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Temporary Access Services Specialist, Harvard Library, Cambridge, MA

Posted July 17, 2015

Access Services supports the Harvard Library mission by delivering a high standard of service; cultivating a welcoming environment that is supportive of academic research and inquiry; stewarding the university collection; and connecting the academic community to the vast array of library resources.  We support the teaching and scholarly mission of the University through collaborative partnerships with the community of students, scholars and professionals at Harvard and beyond.

Reporting to the Head of Access Services for Humanities & Social Sciences Libraries, the Access Services Specialist carries out various tasks at the Harvard-Yenching Library to provide access to Harvard Library and its collections. Under the direction of the Access Services Team Leader at Harvard-Yenching Library, the Access Services Specialist performs a variety of complex library duties requiring a broad understanding of library-wide procedures to provide access to collections and process library materials. This visible position operates in a dynamic environment and involves actively assisting users across a range of functions. 

Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Circulation:  Open and close library and/or Access Services work areas; perform tasks associated with the automated circulation system (charge/discharge and renew materials, create holds and recalls, change item statuses); communicate and enforce library policies; assist patrons with the use of the HOLLIS catalog and the library system to manage patron account information; process item requests; manage requests for off-site Depository materials; process incoming Harvard Depository materials and transfers from other libraries; support security measures; supervise student workers
  • Resource Sharing:  Support a variety of resource sharing activities, including interlibrary lending, Borrow Direct, and Harvard Direct; routinely work with materials in multiple languages, the majority being in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean.
  • Information Services: Answer informational and directional questions about Harvard-Yenching and other Harvard Libraries; use the HOLLIS catalog and Aleph to locate materials and answer user questions; appropriately refer patrons with questions that require significant subject expertise; maintain an awareness of role of Access Services and its function within the Harvard Library and the University as a whole
  • Course Reserves: May assist in processing course reserve requests and physical processing of course reserves materials
  • Stacks Maintenance & Reshelving: Process materials for reshelving and reshelve materials; monitor and maintain collection stacks in proper order and oversee arrangement of books on shelves; trace missing materials; checks study carrels and public areas for library materials
  • Library Equipment:  Maintain, troubleshoot, and coordinate service maintenance for public photocopiers and scanners, public computer workstations, public printers, and microform readers; assist patrons in using Crimson Cash and/or local School-based print accounts
  • Student Workers:  Supervise and assign tasks to student workers; oversee performance of daily tasks
  • Security: Enforce collection, access, and building security policies; check IDs of incoming patrons; perform bag check of exiting visitors; clear building at closing time
  • Physical Facility:  Monitor building; maintain awareness of physical condition, use of space, etc.; identify and resolve/report problems as appropriate; assists users with disabilities in accessing library materials
  • Privileges:  Provide information and basic support for library privileges and access to Harvard-Yenching Library
  • Fines & Billing: Provide patrons with basic information regarding overdue fines owed, accepts payment for fines, and refers patrons to the library billing office as appropriate.
  • Other: Resolve problems for users through the use and interpretation of established guidelines; collect and record information about library usage, workflows, and processes and create reports; effectively communicate with library patrons and colleagues in person, by telephone, and through email and other electronic media; may occasionally support Access Services activities in other units; other tasks and duties as assigned

Basic Qualifications:

  • High school diploma or equivalent work experience required
  • Ability to successfully deliver excellent customer service and prioritize service needs in a busy, dynamic public service environment required
  • Facility with standard office software (Microsoft Word and Excel, email, calendaring applications, etc.) required
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills required
  • 1-3 years previous library or related experience required
  • Working knowledge (reading, writing, listening, speaking) of Chinese, Japanese, or Korean required.

Additional Requirements:

  • College degree preferred
  • Previous library or related work experience preferred
  • Experience with an online library catalog and management system (particularly Ex Libris’s Aleph system) and familiarity with electronic academic library resources preferred
  • Sensitivity to working in a diverse user environment
  • Ability to solve problems effectively and exercise discerning judgment
  • Supervisory experience preferred
  • Ability to prioritize multiple tasks and work productively in a team environment
  • Ability to perform repetitive work tasks with overall accuracy, effectiveness, and attention to detail
  • Adaptable, able to flexibly adjust to changing workplace needs
  • This position involves regularly lifting and moving loads weighing up to 50 pounds; must be able to push heavy library book trucks

This position requires bending, squatting, stretching, and climbing small step stools when needed to retrieve books and shelve them.

Please submit applications to [email protected]

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