Reader Services Intern, The Boston Athenæum, Boston, MA
Posted April 4, 2024
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
The Boston Athenæum seeks a personable and reliable intern for the Reader Services
Department who will play an important role in supporting the daily functions of the Reference
and Circulation. Reporting to the Head of Reader Services, the intern will be a primary point of
welcome at the front desk to members and the public.
The ideal candidate will be organized, hard-working, and proactive about public service. This
position will be available to start immediately.
Hours: About 15 hours per week, Tuesdays 12 pm – 8 pm, and Saturdays 9 am – 5 pm, with
occasional changes to the schedule.
Compensation: $16.15 per hour; paid sick time; free membership concurrent with
employment.
RESPONSIBILITIES
▪ Provide coverage of the circulation and reference desks.
▪ Provide stack maintenance by shelving and shifting books.
▪ Offer basic reference services.
▪ Offer library orientation tours to members.
▪ Create readers’ advisory materials.
▪ Perform all other duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS
▪ Submit to and pass a background check, including criminal history, personal references,
employment verifications and Registry of Motor Vehicles (if applicable).
▪ Must be currently enrolled in an ALA accredited library science graduate program.
▪ Must be comfortable speaking in public, on the phone and communicating via email.
▪ Must be proficient in Microsoft Office.
▪ Position requires sitting at a desk for prolonged periods and engaging in repetitive
movements of the hands, wrists and fingers.
▪ Position also requires the ability to handle and lift packages weighing as much as 30
pounds and the ability to push book carts between internal office locations.
▪ Completion of reference course preferred.
▪ Experience with OCLC resource sharing preferred.
▪ Commitment to fostering a workplace culture of teamwork and inclusion.
TO APPLY:
Please Submit a Resume and a Cover Letter using the link.
The Boston Athenæum is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage individuals of diverse
backgrounds to apply and are committed to hiring individuals who value a diverse and inclusive work
environment. The Boston Athenæum is also committed to providing access, equal opportunity,and
reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment. To request a reasonable
accommodation, please contact the Human Resources Generalist, Nora Conley, at 617-720-7630
or [email protected].
ABOUT THE BOSTON ATHENAEUM
Founded in 1807, the Boston Athenæum is located at 101⁄2 Beacon Street on Beacon Hill. A
distinguished membership library and cultural institution with a long history at the center of
intellectual life in Boston, the Athenæum hosts events year round and supports a dynamic
exhibition program. It is welcoming to all, a place that nurtures a sense of wonder and delight in
sharing the joy of physical books, maps, prints, and other works of art, and a place that fosters
community and civil discourse as members and visitors connect and converse.
The Athenæum’s collections are housed within a National Historic Landmark that is widely
regarded as one of the most beautiful libraries in the world. The reading rooms—including the
barrel-vaulted fifth floor—have served as a haven and inspiration to countless writers and
researchers. The library maintains over 600,000 volumes with strengths in history, biography,
and literature, as well as fine and decorative arts. Notable holdings include primary materials on
the American Civil War; the largest portion of President George Washington’s library; a first
edition of Audubon’s The Birds of America; a 1799 set of Goya’s Los caprichos; one of the most
extensive collections of contemporary artists’ books in the United States; and numerous
artworks, including portraits of notable Americans such as Hannah Adams, John Marshall, and
Alexander Hamilton, and by artists such as Gilbert Stuart, John Singer Sargent, Allan Rohan
Crite, and Polly Thayer Starr. Membership is open to all, and visitors are warmly welcomed.