Reading Room Supervisor, University Libraries

Penn State University • Ferguson Township, PA

4d • Onsite

About The Position

The Pennsylvania State University Libraries seek a Reading Room Supervisor to oversee the essential work that goes into making rare and archival collections accessible for research, teaching, and scholarship in the Eberly Family Special Collections Library. The Reading Room Supervisor’s key responsibilities will focus on public services and reference desk management, part-time and student employee supervision, and student and community outreach and engagement to extend the library’s impact. This role will play a vital part in the Eberly Family Special Collections Library's reputation in the scholarly community by serving as the first contact that researchers from around the world make with the University Libraries. In addition to creating a welcoming space for the researchers, the Reading Room Supervisor will foster a learning and collaborative working environment for the part-time and student employees they will oversee.

Requirements

• Outstanding interpersonal skills; ability to foster engagement through active listening, responsiveness, and relationship-building
• Demonstrated ability to be inclusive and respectful when working with others
• Committed to delivering exceptional service with proven experience in customer-facing roles
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Outstanding organizational and time-management skills
• Reliable, detail-oriented, self-motivated worker; comfortable with working independently with minimal supervision
• Bachelor's Degree
• 3+ years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience accepted

Nice To Haves

• Previous experience providing and supporting experiential learning opportunities for students
• Knowledgeable about proper handling techniques for archival and rare book materials
• Understanding of preservation concerns and issues for rare and archival materials
• Experience working in an archives, special collections library, or academic library

Responsibilities

• Communicate with researchers regarding research visits to Special Collections
• Guide researchers in accessing and using Special Collections materials through in-person consultations and reference support.
• Ensure Special Collections desk shifts are filled and staffed; scheduling semester-long desk shift assignments for the entire department
• Provide weekly coverage at the Special Collections reference desk
• Review, evaluate, and update policies and procedures for public services in collaboration with colleagues
• Assist with remote reference requests involving Special Collections materials
• Supervise part-time and student employees, as well as graduate students
• Conduct peer management of colleagues at the reference desk
• Triage and prepare projects and tasks for student and part-time employees in service of access to rare and archival materials
• Onboard and train new team members in public services workflows and best practices
• Assist in facilitating and coordinating engagement events and outreach activities hosted by our Special Collections Library and campus and community partners
• Facilitate or assist with assigned events and activities
• Provide gallery tours
• Contribute to Special Collections’ robust social media presence
• Participate actively with the Special Collections Research and Travel grant program to publicize award opportunities, evaluate and select recipients, communicate about collection resources, and coordinate visits.

Benefits

• Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional well-being.
• In addition to comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, employees enjoy robust retirement plans and substantial paid time off which includes holidays, vacation and sick time.
• One of the standout benefits is the generous 75% tuition discount, available to employees as well as eligible spouses and children.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees