Part-time Library Assistant, The Massachusetts Historical Society (MHS), Boston, MA

Posted September 7, 2021

Description:

The Massachusetts Historical Society (MHS) seeks a part-time library assistant (up to 28 hours per week) to greet
visitors and provide services to researchers who make use of the Society’s collections in the MHS library.
The MHS is an independent research library that collects, preserves, and makes accessible manuscripts and other
materials that promote the study of the history of our nation—a mission that has remained constant since 1791.
The MHS holds more than 3,600 manuscript collections, as well as extensive collections of early American
imprints, newspapers, maps, printed ephemera, photographs, engravings, and other research materials.
The library is currently staffed Monday–Friday 8:45 AM to 4:45 PM. We hope to resume providing services on
Tuesday evenings (to 7:45PM) and Saturday (10:00AM-4:00PM) in the near future. The ideal candidate would
have a flexible schedule including Saturday availability.

Duties: The library assistant works as part of the reference team and reports to the Reference Librarian. Duties
include monitoring the reading room, paging materials from the closed stacks, responding to reference questions
via e-mail, telephone, and online chat, and assisting the reference staff with various library tasks. The majority of
the library assistant’s time is spent interacting directly with the public. This position is essential in promoting the
Society’s public image and in maintaining the security of the collection.

All library assistants are cross-trained on Visitor Services functions and are called on to cover the Society’s
reception desk. The Visitor Services position entails greeting, authorizing, and directing all visitors entering the
Society; including explaining MHS library policies and procedures; and directing incoming telephone calls for the
MHS as a whole.

Requirements: The successful candidate will hold a bachelor’s degree; possess a demonstrated interest in
American history, with strong interest in Early American or Massachusetts/New England history; and have
experience working with a diverse public in a customer service or similar position; be proficient with Microsoft
Office applications; have strong research skills, excellent written and verbal communication skills, and strong
planning and organization skills; and possess the ability to work well in a team environment;.
Completion of some coursework in Library and Information Science, American history, American studies, public
history, or an archives program strongly preferred; familiarity with user-end functions of an integrated library
system (Voyager), Aeon or similar circulation module, and providing reference assistance, as well as previous
experience working with archival materials in a library, museum, or other historical organization are preferred.
This position requires the ability to lift boxes weighing up to fifty pounds and to transport materials loaded onto
wheeled carts.

Salary: $15.00/hour.

How to apply:

Application procedure: Please send an application by email (preferred) or postal mail, including a cover letter,
brief resume, and list of three references to Anna Clutterbuck-Cook, at [email protected], or Massachusetts
Historical Society, 1154 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02215

Applications received before September 13 will be given preference; open until filled.

*The Massachusetts Historical Society is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We aim to be a diverse
workforce that is representative, at all job levels, of the citizens we serve. Candidates of all backgrounds
are welcomed and encouraged to apply. We are committed to creating a work place free from harassment and discrimination on the basis of race, color, ancestry, religious creed, gender identity and
expression, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, genetic information,
disability, military or veteran status, or any other category protected by law (also known as membership
in a “protected class”). We offer a competitive benefits package and salary commensurate with
experience.*