Technical Services Assistant, Harvard Library, Cambridge, MA

Posted June 13, 2017

ID 42662BR

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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 and serials in multiple languages and formats. 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 ITS units or teams as occasional, short-term needs occur.

Duties and Responsibilities

Places orders online and via other systems as appropriate for materials in a variety of languages and formats, following bibliographers’ directives regarding materials and fund assignments.
May serve as a liaison with library partners regarding scoping, digitization and invoice payment.
Processes shipments of new materials by receiving titles, verifying accuracy of vendor invoices and issuing payments in online system, 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 library systems.
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 procurement card (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.
May place orders for continuing resources in all formats.
May maintain bibliographic and holdings records and set up prediction patterns in the library catalog for continuing resources.
May receive or check in continuing resources and issue payments in online system.
May run reports for bibliographers and for the unit as needed.
Secures public performance rights for classroom viewing and/or library presentation of DVDs following established procedures.
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.

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
Familiarity with one or more Western European or Middle Eastern languages is required.
Proficiency with Microsoft Windows operating system and Windows software required.
Demonstrated facility with automated systems, including using online databases, working with spreadsheets and basic knowledge of file management techniques.

Additional Qualifications

College degree preferred.
Familiarity with Turkish is desirable.
Library acquisitions and basic cataloging experience strongly preferred.
Familiarity in systems such as OCLC and Aleph or Alma desirable.
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.

Physical Demands

Keyboarding for at least 6 hours a day may be required. Employee must be able to handle books and other library material, including moving and shifting these materials between workstations, shelves, book trucks and boxes. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Additional Information

Duties and Responsibilities continued:

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.

Work Environment

This is an office environment.
Located in a library office setting, there may be limited exposure to dust and dirt.

Opportunities for Current Students