Senior Library Specialist, Benson Latin American Collection, UT Libraries

Purpose: The Senior Library Specialist supports the Benson Latin American Collection special collections unit by providing stacks management including supervising student assistants; registration duties including accessioning new collections and stewardship of exhibition loans; support of public services in the Rare Books Reading Room; and management of accessioning, tracking, training, location, and registration procedures and documentation.

Responsibilities

• Stacks management: Serve as rare books stacks manager supervising up to six student pages and otherwise ensure that materials are available to researchers in the Rare Books Reading Room; oversee rare interlibrary loan  scans; create and manage ongoing, large scale stacks projects; help to prepare for class visits and showings for visitors; maintain shelf lists; request and manage rare materials in offsite storage; and find mis-shelved items.
• Collection management and registration: Initial accessioning of incoming collections including working with Development to process deeds of gift, creating preliminary finding aids, rehousing collections, and updating inventory lists.  Act as registrar for exhibition loan requests including coordinating condition reports, coordinating traveling arrangements, and managing loan documentation.
• Administrative: Schedule students and professional staff for reference shifts, recruit students, and manage student wages budget. Order archival and office materials. Escort workers in Rare Stacks.
• Service: Participate in relevant committees, task forces, and councils as relevant.
• Other related functions as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• High school diploma (or GED) and four years of library, supervisory, museum collections, or logistics experience.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including ability to communicate with varied populations.
• Ability to interact in a professional manner with faculty, staff, students, researchers, donors, and the public.
• Ability to organize short- and long-term priorities and projects and meet deadlines.
• Ability to successfully work independently and collaboratively.
• Work experience that demonstrates close attention to detail.
• Must be flexible and willing to take on new responsibilities.
• Commitment to excellent customer service and creating a welcoming environment for staff and guests.

Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

Preferred Qualifications

• More than the required experience.
• Experience working in special collections, museum collections, or academic libraries, or coursework in library science, museum studies, conservation, and/or public history.
• Fluency in Spanish.
• Bachelor's degree.
• Reading knowledge of Portuguese.
• Experience working with international populations.
• Experience providing museum, special collections, or library public service.
• Experience supervising college student employees

We want to emphasize that the preferred qualifications are not required and that we are committed to helping our future colleagues develop these preferred skills.

Working Conditions

• May work around standard office and library conditions.
• Repetitive use of a keyboard at a workstation.
• Climbing of stairs.
• Lifting objects, bending, kneeling, walking, standing.
• Lifting and moving up to 40 pounds.

Work Shift: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.