Library Services Specialist

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

• CURRENT PENN STATE EMPLOYEE (faculty, staff, technical service, or student), please login to Workday to complete the internal application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.

• CURRENT PENN STATE STUDENT (not employed previously at the university) and seeking employment with Penn State, please login to Workday to complete the student application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.

• If you are NOT a current employee or student, please click "Apply" and complete the application process for external applicants.

JOB DESCRIPTION AND POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

The Penn State Libraries is accepting applications for the position of Library Services Specialist at the Madlyn L. Hanes Library, Penn State Harrisburg.

This position has responsibilities in the Archives and Special Collections, Access Services, and Reference departments. The major responsibilities associated with this position include the following:

• Participates as an administrative and processing archival specialist in the day-to-day operations of the Archives and Special Collections department.

• In Access Services, the person in this position provides services in circulation, interlibrary loan, and room scheduling to ensure that the library's collections and spaces are accessible to library patrons.

• In Reference, this position serves patrons by working regular hours at the reference desk to respond to informational, directional, and other research inquiries in person and online.

Candidates must possess a commitment to working with individuals from a variety of backgrounds and cultures; have a strong commitment to diversity, equity, respect and inclusion; and be supportive of a collaborative work environment.

Penn State Harrisburg is the largest and most comprehensive of Penn State's Commonwealth Campuses. Located in Middletown, PA, the campus serves over 6,500 residential and World Campus students, offering more than 70 undergraduate and graduate programs. The Madlyn L. Hanes Library houses more than 275,000 volumes, seats approximately 1,100 users, and features 9 classrooms, a One Button Studio, a VR/Mixed Reality Space, 15 student group study rooms, over 300 public access computers, event spaces, and a 24/7 Lion Study Space.

Archives and Special Collections is the largest repository outside of the Special Collections Library at University Park. The archives houses several primary resource collections that support the teaching and research needs of the academic community, including the Penn State Harrisburg College History Archives, the Alice K. Marshall Women's History Collection, the J. Randall Plummer Photography Collection, the Pennsylvania Center for Folklore Collection, and six other primary resource collections that document the history of southcentral Pennsylvania. For more information about the repository, please visit https://guides.libraries.psu.edu/HBGASC.

Primary duties of this position include:

Archives and Special Collections

• Works closely with the archivist and part-time staff on new acquisitions and appraisals, arrangement and description of original archival materials, donor relations, digitization, environmental control and facilities management priorities, exhibitions and outreach, instruction and reader services, preservation, records management, security, and risk management.

• Assists with paging materials and preparing for archival and primary resource instruction sessions with students and faculty. Answers archival reference inquiries in person and via postal mail, phone, and email.

• Creates plans for processing new and existing primary sources materials, which involves creating and revising finding aids, identifying appropriate archival housing and storage materials, determining which materials need repair and/or conservation, as well as understanding and contributing to the inclusive and reparative description practices that are part of the University Libraries' commitment to ethical stewardship and building more diverse collections.

• Contributes to digitization projects, including scanning, file management, and creation of descriptive metadata.

• Researches, designs, and installs archival exhibitions as well as displays/micro-exhibitions and contributes to their promotion in the library and via social media platforms. Collaborates with external and internal guest curators and other campus partners to produce high-quality educational exhibitions, with an emphasis on those that highlight and embrace diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.

• Assists with other special projects and strategic initiatives as assigned.

Access Services

• Provides excellent customer service to all users in the areas of circulation, interlibrary loan, and room scheduling.

• Opens and/or closes the library as needed and supervises the library one evening per week.

• Serves as a University contact person for situations such as medical, building, and scheduling emergencies.

• Creates and updates department signs, flyers, and brochures.

• Using the library's integrated library system (ILS), checks out material, discharges returned items, and registers community borrowers. Maintains confidentiality of patron circulation records. Collects fines and fees. Explains and attempts to resolve patron issues regarding library fees and overdue materials.

Reference

• Provides reference services to patrons. Works regular hours at the reference desk.

• Answers informational, directional, and basic reference inquiries in person and via phone and email.

• Instructs patrons in the use of technology, including the online library catalog, databases, and other Internet and print sources.

• Instructs patrons in the use of equipment such as scanners, computers, and audiovisual equipment.

• Records statistics related to reference transactions and other library operations.

Requirements

This position requires a Bachelor's degree and one year of relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. A degree in an arts and/or humanities field is preferred. Experience with archival processes and procedures for accessioning, arrangement and description, and preservation is highly desired. Additional requirements:

• Excellent communication, formal writing and editing skills, and attention to detail.

• Working knowledge of computers, Microsoft software (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint), and general office equipment, including flatbed scanners and copiers.

• Experience with database searching, retrieval tools, and other library systems.

• Experience successfully interacting and communicating with a diverse group of library patrons, including students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community users.

Work Schedule

The schedule for this position is Monday through Friday with responsibility for working one evening a week until library closing, usually 10:00 PM, and opening the library one morning a week, usually 7:30 AM. Days/hours are subject to change according to departmental needs (e.g., changes in library hours over intersession, breaks, and holiday periods).

The pay range for this position, including all possible grades is:

$38,300.00 - $55,500.00

Salary Structure - additional information on Penn State's job and salary structure.

CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS:

Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. The ASR is available for review here.

Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies.

EEO IS THE LAW

Penn State is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814-865-1473.

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