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Summary

The incumbent

Acquisitions Librarian manages activities related to the strategic direction and development of Wolbach's materials collection to promote collections and collections-related activities. The community served by the Wolbach Library includes Smithsonian staff, Harvard faculty and staff, students, post-docs, the international astronomy community, and the public.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
05/15/2017 to 06/13/2017
Salary
$54,812 to - $86,208 per year
Pay scale & grade
IS 09 - 11
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Cambridge, MA
1 vacancy
Appointment type
Permanent - Trust Fund. This is not a federal position.
Work schedule
Full-time - Full time. First consideration may be made 14 days after the opening date.
Service
Promotion potential
11
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Announcement number
17-43
Control number
469851100

This job is open to

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Duties

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Duties include but are not limited to:

  • Establish and maintain relationships with CfA community for input on collections selections
  • Helps select and evaluate vendors, and establish and maintain productive relationships with publishers and vendors in order to maintain an up-to-date awareness of available materials and plan for acquisition model adjustments (e.g. plan for a publisher to change vendors, plan to incorporate backfile sales into purchase recommendations)
  • Ensures that all collection items are processed, and prepared promptly for community borrowing
  • Analyzes collection turnover rates and other use-based measures to determine acquisition strategy to maintain the high quality of Wolbach's collection
  • Analyzes publishing trends and borrowing patterns to ensure at collections provide educational and enriching experiences the astronomy community
  • Ensures special information access needs of all members of the community (including those with disabilities or English as second language) are incorporated into acquisitions strategies
  • Identifies opportunities to promote the collection in the community
  • Performs copy and original cataloging as needed
  • Will manage workflows for maintaining the library's catalog records
  • Performs other duties and special projects as assigned
  • Will act as back up and be able to support interlibrary loan document delivery services
  • Manages pre-allocated acquisitions budgets
  • Participates in daily circulation desk staffing

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Pre and Post background Investigation.
  • May be required to serve a one year probationary period.
  • Direct deposit/electronic funds transfer is required for salary payment.

For Requirements please refer to Group Coverage Qualification Standards for Administrative and Management Positions: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/1400/librarian-series-1410/

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:


All librarians must meet the requirements for professional education in library science or possess equivalent experience and education as shown for GS-7; however, as a standard practice applicants enter at grade GS-9 on the basis of a master's degree in library science.

Since many libraries are highly specialized, some librarian positions require a knowledge of a specialized subject or field of endeavor.. Also, since materials in libraries are often in foreign languages, some librarians must have a proficient knowledge of one or more foreign languages. For such positions, applicants must meet requirements that are directly related to the subject matter or language of the specialization. These requirements are in addition to the basic professional library science requirements that apply to all positions. However, these requirements may be included in or supplemental to those specified for all positions. The following specializations are authorized: biological, medical, social or physical sciences, education, fine arts, business and industry, humanities, law, music, engineering, and the Germanic, Slavic, Oriental, Semitic, or Romance languages.

In addition to meeting the basic entry qualification requirements, applicants must have directly related education and/or specialized experience.

Grade 9 Specialized experience: One year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the next lower level (Grade 7) in the normal line of progression for the position. -Experience at this level normally would equip the applicant with knowledge of establishing and maintaining relationships with communities for input on collection selections; assisting and selecting vendors; ensuring collection items are processed and prepared promptly for community borrowing; analyzing collection turnover; participating in daily circulation desk staffing.

OR

2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education or master's in library science or equivalent graduate degree, e.g., LL.B. or J.D., related to the position.

OR:

Equivalent combinations of education and experience.






How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Your application will be evaluated first for the basic qualifications described above. The applications that meet the basic qualifications will be evaluated further against the following criteria:

  • Knowledge of the theories, principles and objective of librarianship as applied to research libraries catering to the physical sciences.
  • Knowledge and experience in descriptive and subject cataloging of archival and/or library materials including cataloging rules, and thesauri.
  • Knowledge of digital library technology, databases, the internet, and the development of Web resources to assist with planning, design, implementation, installation, and user education required for optimal use of these systems and resources; the incumbent must also be able to recommend enhancements to the systems offered by the library as technology evolves.
  • Knowledge of astronomy, astrophysics, physics, or space sciences sufficient to communicate with CfA scientists whose first language may not be English.
  • Knowledge of sustainable collections management practices and the safe handling of various collection materials.
  • Knowledge of metadata standards and practices, and markup languages as related to digital resources.
  • Skill in descriptive cataloging of archival and/or library materials.
  • Skill in using and creating authority records for distinguishing between items and identical headings or terms.
  • Skill in proofreading and correcting bibliographic data for errors.
  • Skill in critical thinking by using logic and reason to identify strengths and weakness of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
  • Ability to adapt to changing cataloging rules, guidelines and technologies.
  • Excellent organization skills and aptitude for complex and analytical and detailed work.


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