Serials Acquisition and Management Intern, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA

Posted December 20, 2019

Practicum Proposal

Harvard University Library Information & Technical Services (ITS), Lower Level – 625 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 

 

About the Serials Acquisition & Management Unit

Serials Acquisition & Management oversees the ordering, receipt, and payment of serials for twenty Harvard Library locations, and consists of nine members.

 

Practicum Proposal: Assessment of Existing Vendor Use for Serials

The successful candidate will identify subscription orders from smaller vendors eligible for migration to larger alternative vendors. Time permitting, the student will oversee the migration of these orders to the vendors identified.

 

Measurable learning objective(s): The Practicum Student will develop the skills necessary to interact with key library vendors, and to apply critical thinking to the process of identifying best practices for migrating orders to specific vendors, to best meet the needs of all stakeholders in technical services and other library departments.

The Intern will engage tasks allowing for the development of the following skills and aptitudes:

• Programmatic/Technical: 

• Experience with a major library services platform, Alma, including with the acquisitions and analytics modules

• Experience working within major subscription agent interfaces, such as EbscoNet and Fokus

• Methodological: 

• Experience drafting correspondence with major library materials vendors

• Interaction between different library units, within technical services, and as those units relate with other library groups, such as Collection Development, and Research, Teaching, and Learning.

• Applying analytical skills to a practical project similar to what they could encounter in a first professional job

• Development of analytical skills, to assess the advantages and disadvantages of the services provided by competing vendors, including cost, service level, and speed.

• Development of written and verbal communication skills

 

Desired Qualifications:

• Ability to track and meet deadlines

• Strong organizational skills

• Self-motivated

• Project management and time management skills

• Strong written and verbal communication skills

• Innovative and thinks outside the box

• Creative, energetic, and collaborative approach to work

• There is no heavy lifting or pushing required in this internship, though extensive time sitting, typing, and viewing computer screens would be necessary

 

Education:

BA/BS

MS – in progress

 

How to Apply

This internship qualifies for LIS 512 (approval was received from Sarah Pratt), but interested students can also choose to perform the internship without receipt of course credit. The internship is unpaid. Interested students should contact Jane Skoric, Manager of Serials Acquisitions and Management at [email protected]. 

 

About the Harvard Library Information & Technical Services

Library Technology Services (LTS) is a Harvard University Information Technology (HUIT) unit that provides systems and support to the Harvard Library. LTS plans and develops the library technology portfolio and maintains reliable enterprise library applications to facilitate search, discovery, and access to knowledge. LTS also designs solutions to enable creation of world-class scholarly collections through acquisition, collaboration, and digital repository services.

 

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, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions, or any other characteristic protected by law.

 

Diversity at the Harvard Library

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.