Temporary Information and Technical Services Assistant, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA

Posted July 30, 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 Serials Acquisitions unit, within the E-Resources and Serials Section, under the supervision of the Manager for Serials Acquisitions, the incumbent provides timely access to Harvard Library collections by performing a variety of acquisitions and cataloging duties for monographs in multiple formats.  

Priorities will be set to maximize contributions to the overall goals of the Information and Technical Services Department of the Harvard Library. The position is based at 625 Massachusetts Avenue in Central Square and may be required to perform duties in other Harvard Library locations across campus.

• Places complex orders for continuing resources in all formats as well as monitoring and responding to special order requests, such as rush orders, e-resource purchases, vendor transfers, and replacement issues
• Resolves complex problems within Aleph ILS for order, subscription, and holdings records resulting from incorrect, incomplete, or conflicting bibliographic data; maintains, verifies and corrects entries
• Serves as a primary contact for vendors and publishers in resolving complex order problems and questions related to serial titles
• Ability to serve as a principle source of information on established policies and procedures for bibliographers and other staff
• Performs order and database maintenance including title changes, cancellations, ceased titles, changes to serial orders, renewals, and memberships
• Participates in monitoring of acquisitions e-mail account and department ticketing systems
• Initiates routine and special claims and takes other corrective action as needed
• May process invoices for continuing resource materials received by Harvard libraries
• May research and resolve complex financial matters
• Works according to changing daily priorities, demonstrates flexibility and ability to shift between multiple tasks effectively
• May act as liaison with other related library units
• May assist with serials receipt at various locations as necessary
• May supervise student workers

Basic Qualifications:

• High school diploma or equivalent required
• Must have excellent English language communication 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
• Demonstrated experience using technology to perform daily tasks
• Must have excellent organizational, written communication and analytical skills
• Competency in keyboarding required
• Previous library or related work experience required

Additional Requirements:

• Places complex orders for continuing resources in all formats as well as monitoring and responding to special order requests, such as rush orders, e-resource purchases, vendor transfers, and replacement issues
• Resolves complex problems within Aleph ILS for order, subscription, and holdings records resulting from incorrect, incomplete, or conflicting bibliographic data; maintains, verifies and corrects entries
• Serves as a primary contact for vendors and publishers in resolving complex order problems and questions related to serial titles
• Ability to serve as a principle source of information on established policies and procedures for bibliographers and other staff
• Performs order and database maintenance including title changes, cancellations, ceased titles, changes to serial orders, renewals, and memberships
• Participates in monitoring of acquisitions e-mail account and department ticketing systems
• Initiates routine and special claims and takes other corrective action as needed
• May process invoices for continuing resource materials received by Harvard libraries
• May research and resolve complex financial matters
• Works according to changing daily priorities, demonstrates flexibility and ability to shift between multiple tasks effectively
• May act as liaison with other related library units
• May assist with serials receipt at various locations as necessary
• May supervise student workers

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Please send applications to [email protected] with “ITS Temporary Position” as the subject line.