Associate Access Services

Position: Associate for Access Services
The Library and Archives Associate for Access Services provides assistance and support in fulfillment of the library mission to support the museum's current and future collections, research, exhibitions, publications, programs, and activities; and the archives mission to preserve records that document the origins, development, achievements, and activities of the museum. The Ingalls Library and Museum Archives serve the museum community by identifying, acquiring, organizing, and providing access to information in accordance with the values of the institution and to fulfill strategic plan initiatives.

Reporting to the Access Services and Collections Management Librarian, as a front-line employee the associate has primary responsibility for the circulation of library and archival materials and provides initial assistance to all constituencies both in person and remotely in a friendly and collegial manner. This assistance includes directional assistance, reference inquiries, and equipment use. The position performs resource sharing functions, check-in and check-out of materials, paging and delivery, course reserves, shelving and stack maintenance, oversite of departmental libraries, inventory, and security of the collection.

Requirements and Key Competencies

• Bachelor's degree (B.A.) in liberal arts with an emphasis in art history or related field. A minimum of two years' experience in a research or academic library; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Employee must be a team player with the ability to effectively communicate with all library and archives constituencies, to prioritize work projects, work independently with limited direction, and assist in all areas of library and archives services. Proficiency in essential functions of integrated library systems (ILS) and OCLC required.
• Working knowledge of at least one foreign language as well as proficiency in using foreign language dictionaries is preferred.
• Employee should possess excellent organizational, problem solving, interpersonal, and oral and written communication skills to meet deadlines and quotas.
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret complex documents.
• Ability to write reports and other business documents.
• Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations to supervisors, visitors, vendors, museum management, and staff and respond to queries from all library and archives constituencies is essential.
• The employee must be familiar with database programs and all components of the Microsoft Office Suite which are used daily.
• Ability to solve problems and deal with a variety of abstract and concrete variables.
• Must be able to sustain close attention to detail over a long period of time and interpret complex instructions furnished in written, oral, or schedule form.
• Maintain procedure manuals for all processes.
• Daily communication between the supervisor and incumbent is expected.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 pounds. The employee will be exposed to dust, dirt, and other possible allergens.

Primary Responsibilities - Access Services

• Circulation services include registering patrons and maintaining patron files, logging patron feedback, check-in and check-out functions, paging of all material types, delivery and retrieval from museum offices, and set up and maintenance of course reserves.
• Conduct opening and closing duties.
• Monitor the library public service areas and stacks and report environmental inconsistencies and emergencies that may impact the library collection and visitors.
• Enforce library and archives policies and procedures.
• Maintain circulation statistics.
• Collection management responsibilities include oversight for the safety of materials in all areas of the library including reference, library lounge, archives, and all stack areas; departmental libraries, and office shelving throughout the museum.
• Conduct ongoing inventory and assessment of the entire collection; track and report lost, missing and damaged material for debt collection.
• Participate in space planning and shifting.
• Make recommendations regarding collection management policies.
• Maintain proficiency in all essential functions of integrated library system.
• Maintain collection management statistics.

Secondary Responsibilities:
The incumbent will be trained to perform one or more secondary tasks to assist throughout the library and archives as needed.

• Process materials designated for in-house files including researching names in ILS, and under the supervision of the Catalog Librarian creating new records when necessary and utilizing national cataloging standards including MARC.
• Process library materials: book plating, spine labeling, RFID tagging, counting, checking status and call number in ILS, and entering book plate information into the retrospective database.
• Basic book repairs and preservation activities including pam binding, creating pockets and four flap enclosures, creating protective covers for book jackets, and tipping…