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Continuing Resources Library Assistant, Harvard Library, Cambridge, MA

Posted June 13, 2017

Information and Technical Services actively supports the teaching and research mission of the Harvard Library by managing monograph, serials and e-resource acquisitions, metadata creation, and metadata management for the Harvard Library. This position is part of the Serials Acquisitions and Management group, a unit handling ordering, receiving, claiming, invoice processing, and onsite print serials management tasks for several libraries within the Harvard Library system. All members of this group are expected to participate fully in collaborative efforts toward building efficient workflows and problem solving. Under the supervision of the Manager of Serials Acquisitions and Management, the incumbent provides timely access to Harvard Library collections by handling receipt, claiming, physical processing, and onsite print serials management tasks for several libraries within the Harvard Library system. Priorities will be set to maximize contributions to the overall goals of the Information and Technical Services Department of the Harvard Library. Due to the varied nature and volume of the work in ITS, all ITS staff may be called upon to contribute to work in any unit or team of the ITS department, as organizational needs warrant.

This is a term position with an end date of June 29, 2018.

Duties and Responsibilities

  • Receipt of routine continuing resources in all formats, checking for accuracy and missing items
  • Processes invoices for continuing resource materials received by the library
  • Searches order requests in various databases to determine library holdings and to verify bibliographic information Initiates routine claims and takes other corrective action for problem titles as needed, including correcting and updating records, entering notes in records as necessary Initiates binding procedure
  • Checks in non-Roman alphabet periodicals using charts and guides prepared by the library.
  • Routes materials to appropriate locations for further processing
  • Provides end processing for some serial publications
  • Assists in the resolution of bibliographic, holdings, order and receipt problems.
  • Opens, sources and distributes library mail in the absence of staff assistant.
  • May contribute to routine special projects, including documentation and statistics
  • May serve as a source of information on established unit policies and procedures for library patrons and staff
  • Works according to changing daily priorities, demonstrates flexibility and ability to shift between multiple tasks effectively Implements existing procedures, monitors effectiveness and suggests alternatives, as needed;
  • May assist with developing training and procedural documentation for unit
  • Participates in unit-wide planning and workflow implementation of new policies and procedures
  • May assist in training, scheduling, and distributing work to other staff or student workers.
  • Contributes to the overall goals of the department as appropriate.

Basic Qualifications

  • High school diploma or equivalent 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
  • Competency in keyboarding

Additional Qualifications

  • College degree preferred
  • Must have excellent organizational, written communication and analytical skills Work experience in a production-oriented and technology-enhanced environment preferred
  • Must have excellent oral and interpersonal communication skills
  • Must have excellent English language communication skills;
  • Familiarity with Western European languages desirable
  • Must be able to perform repetitive work accurately with fine attention to details
  • Ability to work productively and cooperatively in a team environment, with flexibility and versatility in an evolving work situation required
  • Ability to work independently following established guidelines and procedures

Physical Demands

Keyboarding for at least 6 hours a day may be required.

Employee must be able handle books and other library material, including moving and shifting these materials between workstations, shelves, book trucks and boxes.

Additional Information

At the Harvard Library, our work is enriched by our diverse campus community. Our unique and wide-ranging abilities, experiences, and perspectives are integral to achieving Harvard University’s mission of excellence in research, teaching, and learning for our patrons, our collections, and our workplace. We believe that an inclusive environment that cultivates and promotes understanding, respect, and collaboration across our diverse workforce enables our success. We encourage individuals with diverse backgrounds, experiences and abilities to apply to be a part of our community of over 700 staff members. Our work with faculty, students and researchers to explore answers to intellectual questions, enduring and new, and to seek solutions to the world’s most consequential problems, requires that we not only reflect, but also champion our diverse society. Learn more about our contributions to the academic enterprise by visiting us at http://lib.harvard.edu/about-us and about the Harvard University community at http://hr.harvard.edu/why-harvard. The Harvard Library is a proud member of the ACRL Diversity Alliance

Pre-Employment Screening

Criminal Education Identity

Appointment End Date 29-Jun-2018

EEO Statement

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

ID 42660BR

To learn more or apply for these roles, please visit:

http://hr.harvard.edu/search-jobs

After selecting Administrative/Staff Jobs (either internal or external), click ‘search openings’ and then enter the corresponding requisition number in the Auto Req ID Field. 

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