Senior Library Assistant, Special Collections Public Services

Job Description Summary

GW Libraries and Academic Innovation (LAI) plays a central role in the University's teaching, learning, and research endeavors. Responsive to the changing landscape of information and education, being sensitive both to traditional and emergent modes of communication, we bring together diverse constituents of faculty, students, and staff in a highly collaborative, dynamic, and deeply engaged intellectual community. LAI strives to be a supportive environment where exciting things happen, where change happens, where growth happens. Reporting to the University Archivist, , the Senior Library Assistant works as part of the Libraries' Special Collections Research Center team.

The Special Collections Research Center is building and making accessible a teaching and research collection for use by students and faculty of the University as well as the external community. Reporting to the University Archivist, the Senior Library Assistant performs a variety of routine clerical, technical or public service duties to deliver quality research support to library patrons and other library departments. This position provides student, faculty, and external researcher support, performs circulation activities and transactions, assists with basic searches, and performs filing. This position responds to and resolves common inquiries and routine problems, performs shelving responsibilities, and supports access to rare and unique materials in the reading room. This position may assist in providing training to student employees, and performs routine record maintenance activities.

Additional essential duties include and are not limited to:

• Providing reference assistance, both in-person and remotely, by monitoring and responding to user research requests and offering research consultations.
• Working with Special Collections' public services team, managing and monitoring the reading room; scheduling public services desk shifts, training users on proper handling of materials, and managing scanning requests. Managing the invoicing and payments of scanning orders and consulting with patrons on proper citation of materials used in publication.
• Working closely with the public services team to support the planning, promotion, materials requests, and set-up of instruction sessions and other events. Is present for events when required. Representing Special Collections on LAI-wide committees for projects with relevance to the department.
• Supporting the management and maintenance of the on-site collections, books stacks, departmental files, and collecting and reporting departmental statistics monthly, quarterly, and annually. Monitoring and storing departmental office supplies and processes supply requests.This position is based in the Foggy Bottom Campus in Washington, DC. The omission of specific duties does not preclude the supervisor from assigning duties that are logically related to the position.

Minimum Qualifications

Qualified candidates will hold a high school diploma/GED plus 1.5 years of relevant professional experience, or, a Bachelor's degree or higher in a relevant area of study. Degree must be conferred by the start date of the position. Degree requirements may be substituted with an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with the regular working practices of a cultural heritage institution (e.g. library, archives, historical society, or museum)
• Experience with customer service, research assistance, and/or library instruction
• Previous work experience in a cultural heritage institution (e.g. library, archives, historical society, or museum) and/or relevant coursework
• Skilled in computer applications, including collections management database software, Microsoft applications; Google applications; video conferencing platforms (e.g. Zoom, WebEx, Teams); cloud content management and file sharing platforms (e.g. Box, Dropbox)
• Experience with the front-end and/or back-end of library databases (e.g. Alma/Primo, Voyager) and/or archives databases (e.g. ArchivesSpace, Archivist Toolkit)
• Experience scanning images and documents
• Bachelor's degree preferred
• Strong attention to detail, organization, and time management
• Ability to work effectively independently and as part of a team
• Familiarity with best practices for digital accessibility, data privacy, and ethical standards for libraries, archives, and museums
• Experience conducting or supporting researchHiring Range $18.06 - $23.50

GW Staff Approach to Pay

How is pay for new employees determined at GW?Campus Location: Foggy Bottom, Washington, D.C.

College/School/Department: University Libraries

Family: Libraries

Sub-Family: Library Services - Staff

Stream: Service and Support

Level: Level 2

Hours Per Week: 40

Work Schedule: Between the hours of 8:30 AM and 5 PM, Monday-Friday. Occasional Saturday or evening hours may be required.

Will this job require the employee to work on site? Yes

Employee Onsite Status Hybrid

Telework: Yes

Required Background Check Criminal History Screening, Education/Degree/Certifications Verification, Social Security Number Trace, and Sex Offender Registry Search

Special Instructions to Applicants

Employer will not sponsor for employment Visa status

Internal Applicants Only? No

Posting Number: S013344

Job Open Date: 10/02/2024

Background Screening Successful Completion of a Background Screening will be required as a condition of hire.

EEO Statement

The university is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer that does not unlawfully discriminate in any of its programs or activities on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or on any other basis prohibited by applicable law.

The university is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer that does not unlawfully discriminate in any of its programs or activities on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or on any other basis prohibited by applicable law.