Library Associate

The Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), part of the State University of New York and an internationally renowned college of art, design, business and technology with a strong emphasis on liberal arts, invites nominations and applications for a Library Associate.

The Gladys Marcus Library creates a foundation for lifelong learning by teaching research and critical thinking skills that carry students beyond the classroom into careers. The library cultivates user-centered physical and virtual resources that support and strengthen academic and creative pursuits. The library builds, organizes, and preserves materials that support our curriculum, enhance our unique collections, and document the college's history. The library investigates, assesses and implements innovative services and programs that measurably facilitate and enrich the learning experience for our community and global researchers.

Special Collections and College Archives fosters original research across and beyond the FIT community by acquiring, preserving, and providing universal access to primary research materials including college archival records.

Job Description:

The full-time Special Collections Library Associate will assist the Head of Special Collections and FIT Archive (SPARC) in all aspects of unit operations. S/he/they will work in a secure area of the library with valuable, rare, physical, digitized and born digital historical primary research materials and must be knowledgeable of and comply with security best practices and regulations.

The Library Associate will lead by example and provide expert collection processing and maintenance and support public service, research assistance, and general support of the unit's mission and daily operations.

Responsibilities:

• Collections / Access
  • Arrange, process and describe a broad variety of archival and manuscript collections in physical and digital formats.
  • Use collection management and tracking systems (ArchivesSpace, CollectiveAccess, etc.) in the creation of complex finding aids.
  • Handle fragile, rare collections and employ appropriate best practices, including preservation re-housing and treatment techniques, and applying appropriate digitization protocols.
  • Maintain shelves and physical spaces to preserve intellectual controls of all materials, with oversight of the Special Collections Reading Room to maintain a secure environment.
• Public & Customer Service
  • Provide researcher and reference services to SPARC patrons.
  • Provide research and instruction support for patrons and groups; Retrieve appropriate materials for researchers; Provide information concerning locations of library resources and other directional inquiries
  • Conduct preliminary research interviews; Schedule appointments for individual researchers and groups.
  • Conduct training and information sessions for various groups internal to or external from FIT.
  • Assist patrons with the use of Library catalogs; responds to patrons' questions
  • Develop innovative services to assist patrons both onsite and virtually.
• Administrative
  • Maintain statistical usage and other data and use them for various reports.
  • Participate in preparing and updating policies and procedures of the unit
• Cross Unit Responsibilities
  • Work in various capacities outside of the home unit to accomplish library wide initiatives. Such as but not limited to:
  • Work at any library service desk to fill coverage gaps, assist with metadata description and processing, etc
  • Serve on various library groups and committees, including but not limited to the Library Public Services Group; Meet with the unit heads and middle management to ensure high quality seamless service to library patrons
  • Support marketing and promotion activities; Represent the library at campus events throughout the academic year (such as attending functions pertaining to new students); participate in the library's event programming (such as Love Your Library)
  • Represent the library at campus events throughout the academic year (such as attending functions pertaining to new students)
• Supervisory
  • Assist with training and supervision of units student aides, clerks, and/or interns/volunteers
  • Assist with staff-cross training initiatives
  • In the absence of the unit head, will act as the authority of the unit in administrative capacities

The preceding description is not designed to be a complete list of all duties and responsibilities required of the position; other duties may be assigned consistent with the classification of the position.

Requirements:

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree required in Library and Information Science, Archives, Records Management and/or Digital Humanities.
• 2-4 years of appropriate business experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's Degree preferred in Information Science with an Archives and Records Management specialization or a related field of study.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of library, archival, and preservation procedures.
• Knowledge of and a high degree of familiarity with collection management and tracking systems (ArchivesSpace, CollectiveAccess, etc.)
• Knowledge of digital imaging/scanning/metadata applications, standards, and protocols.
• Knowledge of process and tools to create complex finding aides.
• Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
• Knowledge of public service principles within an academic library setting.
• Knowledge of digitization project management.
• Subject specialty knowledge in Fashion, Costume, or Textiles design and/or history.
• Demonstrated understanding of the broad scope of special collections operations within a library environment and an understanding of how the role interacts with the library and the larger academic organization.
• Excellent customer service skills, including professional and courteous written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent organizational skills and the ability to work quickly and accurately with detailed data.
• Detail oriented and able to make logical classification decisions and identify contextual and hierarchical relationships among groupings of materials
• Experience working with Springshare Library platform or similar.
• Ability to learn new technologies quickly and fluently; Ability to troubleshoot basic computer problems.
• Ability to pivot between competing priorities and integrate change into work routines.
• Ability to work independently and effectively in a collegial manner in a changing environment.
• Ability to work with a diverse community, work at a fast pace while exercising good judgment.
• Ability to work in an environment in which exposure to materials containing dust and mold is probable; able to lift up to forty (40) pounds.

Additional Information:

Please note all offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of the background check process.

Salary

Salary: $66,313.10 - $71,066.01 per year

The UCE-FIT Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) dictates the compensation, benefits, and conditions of employment. Hiring Salary: $66,313.10 per year with step increments per Salary Schedule 92, after one year of service and annually thereafter.

Work Schedule

Days/Hours: M-F, 10am-6pm, in person; work schedule subject to change based on needs of the department.

Benefits

The Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) provides comprehensive employee benefit programs designed to help keep our faculty and staff and their families healthy, safe, happy, and productive. Our programs also include a variety of components to help our employees improve the quality and balance of their work and family lives, and to help them prepare for their futures.

• Retirement Plans
• Health Care Plan and Dental Plan
• Employee Assistance Program
• Flexible Spending Account
• Commuter Benefit Plan
• FIT Tuition Exemption Program
• Paid Time Off (Vacation, Personal, Sick and Holidays)
• 4-day Summer Workweek
• Qualifying Employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program

For a full list of FIT benefits, visit our benefits webpage.

Pay Equity by State Employers

Pursuant to Executive Order 161, no State entity, as defined by the Executive Order, is permitted to ask, or mandate, in any form, that an applicant for employment provide his or her current compensation, or any prior compensation history, until such time as the applicant is extended a conditional offer of employment with compensation. If such information has been requested from you before such time, please contact the Governor's Office of Employee Relations at (518) 474-6988 or via email at [email protected].

Visa Sponsorship

This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship by the Fashion Institute of Technology.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Statement

FIT is firmly committed to creating an environment that will attract and retain people of diverse racial and cultural backgrounds. By providing a learning and working environment that encourages, utilizes, respects, and appreciates the full expression of every individual's ability, the FIT community fosters its mission and grows because of its rich, pluralistic experience. FIT is committed to prohibiting discrimination, whether based on race, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender identity, religion, ethnic background, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military service status, genetic information, pregnancy, familial status, citizenship status (except as required to comply with law), or any other criterion prohibited by applicable federal, state, or local laws. FIT is committed to providing equal opportunity in employment, including the opportunity for upward mobility for all qualified individuals. Applications from minorities, women, veterans, and persons with disabilities are encouraged. Inquiries regarding FIT's non-discrimination policies may be directed to the Affirmative Action Officer/Title IX Coordinator, 212 217.3360, [email protected].

Physical Requirements and Work Environment

The working conditions for this position will be primarily in an office space. The physical requirement for this position will require frequent sitting, frequent standing, frequent bending, frequent walking, and occasional lifting 50 lbs. or less.

Application Instructions:

In order to considered for this position, please submit the following documents online:

• Resume
• Cover letter
• Unofficial transcript
• A list of three references with telephone numbers and email addresses

Returning Applicants - Login to your FITNYC Careers Account to check your submitted application materials.

Review of applications will begin immediately until the position is filled.

Please note that due to the volume of applications, we will not be able to contact each applicant individually.

Additional information about the Fashion Institute of Technology can be found at: http://www.fitnyc.edu.

The Fashion Institute of Technology is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and is strongly and actively committed to diversity within the community.