Course Reserves Processing Assistant, Harvard Library (Cambridge, MA)

Posted July 10, 2026

Position Description and Summary

The Course Reserves Processing Assistant makes assigned course materials available to Harvard Graduate School of Education students accurately, on time, and in accessible form. The role works a shared daily queue of reserve requests as part of a distributed course reserves service coordinated centrally by Harvard Library, fulfilling both digital and physical reserves under documented cross-library procedures. The position is based at Widener Library and supports course reserves for the Harvard Graduate School of Education, reporting to the Digital Course Reserves Manager and Strategist. New processors complete a structured, competence-gated training program before moving to full production work.

Duties and Responsibilities

Determine the correct fulfillment path for each request (existing electronic access, library-owned scan, controlled digital lending, or purchase) by applying documented copyright and access rules, including fair use limits.
Confirm that files meet accessibility requirements, including remediation level and cover sheet, before posting them for students.
Work the shared daily reserves dashboard: review the queue, claim citations, and prioritize work so materials are ready by their due dates.
Process reserve citations in Leganto: verify links, attach files, set citation statuses, and mark items complete.
Create and track JIRA tickets for scanning, digitization, and accessibility remediation work, and finalize returned work promptly.
Scan book sections and prepare files to program quality standards.
Communicate with teaching teams about request status, missing information, and access questions through the documented channels (Leganto Library Discussion and LibAnswers).
Retrieve and process physical reserve items and route purchase requests per documented acquisitions procedures.
Assist with end-of-term cleanup of reserves records and record work accurately in the systems of record.
Other duties as assigned, consistent with the functions of the work unit and level of responsibilities of the role.

Basic Qualifications

High school diploma or equivalent.

Additional Requirements

Prior library experience, particularly in course reserves, access services, or technical services.
Experience with Alma, Leganto, Canvas, JIRA, LibAnswers, Excel, SharePoint, or Slack.
Basic familiarity with copyright and fair use as applied to course reserves.
Familiarity with document accessibility practices, for example OCR and accessible PDFs.
Clear, professional written communication.
Demonstrated commitment to inclusion and belonging.
Strong attention to detail and accuracy.
Ability to learn and work across several software systems with training.
Ability to follow documented procedures and ask questions when a case does not fit the procedure.
Ability to work independently and manage time on a variable schedule.

14 hours a week, 6 month appointment

Rate: $18/hr

How to Apply

Desired Start Date: July 22, 2026

Please send resume and cover letter to [email protected]