Book End Processing Assistant, Harvard College Library, MA
Posted May 2, 2023
Description
**This is a two-year term position.**
Houghton Library, the primary repository for Harvard’s rare books and manuscripts, seeks a collaborative and motivated Library Assistant. Reporting to the Head of Rare Book Section, the incumbent’s primary duty will be physically organizing, sorting and end-processing items in The Edison Miniature Book & Manuscript Collection, a collection of over 20,000 items spanning from pre-15th century to the 21st century. The incumbent will also assist in end-processing other printed materials in various formats and other holdings. This is a two-year term position.
Houghton Library has recently joined with the Eda Kuhn Loeb Music Library, Fine Arts Library, Harvard Film Archive, and Harvard University Archives to create Archives, Arts, and Special Collections of Harvard Library, a new administrative unit currently planning integrated approaches to technical services for archives and special collections across the portfolio.
Position Description
- Responsible for end-processing items from The Edison Miniature Book & Manuscript Collection, in accordance with Houghton security and preservation policies.
- Assists the Special Projects Cataloger to physically survey, organize and sort items in The Edison Miniature Book & Manuscript Collection for cataloging.
- Oversees the measurement and construction of protective cases for items from The Edison Miniature Book & Manuscript Collection.
- Assists the Technical Services Assistant in end-processing other printed materials, as time allows.
- Collaborates with preservation staff, curators, public services staff, and Harvard Depository staff in providing access to and care for collections.
- Edits and corrects bibliographic, holdings, and item records in Alma as necessary to ensure access and discovery by colleagues and researchers.
- Provides back-up services in receiving incoming materials and liaising with Harvard Depository (HD) for Technical Services in the absence of the Technical Services Assistant.
- Contributes to Houghton Library Public Services service point rotation.
- Perform copy cataloging as assigned.
- May train and supervise student assistants in the performance of end-processing, protective case assembly, electronic records editing, and HD transfer duties.
- Other duties as assigned.
Basic Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree.
- Experience working in an academic library technical services setting.
Additional Qualifications and Skills
- Experience working in Special Collections repository.
- Experience handling rare and fragile materials.
- Broad subject knowledge and experience with bibliographic records.
- Familiarity or knowledge of cataloging standards.
- Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to detail for complex and possibly repetitive work.
- Experience with integrated library systems (Alma preferred) and bibliographic utilities (OCLC Connexion).
- Demonstrated commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, belonging, and anti-racism.
- Excellent organizational and time management skills.
- Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
- Must be self-motivated and able to work collaboratively and effectively, both independently and as well as part of a team.
- Able to perform repetitive work accurately with attention to detail.
- Adaptable in working with frequent interruptions.
- Able to evaluate workflows and manage multiple tasks and deadlines.
- Able to liaise with colleagues and peers collegially and promptly.
- Able to delegate responsibilities to student employees effectively.
- Experience copy cataloging in an integrated library system and creating holdings and item records.
Physical Requirements
- This position requires lifting and moving of materials in boxes weighing up to 40 pounds and pushing heavily loaded book trucks.
- Work is performed in an area with library materials that may contain allergens or irritants such as paper dust and/or mold.
Working Conditions
- This is an on-site position.
- The person in this role will primarily work Monday-Friday 9am-5pm.
Benefits
We invite you to visit Harvard’s Total Rewards website to learn more about our outstanding benefits package, which may include:
- Paid Time Off: 3-4 weeks of accrued vacation time per year (3 weeks for support staff and 4 weeks for administrative/professional staff), 12 accrued sick days per year, 12.5 holidays plus a Winter Recess in December/January, 3 personal days per year (prorated based on date of hire), and up to 12 weeks of paid leave for new parents who are primary care givers.
- Health and Welfare: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits, disability and life insurance programs, along with voluntary benefits. Most coverage begins as of your start date.
- Work/Life and Wellness: Child and elder/adult care resources including on campus childcare centers, Employee Assistance Program, and wellness programs related to stress management, nutrition, meditation, and more.
- Retirement: University-funded retirement plan with contributions from 5% to 15% of eligible compensation, based on age and earnings with full vesting after 3 years of service.
- Tuition Assistance Program: Competitive program including $40 per class at the Harvard Extension School and reduced tuition through other participating Harvard graduate schools.
- Tuition Reimbursement: Program that provides 75% to 90% reimbursement up to $5,250 per calendar year for eligible courses taken at other accredited institutions.
- Professional Development: Programs and classes at little or no cost, including through the Harvard Center for Workplace Development and LinkedIn Learning.
- Commuting and Transportation: Various commuter options handled through the Parking Office, including discounted parking, half-priced public transportation passes and pre-tax transit passes, biking benefits, and more.
- Harvard Facilities Access, Discounts and Perks: Access to Harvard athletic and fitness facilities, libraries, campus events, credit union, and more, as well as discounts to various types of services (legal, financial, etc.) and cultural and leisure activities throughout metro-Boston.
Schedule
- The person in this role will primarily work Monday-Friday 9am-5pm.
To Apply
Commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging
Across 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 invite individuals with diverse backgrounds, experiences and abilities 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.
Harvard Library inspires collaboration, reflection, experimentation, and discovery connecting users to related disciplines and to University-wide teaching resources. The Library engages users through curated discovery, digital collections, reimagined physical space, and specialized research support. Today, Harvard Library’s holdings range from traditional print collections to rapidly expanding access to digital resources. Harvard Library provides the University’s faculty, students, and researchers—now and in the future—with exceptional experiences and comprehensive access to these materials.
Learn more about our contributions to the academic enterprise by visiting us at http://library.harvard.edu and about the Harvard University community at http://hr.harvard.edu/why-harvard.
The Harvard Library is a proud member of the Association of College & Research Libraries (ACRL) Diversity Alliance.
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.