Access Services Specialist

14-Feb-2024

Harvard Library

64881BR

Job Summary

Access Services actively supports the teaching and research mission of the Harvard Library by delivering a high standard of service; cultivating a welcoming environment that is supportive to academic research and inquiry; stewarding the university collection; and connecting the academic community to the vast array of library resources. We support the teaching and scholarly mission of the University through collaborative partnerships with the community of students, scholars, and professionals at Harvard and beyond.  

This full-time position is based in the Harvard Divinity School Library (HDSL) and reports to the Access Services Librarian in HDSL. Under general guidance, and in support of the mission of the Harvard Divinity School Library, this position performs duties of an advanced nature within Access Services to facilitate access to the Harvard Library collections while maintaining an earnest commitment to excellent service. Work is performed with a high degree of judgment and latitude, and requires substantial knowledge of library organization, systems, and procedures. Assigned hours are Monday – Friday 8:45am-4:45pm.

Library hours may vary from the formal University calendar. The regular schedule for this position may include work on holidays, inclement weather and official University closings. Assigned hours may change throughout the year based on the Academic Calendar or departmental needs at the beginning of the semester. Approval for requests for time off during these periods is at the discretion of the supervisor based on business need.

Position Description

Circulation: opens and/or closes the library; performs tasks associated with the automated circulation system (e.g. charges/discharges and renews materials, creates holds, etc.); communicates and enforces library policies; assists patrons with the use of the HOLLIS catalog; assists with day-to-day shelving and shelf- reading as needed; locates materials on shelves and physically assists patrons in finding library material; processes item requests and item deliveries from interlibrary courier; manages requests for off-site storage materials; supports library and collection security measurers; assigns carrels/shelves to patrons in accordance to library policy; collects and maintains departmental statistics.

Resource Sharing: assists with resource sharing activities including Scan & Deliver and Borrow Direct workflows.

Information Services: provides basic information services, offers instruction in the use of library catalog and online resources; instructs patrons in use of equipment (such as microfilm reader); refers complex reference questions to specialized research staff. Assists users with disabilities in accessing materials.

Student Workers: hires, trains, schedules and supervises, and assigns work to access services student workers; assists with student payroll and payroll communications. 

Collections: provides access to onsite collections, offsite collections, and Special Collections; manages requests for off-site depository materials; supports library and collection security and emergency procedures; assists in tracing missing books. 

Course Reserves: assists patrons with access to physical and digital reserves; may assist with course reserves processing; may coordinate with faculty and teaching staff about course reserve requests; may communicate course reserve policies and procedures to faculty and teaching staff.

Library Equipment: maintains supplies in public copiers; troubleshoots and provides basic maintenance for scanners, and printers; places service calls.

Physical Facility: monitors physical facility and overall use of the library; initiates calls for building issues and emergencies as needed.

Other Duties and Responsibilities: attends Library-affiliated discussions and working groups; participates in team and department-wide meetings; collaborates effectively with team members and Harvard Library colleagues; cross-trains to work in Access Services department in other Harvard libraries; may lead special projects; may serve on library-wide working groups; other projects and duties as assigned.

Basic Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent education or experience required.

• Previous library or customer service related experience.

Additional Qualifications and Skills

• Demonstrated commitment to equity, diversity inclusion, belonging, and antiracism.

• College degree strongly preferred.

• Study in Divinity field strongly preferred.

• Academic library experience is strongly preferred.

• Experience hiring, training, scheduling, and distributing work to student or temporary staff preferred.

• Sensitivity to working in a diverse user environment.

• Experience with a library management system, especially Ex Libris’ Alma system preferred.

• Bibliographic facility in western European languages preferred.

• Demonstrated experience showing attention to detail and excellent organizational skills.

• Excellent oral and written communication skills.

• Ability to effectively solve problems and exercise discerning judgment.

• Ability to exercise good judgment and make sound decisions; follow through to completion.

• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite. 

Physical Requirements

• This position involves frequent use of computer keyboard and mouse.

• This position involves occasionally lifting and moving loads weighing more than 25 pounds and requires bending, squatting, stretching and climbing small step stools when needed to retrieve books and shelve them.

Working Conditions

• Located in a library office setting, there may be limited exposure to dust and dirt.

Additional Information

At 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 encourage individuals with diverse backgrounds, experiences and abilities to apply 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.

A global leader, the Harvard Library is a pre-eminent research library that acquires, disseminates, and preserves knowledge. Harvard's Library holdings range from traditional print collections to rapidly expanding inventories of digital  resources. It is the work of the Harvard Library to provide the University's faculty, students, and researchers—now and in the future—with comprehensive access over time to all of these materials.

Learn more about our contributions to the academic enterprise by visiting us at http://lib.harvard.edu/about-us and Access Services actively supports the teaching and research mission of the Harvard Library by providing circulation, privileges, and other public services as well as operations such as the Harvard Depository, interlibrary loan, and collection management that facilitate virtual and physical access to information resources within and outside the University. Access Services staff members are expected to provide services at the highest level of patron satisfaction while utilizing best practices to meet patron needs. Additionally, Access Services staff members are committed to delivering high-quality customer service; timely access to collections; maintaining the integrity and security of library resources and materials; and accommodating user needs in accordance with the priorities and objectives of the Harvard Library.

 about the Harvard University community at http://hr.harvard.edu/why-harvard .

The Harvard Library is a proud member of the ACRL Diversity Alliance.

Work Format Details

This position is based primarily on-campus, in Massachusetts. This may include in-person during emergency situations (if applicable). Additional details will be discussed during the interview process. Certain visa types may limit work location. Individuals must meet work location sponsorship requirements prior to employment.

Benefits

We invite you to visit Harvard's Total Rewards website (https://hr.harvard.edu/totalrewards ) 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.

Department Office Location

USA - MA - Cambridge

Job Code

403074 Library Assistant VI

Department

Access Services Department

Annual Salary Range

$54,445 to $85,043

Union

55 - Hvd Union Cler & Tech Workers

Pre-Employment Screening

Criminal, Education, Identity

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.

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