Library Assistant for Special Collections Job at Fisk University in Nashville

Library Assistant for Special Collections

Fisk University – Nashville, TN

Position Summary

Supports the Library’s Special Collections and Archives mission by ensuring the preservation of African American history and culture, maintaining, organizing, and promoting special collections materials, and providing public service.

Essential Functions

• Provides engaging, professional public service to library patrons in‑person, over the phone, and via email; assists visiting researchers; supports research in special collections periodicals, books, and collections searches.
• Guides and supervises Special Collection Student Assistants.
• Processes and arranges archival material and creates finding aids in ArchivesSpace.
• Plans and implements programs and services.
• Collaborates with the Special Collections Librarian on research, reporting, projects, and idea generation; may proofread and edit reports or other library materials.
• Creates and maintains book displays and exhibits.
• Creates guides and other reference tools to facilitate access to archival collections.
• Collects, compiles, and reports statistics related to Special Collections and Archives resources and programs.
• Maintains records, correspondence, inventories, and other general office functions.
• Recommends and evaluates reference books; maintains inventories; checks bibliographies against holdings; processes old and used books; recommends purchase of books for Special Collections.
• Assists other departments as needed.
• Performs other tasks of a similar nature as assigned.

Job Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to interpret and apply policies and procedures.
• Process bills and invoices for payment.
• Prepare correspondence and reports.
• Organize and distribute incoming correspondence; process outgoing mail and packages.
• Order and inventory office and library supplies.
• Possess excellent customer service and human interaction skills.
• Effective communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills.
• Use Microsoft Office and other job‑related computer software proficiently.
• Reading and writing proficiency consistent with educational requirements.
• Ability to work independently in a team without intensive supervision.
• Maintain knowledge of current library trends and innovations, especially those related to Special Collections and Archives.
• Good knowledge of African American resources.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher.
• Minimum of 1 to 2 years experience at a college or university library, preferably working with African American collections.

Physical Demands

• Physical strength and ability to move up to 30 pounds of materials at one time.

Work Environment

• Normal office conditions; noise level is usually moderate.
• This description is not an exclusive or exhaustive list of all job functions that may be performed.