qualifications:
- College degree preferred
- Reading knowledge of at least one Western European language preferred
- Library acquisitions and basic cataloging experience strongly preferred
- Background in Art and/or Middle Eastern studies preferred
- 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. In addition, the ability to work independently to perform complex tasks and meet project deadlines
- Commitment to be part of a continuous learning environment, updating skills as required to perform job duties
- 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