Access Services Specialist

**This is a 1-year term-limited position with potential for renewal**​​​​​​

Job Summary:

Access Services actively supports the teaching and research mission of the Harvard Library by providing circulation, access and borrowing privileges, and other public services as well as operations such as the Harvard Depository, interlibrary loan, digital reserves, and collection management that facilitate virtual and physical access to information resources within and outside the University. Access Services staff members are expected to provide services at the highest level of patron satisfaction while utilizing best practices to meet patron needs. Additionally, Access Services staff members are committed to delivering high-quality customer service; timely access to collections; maintaining the integrity and security of library resources and materials; and accommodating user needs in accordance with the priorities and objectives of the Harvard Library.

Under direction, and in support of the mission of Harvard Library, the position-holder performs a combination of complex duties within Access Services to facilitate access to the Harvard Library collections while maintaining an earnest commitment to excellent service. Work is performed within broad parameters defined by general organizational requirements and established practices and precedents requiring an understanding of library-wide procedures.

This full-time one-year term position reports to the Access Services Librarian and Digital Reserves Manager & Strategist and is based in the Frances Loeb Library at the Harvard Graduate School of Design. In addition to working at the Design Library, the position-holder collaborates with other Access Services staff members to support Access Services functions across Harvard's libraries.

The position-holder may sometimes need to work evenings until 10 pm and on non-typical workdays to ensure coverage at service points at the beginning of the semester or at other times when coverage is needed.

Job-Specific Responsibilities:

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Primary areas of responsibility include managing student workers, overseeing circulation activities, and assisting with reference and information services. Additional areas may include oversight of GSD publications sales, stacks and collections maintenance, and resource sharing and course reserves services. The incumbent carries out work independently and may make operational decisions affecting the work unit; decisions with major implications are made in consultation with the manager. 

• Other duties as assigned, consistent with the functions of the work unit and level of responsibilities of the role.

Student Workers

• Interviews and selects Access Services student employees.

• Develops and maintains the schedule for students working at the circulation desk.

• Performs all student training and plans work operations for student employees.

• Assists with student payroll and student payroll communications.

Circulation

• Checks items out to patrons and back in when returned, and reviews items for damage and completeness at the time of return.

• Works with patrons so they understand library policies, such as loan periods, overdue fines, and responsible use of items.

• Physically assists patrons in retrieving materials.

Information Services

• Provides basic reference help and instruction in HOLLIS and other resources commonly used in art and design research.

• Triages reference questions submitted online and in person, referring complex questions to specialized research staff per established protocols.

• Resolves Access Services tickets submitted through the LibAnswers query system.

Publications Sales

• Oversees retail sales of GSD publications, including confirming orders and payments and coordinating inventory information with the publications office.

Assessment, Security, and Stacks

• Collects data on how services, spaces, and collections are used, including gate counts, person counts, and transaction statistics.

• Assists in opening and closing the library, supporting security measures, and communicating and enforcing library policies.

• May assist in overseeing and performing collections maintenance and reshelving, serials binding preparation, shelf-reading, shifting collections, maintaining stacks labels and signage, and searching for missing and lost items.

Resource Sharing and Reserves

• Processes item deliveries from the interlibrary courier and requests going to other libraries, and helps patrons use Scan & Deliver, Borrow Direct, and Interlibrary Loan.

• May assist with course reserves by communicating with instructors, processing physical items for short-term loans, and creating, storing, and delivering digital content, including for studio abroad programs.

Collaboration

• Attends Loeb Library staff meetings and participates in communal library activities.

• Regularly communicates with the Research and Teaching, Collections, and Administrative Teams at the Frances Loeb Library.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

Interviews, selects, trains, and schedules Access Services student employees; plans and distributes their work; and assists with student payroll.