Library Assistant

The mission of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is to welcome all to celebrate the American spirit in a setting that unites the power of art with the beauty of nature. Founded by philanthropist and arts patron Alice Walton, Crystal Bridges is a public non-profit charitable organization.

Job Description:

Position Title: Library Assistant

FLSA Classification: Non-Exempt

Department: Research, Scholarship, and Library (Curatorial Division)

Reports to: Technical Services Librarian

Date Reviewed: May 22, 2026

About Crystal Bridges & The Momentary:

Crystal Bridges is a museum of American art located in Bentonville, Arkansas. We explore the unfolding story of America by actively collecting, exhibiting, interpreting, and preserving outstanding works that illuminate the American heritage and artistic possibilities. Founded by Alice Walton in 2005, the museum opened in 2011 and is a public, non-profit charitable organization with free admission.

The Momentary is a contemporary art space that opened to the public on February 22, 2020, in downtown Bentonville, Arkansas. The Momentary is a venue for the music, art, and food of our time, and a catalyst for creativity and economic vitality. An extension to Crystal Bridges, the Momentary is a ‘living room’ where community gathers to be inspired, connected, and joyful. You belong here: make the most of this moment.

Position Summary:

Through its research programs and services, Crystal Bridges catalyzes the production of new knowledge and understanding, uniting academic research and scholarship with public access and engagement. The Research, Scholarship, and Library team activates communities of learning and provides unequaled access to the museum’s library and archival collections, creating new models for reach and impact in art history, public scholarship, library collection activation, and community engagement.

Reporting to the Technical Services Librarian, the Library Assistant provides guest services and administrative and specialized support within the Research, Scholarship, and Library department. This role supports circulation and reference, library cataloging, and day-to-day operations, with responsibilities spanning the museum’s reference, rare book, and artist files collections.

Crystal Bridges Library is supported by a dedicated cohort of volunteers who provide reference and circulation assistance and contribute to the upkeep of the museum’s “Library Everywhere” program, a network of small, satellite library locations throughout the museum. The Library Assistant trains and supervises library volunteers and provides coverage for volunteer-supported activities when volunteers are not available.

The library welcomes all museum guests, and the Library Assistant plays a key role in creating an open and engaging guest experience. The work schedule is Wednesday-Sunday to cover 10:00-6:00 library open hours on those days.

Principal Responsibilities:

• Provide circulation and reference support by issuing library cards and maintaining patron accounts, checking library materials in/out, responding to reference requests, and managing research appointments.
• In collaboration with library volunteers and the museum’s technology and facilities teams, manage the physical library space, including computer workstations, the library welcome desk, and the main stacks.
• Train and supervise volunteers; create and update volunteer training and reference materials.
• Copy catalog new library acquisitions and participate in projects to improve collection metadata.
• Support biannual collection inventories of the reference collection and as-needed collection shifts of reference, rare book, and artist files collections.
• Support the Librarian in the creation of library information resources and meeting/presentation materials.
• Research services and products; inventory and order supplies.
  
  

Additional Responsibilities:

• Assist with library tours and public programs.
• Participate in department, division, and museum-wide working groups and committees.
• Perform other related duties as assigned by the Librarian.
  
  

Qualifications and Skills:

• BA or equivalent experience
• One year of related experience in a library, museum, or comparable work environment
• Experience working with volunteers or volunteering
• Proficient in Microsoft Office; capacity to access and accurately enter data into complex information management systems
• Strong organizational skills, including attention to detail and deadlines
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Ability to work independently and to effectively interact with a wide range of colleagues and constituents
  
  

Preferred Skills and Abilities:

• Experience supervising or coordinating the work of volunteers
• Background in library and information science, art history, American history, museum studies, or a related field
• Knowledge of print and electronic resources for art
• Art subject cataloging experience
  
  

Physical Demands and Work Environment:

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Physical demands: The position requires verbal and written conversation with others, sitting, standing, walking, bending, climbing, reaching, strenuous lifting/moving objects up to 25 pounds and use of hands to manipulate, handle or feel objects, tools or controls. Vision abilities required by the job include close vision and color perception
• Work environment: Work will be performed in an office environment, museum galleries, art studios, outdoors on the trails, and in communities served. Some evening and weekend hours are required. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is exposed to weather conditions prevalent at the time. The noise level in the Museum work environment is usually low to moderate.
  
  

All offers of employment are contingent on your successful completion (where permitted by state law) of a confidentiality agreement and background check. In addition, you will need to provide proper identification verifying your eligibility to work in the United States.

Crystal Bridges is an equal opportunity employer committed to building and maintaining a workplace that is free of discrimination and harassment of any kind. We encourage all qualified applicants to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate.