Special Library Assistant II (and Other JOBS at the Boston Public Library), Boston Public Library, Boston, MA

Posted June 13, 2020

Special Note:

This posting will only mention the Special Library Assistant II job. However, a variety of job openings at BPL can be found here.

Description:

Under the direction of the Manager of the Arts, assists in all aspects of maintaining and organizing Arts special collections materials including prints, photographs, paintings, music, archives, and other Arts-related collections; retrieving and refiling materials; statistics collection; maintaining accessions lists; patron registration; and stack maintenance within the department. Reports to Manager of the Arts.

Responsibilities:

Scope of Responsibility

Participates in activities related to accessioning for all incoming materials (new and transferred) for the department.
Retrieves departmental materials for patron and staff requests. Assists in maintaining inventory control of each item retrieved from stacks, compares and matches tracking information, verifies reshelving of material, and checks shelves on a regular basis for misshelved items. Collects organizes, and files department tracking documentation.
Ensures that materials are refiled promptly and accurately after use. Responsible for the proper handling and security of rare, valuable, and fragile materials.
Performs regular sorting, shelving, straightening, and shelf-reading. Participates in departmental shifting and collection measurement, inventories, shelving of new material, and other stack maintenance work as assigned.
Prepares materials for delivery and transports trucks of materials between Central departments for reading room usage, digitization, exhibition, and other purposes. Assists with the coordination/retrieval of off-site collections.
Prepares newly acquired materials for shelving by inserting bookplates, lettering, labeling, flags, etc.
Assists with rehousing of materials, printing of labels, and refoldering of items.
Assists with departmental clerical duties including maintaining statistics, compiling reports, and managing paper and electronic files.
Assists with coverage for Reception Desk as needed. Registers patrons and informs them of reading room policies and procedures. Answers general questions about the department and its collections.
Performs other related duties as required.

Competencies

Demonstrated initiative and appropriate independent decision-making skills.
Demonstrated strong oral and written communication skills. Communicates effectively and presents ideas clearly.
Demonstrated organizational skills. Identifies, plans and prioritizes administrative job responsibilities and tasks; assists in implementing administrative timelines.
Ability to collaborate with library staff and patrons.
Ability to execute library policy.
Proficiency with MS Outlook, Word, and Excel.

Required Qualifications:

Education – High school graduate or equivalent. Additional education desirable. World Language skills desirable.
Experience – At least two years library experience and/or equivalent education and/or training to carry out responsibilities of the position. Experience with basic integrated library system software.
Requirements – Computer skills necessary to complete the job as described. High sense of responsibility, excellent work habits and organizational skill. Familiarity with Library of Congress classification system. Ability to help solve problems of sorting, storage, and retrieval of materials. Ability to read and interpret bibliographic or other descriptive information about collections. Ability to bend, stoop, reach, and climb stairs. Ability to lift and carry 40 pounds with appropriate equipment or assistance from another person.

Other Information

This position full-time, 35 hours per week. Union/Salary Plan/Grade: AFP / LA / 5.

How to Apply:

The original job posting can be found here. To apply use the job portal found there.