Reading Room Coordinator, John Carter Brown Library, Providence, RI
Posted July 23, 2015
Reporting to the Assistant Librarian for Research and Reference Services, the Reading Room and Security Coordinator is responsible for many aspects of Library security and day-to-day reading room administration, including coordinating, managing, and monitoring all aspects of the Library’s collections protection program.
Responsibilities:
Monitoring, coordinating, and supervising reading room security
- Monitors the reading tables and security cameras in the reading room and stack areas. Maintains awareness of all rare material in use at all times.
- Ensures that Library policies for the handling of materials are followed by all researchers. Instructs researchers in proper handling procedures when necessary and corrects potentially harmful situations with courtesy and consistency.
- Maintains a secure environment conductive to research. Resolves disruptions in a polite and constructive manner.
- Coordinates the reading room supervision schedule, including shifts taken by the Public Services Assistants and other staff members.
- Readies the reading room each morning for researchers and ensures adequate supplies for research (paper, book rests, weights, etc.)
- Informs Assistant Librarian and/or Associate Librarian in case of anomalies in video cameras or other unusual circumstances.
- Engages campus security officers when necessary, and especially in case of emergency.
Manages day-to-day operations and reporting for the AEON Circulation Management System
- Monitors incoming requests from the Aeon system each day and coordinates the fulfillment of requests and return of materials according to the Library’s paging schedule and available storage space.
- Ensures that Aeon transaction records and material queues are accurate and up-to-date.
- Communicates with researchers regarding questions about their requests.
- Performs periodic updates and maintenance to Aeon templates and queues as needed.
- Generates reports of collection usage and researcher data.
Management of Library’s security procedures
Responsible for managing expectations for the Library community with regard to security, safety, evacuations, theft, and protection, including updating and maintaining Library’s disaster policy handbook (copies of which should be in the reading room and also in Admin Office) and educating staff and research community as to its contents. Conducts closing inspections and works closely with the Public Services Assistant to manage the inspection / entry greeting process.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree and 1-2 years of relative experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience required.
- MLS preferred.
- Experience handling rare books and other special collections material and commitment to the preservation of rare collections.
- Sensitivity to the complications of providing research access to rare material while maintaining security. Prior experience supervising a rare book reading room or other special collections environment highly desired.
- Comfort with enforcing security policies and handling instructions and the ability to address problems with consistency, fairness, and respect.
- Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to communicate effectively with researchers of diverse backgrounds and to respond to situations with tact, good judgement, and poise.
- Facility with database management programs; experience with the Aeon system highly desirable.
- Flexibility to change and interruptions, able to manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
- Vigilance and attention to detail essential.
The successful candidate must pass a criminal background check and education verification.
To apply please use the following link to the position on Brown University’s Career Site: https://brown.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/staff-careers-brown/job/John-Carter-Brown-Library/Reading-Room-Coordinator—John-Carter-Brown-Library_REQ118423-1