Departmental Technician, Library at The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Job Title: Departmental Technician, Library
Job Status: Full-time
Location: New York, NY
Salary: $ 22.73/hr
About The Metropolitan Museum Of Art
The Met presents over 5,000 years of art from around the world for everyone to experience and enjoy. The Museum lives in two iconic sites in New York City—The Met Fifth Avenue and The Met Cloisters. Millions of people also take part in The Met experience online.
Since its founding in 1870, The Met has always aspired to be more than a treasury of rare and beautiful objects. We are committed to fostering a collaborative and respectful work environment with a staff as diverse as the audiences we engage. Our staff members are art lovers who are passionate about working toward a common goal: creating the most dynamic and inspiring art museum in the world.
At The Met, every staff member – from security officers to researchers to scientists and beyond – lives by our core values of respect, inclusivity, collaboration, excellence, and integrity.
Respect: Engage one another with collegiality, empathy, and kindness, always.
Inclusivity: Ensure that all are and feel welcome and valued.
Collaboration: Reach across boundaries to exchange ideas and work together toward our shared mission.
Excellence: Lead the cultural world in quality and expertise—and inspire curiosity and creativity.
Integrity: Hold ourselves to the highest moral standards, admit when we fall short, and then evolve.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION:
The Departmental Technician provides key support for the operations of Watson Library. Primary responsibilities include paging and shelving books, maintaining library stacks to optimize space utilization, and providing outstanding customer service at the circulation desk to all library patrons. Technicians are expected to be fully competent in all aspects of the position. This position reports to the Manager of Circulation and Reader Services and works closely with library staff.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITES & DUTIES:
- Assist library patrons during daily scheduled shifts at the Circulation Desk, which involves : Understanding and interpreting library policies and procedures, Checking books out to library patron accounts, and checking books in using Sierra library software, Searching and interpreting records in Sierra library software, and library online catalog, Watsonline, Assist patrons with KIC scanners and microfilm readers, Assist patrons with searching for and requesting books in online catalog, Watsonline, Provide telephone assistance and provide information about the library’s hours and procedures, Monitor and respond to circulation emails in an effective and timely manner
- Page and process books for patrons adhering to book retrieval schedule
- Check in, sort, and shelve all returned library materials
- Shelve all new accessions according to call number systems
- Retrieve and handle special collections items according to library policies and best practices
- Participate in planning and allocation of library stacks space
- Shifts areas of the book stacks for immediate shelving needs
- Assist with deaccessioning projects to effectively maximize and utilize library space; pack books identified for withdrawal
- Shelf-read all library collections according to library call number systems
- Unpack and sort all incoming packages of library acquisitions
- Pack and unpack materials sent to and received from a commercial bindery
- Pack and unpack materials sent to and received from the Cloisters Library
- Deliver and retrieve stacks of offsite bins to and from Receiving daily
- Pack and unpack materials sent to and received from library offsite vendor, Clancy. On average, this is over 1,200 items per month
- Conduct searches for missing books in library stacks, reference collection, and special collections
- Assist in maintaining supplies and troubleshooting equipment in public areas (printers, KIC scanners, microfilm/fiche reader)
- Assist in keeping public areas and library stacks orderly (dusting, straightening chairs, refilling printer)
- Maintain hold shelves: alphabetize, straighten, remove, and check in overdue library books
- Assist with scanning and document delivery services for Museum staff and library patrons
- Provide informational and directional assistance to patrons at the Circulation Desk and in the library stacks
- Keep up with new and updated library and circulation policies, procedures, and competencies
- Assist with the maintenance of the circulation database in Sierra, including creating and updating item and patron records
- Assist with departmental book delivery and retrieval. On average, technicians retrieve 400 books from departmental libraries per month
- Shelve new accessions and library returns in selected departmental libraries
- Attend and participate in departmental meetings as requested.
- Prepare Library for opening and closing
- Assist with set-up for library programs
- Initial schedule will be Monday-Friday (9:30am-5:30pm) schedule, with a possible rotating Saturday shift (10am-4pm). Schedule subject to change based on the Museum’s hours of operation and ability to work overtime.
- Other related duties
REQUIREMENTS & QUALIFICATIONS:
EXPERIENCE & SKILLS:
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills required (listening, speaking, and writing) to a diverse community of library patrons with varying skill sets.
- Conducts all work with a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility
- Exemplary customer service skills
- Ability to interact with a diverse group of library patrons
- Ability to perform detailed work accurately, both independently and as part of a team
- Ability to learn and master the library’s call number systems
- Ability to perform in accordance with the library’s departmental competencies
- While performing duties of this job, the employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and also push or pull objects weighing 30-400 pounds on wheels (book trucks and offsite bins)
- Physical ability to squat to reach books shelves on bottom shelves
- Able to view and read small print on call number labels
KNOWLEDGE & EDUCATION:
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent desirable
- Computer skills with proficiency in Innovative Sierra library software, Microsoft Outlook, Word and Teams, Zoom, and Slack
- Previous library experience preferred
COMPENSATION RANGE:
- Pay Range : $ 22.73132 / Hourly
- The advertised starting salary rate reflects the good faith minimum and maximum hourly rate for this role. Starting salary rates are set in accordance with established union rates provided by the economic agreement as established and negotiated by DC 37 and the City of New York, Office of Labor Relations. Incumbent rates may vary depending on an individual employee’s seniority status, and/or based on terms as provided by the DC 37 Local 1503 and Museum collective bargaining agreement.
Location Requirements
At time of employment, employees are expected to be located within commuting distance of the Museum. “Commuting distance” means that they are located in one of following states: New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, or Pennsylvania (the “Tri-state and PA” areas), and be able to commute to and from the Museum in a single day.
Benefits Offerings
The Museum provides competitive compensation, and generous benefits and perks for all eligible employees. Note: Benefits Offering may differ based on Employee Status.
- Medical, dental, vision and life insurance
- 403(b) basic retirement plan and optional matching retirement plan with an outstanding employer match
- Considerable paid time off, including annual leave, sick leave, and 13 Museum holidays
- Long-term disability coverage
- Flexible Spending Accounts & Health Savings Account (pre-tax income for eligible health care expenses)
- Commuter benefits (pre-tax income for parking or mass transit expenses)
- Free financial-planning services
- Financial assistance for relevant coursework, seminars, and training programs
- 25% discount for staff in Museum shops
- A subsidized staff cafeteria
- Access to the Museums Council pass, which grants free admission to various museums and cultural institutions
Research shows that women and people from underrepresented groups often apply to jobs only if they meet 100% of the qualifications. We recognize that it is highly unlikely that someone meets 100% of the qualifications for a role. If much of this job description describes you, then please apply for this role.
The Met is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, The Met will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed in this process, please contact benefits@metmuseum.org.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art provides equal opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, mental or physical disability, pregnancy, alienage or citizenship status, marital status or domestic partner status, genetic information, genetic predisposition or carrier status, gender identity, HIV status, military status and any other category protected by law in all employment decisions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, compensation, training and apprenticeship, promotion, upgrading, demotion, downgrading, transfer, lay-off and termination, and all other terms and conditions of employment.