Reader Services Assistant – Reference – at The Huntington
Job Title: Reader Services Assistant, Reference dept.
Job Status: Full-time
Location: San Marino, CA
About Us
At The Huntington, we believe that having a team of diverse backgrounds and voices working together will enable us to support and promote the appreciation of the humanities, the arts, and botanical science. The Huntington is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities regardless of race, religious creed, color, national origin, disability, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation or any other characteristic protected by local, state or federal law.
The Huntington
Founded in 1919, The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens is a collections-based research and educational institution open to the public, housing world-class library, art, and botanical collections. Its mission is to support research and promote education in the arts, humanities, and botanical science and to display and interpret its extraordinary resources for diverse audiences.
The Culture
Here we are committed to the highest of standards in all that we do – from preserving and protecting the collections, to exhibitions, educational and scholarly programming, visitor and reader services, and beyond. Achieving excellence across these pursuits requires a diversity of perspectives, expertise, experience, and methodologies. We are better together. We believe an explicit commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion directly impacts and improves staff and audience engagement and experience.
About The Role
Job Description
Working under general direction and as part of a team, responds to first-tier informational requests and requests for imaging services. Prepares, confirms, issues, and tracks assigned imaging services orders of rare material for on-site readers, remote users, curators, and staff, sometimes in other departments or divisions. Assists readers and correspondents with requesting and using rare materials. Staffs the reading room and reader registration desks on a rotating basis. May work on a flexible and rotating schedule including Saturdays and evenings. Occasionally undertakes special projects. Reports to the Reference Services Manager.
S/he/they will demonstrate a background of working directly with people from diverse racial, ethnic, geographic and socioeconomic backgrounds, using a welcoming, inclusive, and accessible approach.
Reference
Essential Duties
- Responds to incoming first-tier reference requests and imaging requests in accordance with policies.
- May refer involved requests for reference or imaging to curatorial departments.
- Corresponds with users on routine, informational reference requests and imaging requests.
- Coordinates first-time visits with Reader Services and curatorial departments as required.
Imaging Services
- Organizes information and prepares cost estimates for imaging services orders.
- Identifies conservation needs for material to be duplicated, and any permissions issues for restricted material.
- Works directly with readers, correspondents, and curators to identify and mark rare materials for imaging services.
- Locates and prepares materials for imaging and generates work orders for imaging services.
- Tracks progress of assigned imaging requests and initiates orders or correspondence with users and staff to resolve delays or complaints.
- Assist in the Copy Center with PDF orders, as needed.
Virtual Services
- Monitors and responds to live chat sessions. Participates in the creation of research guides.
- Conducts one-on-one Virtual Reading Room sessions with remote researchers.
- Operates a document camera while simultaneously handling rare materials safely.
Reading Room
- Assists with paging and organizing materials for use in the Ahmanson Reading Room.
- Staffs the reading room desk on a rotating basis.
- Ensures the safe delivery, return, and handling of rare materials in the reading room.
- Performs accurate tracking of materials in the library’s Aeon System.
Library Registration
- Staff the reader registration desk on a rotating basis.
- Supports appointment calendar management.
- Other duties as assigned.
Reader Services staff must be prepared to back up other staff in providing essential services to the library’s constituency.
Knowledge, Skills And Abilities
Candidate Requirements and Experience
- Accurate and detail-oriented, with demonstrated writing skills.
- Excellent interpersonal skills. Must be able to communicate with readers and colleagues effectively, as well as work independently and as part of a team.
- Ability to prioritize work in a unit that receives time-sensitive, high-volume requests and involved projects.
- Aptitude for learning library access control systems and applications such as Aeon, LibApps, Sierra, and FileMaker Pro.
- Must be able to lift and move heavy volumes and boxes safely. Ability to maneuver large book trucks; climb ladders.
- Ability to handle unusual and rare material carefully.
- Comfortable with routine and/or repetitive work.
- Associate’s degree preferred.
- A minimum of 1 year library paraprofessional experience.
- Experience handling rare materials preferred.
- Library circulation work or paging experience preferred.
The Perks
We provide competitive compensation, generous benefits and perks for all eligible employees including:
- Medical, Dental, Vision
- 403(b) basic retirement plan and optional matching retirement plan with an outstanding employer match
- Hybrid remote work schedule available for applicable positions
- Considerable paid time off, including annual leave, sick leave, and holidays
- Commuter benefits (pre-tax income for mass transit expenses and free parking)
- Discounts for staff in The Huntington Store and restaurants
- Access to the Museums Council pass, which grants free admission to various museums and cultural institutions
- Free passes each month to welcome family and friends to visit the grounds
The Application Process
Please submit a cover letter and CV/resume as a single PDF attachment.
You will have the opportunity to submit additional documents on the “My Experience” section of the application
EEO IS THE LAW
EEO IS THE LAW – SPANISH