Librarian

State of Montana•Helena, MT

8d•Onsite

About The Position

The MTHS Library holds the nation’s largest collection of published materials related to the history of Montana. The collection includes books, maps, pamphlets, posters, periodicals, newspapers, and other resources about Montana, with supporting materials exploring the history of neighboring states and provinces. The person sought for this position will be a positive representative of the Montana Historical Society to the public, and will embody the MTHS culture of excellence, teamwork, professionalism, and passion for the work that we do. The Library is a department within the Library & Archives Program of the Montana Historical Society. Under the direction of the Library Manager, this position will be an integral member of the Library team. The successful candidate will perform reference services for patrons in person and remotely, assist with Library acquisitions and collection development, provide public presentations and outreach about the Library & Archives collection, along with other duties. Among other tasks, the ability to exercise sound judgment, be detail orientated, have great time management skills, along with a welcoming and friendly attitude, is important to this position. The Reference Librarian 1 will work a 40-hour a week schedule, Monday through Friday. This position is not eligible for telework. The MTHS, guardian of Montana’s memories, is located in beautiful Helena, Montana. Come join us at the MTHS where we work together to preserve the past, share Montana’s stories, and inspire exploration, to provide meaning for today and a vision for tomorrow!

Requirements

Master’s degree in Library Science; or Master of Library and Information Science; or A graduate degree in a related field.
One (1) to two (2) years of job-related work experience is preferred.
Other combinations of education and experience may be substituted.
Knowledge of Montana and Western history, including its historiography and research sources.
Knowledge of modern library theory, standards, and practices and their implementation.
Skills in performing research and providing reference services to diverse audiences.
Skills in writing and communication skills, especially the ability to make complex ideas accessible to the public.
Skills in public presentation.
Ability to work well with a team, both as a leader and as contributing member.
Ability to interact well with Library visitors.

Responsibilities

Responds to a wide variety of inquiries from individuals, state agencies, professionals, educational groups, local organizations, and institutions by conducting research and providing the information in person, by phone, mail, and e-mail on a broad range of topics.
Assists researchers with research objectives and accessing Library & Archives resources.
Helps supervise Library & Archives collections in the public reference room.
Assists the Library Manager in the classification, indexing, and maintenance of the ready-reference files (newspaper clippings, brochures, and unpublished materials) and printed ephemera files on subjects relating to the history of Montana and the West, requiring a broad knowledge of significant people, issues, and events. Selects appropriate materials to add to files for long-term preservation.
Conducts educational tours of the Library & Archives for researchers, classes, staff, and others.
Maintains an understanding and advanced knowledge of current U.S. and Montana historiography, trends, and analytics.
Creates and maintains databases, web pages, tutorials, guides, and other print and electronic resources for MTHS Staff, patrons, students, and the public on conducting research and on various topics of Montana history.
Advises patrons on copyright and digital rights laws, policies, procedures, and issues associated with Library materials and resource use.
Delivers public programs and outreach about the Library & Archives collection.
Provides training and guidance to MTHS staff about reference and research duties, procedures, and strategies.
Evaluates the Library collection and state publications to identify items that may no longer be relevant to the Library and Archives Collection Development Policy and recommends the removal of those items from the collection.
Provides input on policies, procedures, and guidelines related to reference services.