Library Assistant II

The University of Texas at Austin•Austin, UT

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Ransom Center is an internationally renowned humanities research library and museum at The University of Texas at Austin. Its extensive collections provide unique insight into the creative process of writers and artists, deepening our understanding and appreciation of literature, photography, film, art, and the performing arts. Visitors engage with the Center's collections through research and study, exhibitions, publications, and a rich variety of program offerings including readings, talks, symposia, and film screenings. The Ransom Center encourages discovery, inspires creativity, and advances understanding of the humanities for a broad and diverse audience through the preservation and sharing of its extraordinary collections. The purpose of this role is to provide public service for the Harry Ransom Center Library Reading Room.

Requirements

High school graduation or GED, and two years of library experience or sixty hours of college credit and one year of full-time equivalent library experience or twelve hours of graduate coursework in Library and Information Science.
Must be able to work Saturdays.
Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

Nice To Haves

Demonstrated knowledge of Ransom Center collections.
Experience in a special collections library.
Demonstrated good customer service skills.
Demonstrated knowledge of Library of Congress and Dewey Decimal classification systems.
Experience with an automated circulation tracking system.
Proficient in more than one language.
Experience in preservation techniques.
Ability to communicate and work well with scholars in the humanities and with library and other staff as a team member.
Experience with an online library catalog and with databases.
Experience with or interest in literary materials.
Ability to appropriately handle large, heavy, and fragile collection materials of significant value.
Good written and oral communication skills.

Responsibilities

Locates, shelves, and reshelves manuscripts, books, photography, art, flat files, personal effects, and other visual materials for patrons in a secure, closed-stacks library and archive.
Performs all Circulation Desk functions and has several desk shifts each week.
Trains at and serves as backup at Reception.
Assists patrons with creating requests for duplication orders of collection materials and assists Circulation Librarian in processing the orders.
After training, performs basic preservation tasks and assists patrons with materials handling.
Answers directional and minor reference questions in the Reading Room and may assist with Reading Room orientations for new patrons.
Assists with training of Work Study students and Student Assistants.
Locates and pulls materials for use in the classrooms, helps with the set up and take down of classroom materials, and may assist with materials selection and classroom instruction.
Assists with Library Storage Facility material requests by inputting requests, routing of requests when materials arrive, and strapping and preparing materials for return.
Helps foster a welcoming research environment that centers on accessibility, while also safeguarding collection materials and revisits policies with the team to ensure alignment with National Standards and current best practices.
Serves as the primary staff member for pulling materials and support at service points on Saturdays.
Trained to open and close the Reading Room with required closing responsibilities.
Participates in occasional cross-departmental projects as assigned.
Other duties as assigned.