Library Access Assistant

JOB TITLE: Library Access Assistant

DEPARTMENT: Library

REPORTS TO: Library Collections Manager

About The New York Historical

New York’s first museum, The New York Historical is a leading cultural institution documenting over 400 years of American history through a peerless collection of art, documents, and artifacts. Our offerings span groundbreaking exhibitions; acclaimed educational programs for teachers and students nationwide; and thought-provoking conversations among leading scholars, journalists, and thinkers about the past, present, and future of the American experiment. The New York Historical is a museum of museums and a collection of collections. We are home to the Patricia D. Klingenstein Library, the Center for Women’s History, the Reiss Family Graduate Institute for Constitutional History, the Dorothy Tapper Goldman Center for Teaching Democracy, the DiMenna Children’s History Museum, and the future American LGBTQ Museum. We elevate the perspectives and scholarship that define the United States’ democratic heritage and challenge us all to shape our ongoing history for the better.

The Patricia D. Klingenstein Library at the New York Historical is one of the oldest independent research libraries in the United States. Its extensive collections, dating from the sixteenth century to the present, offer unique insights into the history of New York and the nation. Researchers access the Library’s manuscripts and archival collections; books, newspapers, maps, and broadsides; prints, photographs, and architectural drawings, onsite and remotely.

Job Summary

The Library Access Assistant plays a central role in the tracking and handling of collections moving between multiple onsite locations and the offsite storage facility. Reporting to the Library Collections Manager, this position helps ensure the availability of collections for staff and researchers by keeping up-to-date inventories, processing and filling requests, and coordinating with all parties involved in ongoing collections movement.

Essential Job Duties

• Closely monitor the Library’s Aeon request software, researcher appointments calendar, and appointments email account to ensure that collections are available when needed;
• Communicate actively with the public service staff;
• Review internal and public-facing collections records to perform or recommend updates;
• Participate in routine paging and reshelving of onsite collections;
• Request and receive multiple deliveries of offsite collections each week;
• Unpack and stage offsite collections in an orderly and accessible way;
• Repackage offsite collections and arrange for their return to storage;
• Work with Conservation Staff to stabilize fragile material;
• Maintain an accurate list of offsite material in circulation;
• Track all collection movements in Aeon;
• Other duties related to public service and collections movement as assigned
  
  
  

Requirements

• B.A. or A.B. or current enrollment in a B.A. or A.B. degree program;
• A minimum of one year working in a library, archive, or related field;
• Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office software (Excel, Word), online library catalogs, and related discovery tools;
• Experience using Aeon collection management system or a similar collections tracking system;
• Demonstrated ability to accurately reshelve, refile, and shelfread library collections; knowledge of the Library of Congress classification system a plus;
• Able to manage multiple tasks simultaneously and in a timely, accurate manner;
• Adept at working independently and as part of a team;
• Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills;
• Proven flexibility, reliability, and punctuality.
  
  
  

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee with or without accommodation, to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

The position requires regularly lifting and carrying boxes (up to 40 pounds), retrieving boxes from shelving units, pushing and pulling fully-loaded book carts and other conveyances (up to 300 pounds), and frequent stooping and reaching.

Compensation & Benefits

The expected salary for this position is $50,202.96 per year. Pay and benefits for this position are governed by the collective bargaining agreement between The New York Historical and UAW, Local 2110.

The New York Historical provides a generous benefits package for eligible employees to support their health and wellbeing, which includes:

• Paid time off, including vacation, sick and personal days, and holidays observed by the Museum;
• Medical, dental, vision and life insurance;
• Short and long-term disability coverage options;
• 403(b) retirement plan with eligibility for employer contributions following one year of full-time service;
• Flexible spending accounts for health-related expenses, dependent care, and parking and transit expenses;
• Employee Assistance Program for all employees and their families;
• 20% discount at the NYHistory Store, Café Clara and Clara restaurant, located within the Museum;
• Free admission to various museums and cultural institutions across the city.
  
  
  

The New York Historical is an Equal Opportunity Employer.