Library Assistant I, Research Services

About this role

Job Posting Title: Library Assistant I, Research Services ---- Hiring Department: Harry Ransom Center ---- Position Open To: All Applicants ---- Weekly Scheduled Hours: 20 ---- FLSA Status: Non-Exempt from FLSA ---- Earliest Start Date: Immediately ---- Position Duration: Expected to Continue Until Aug 15, 2026 ---- Location: UT MAIN CAMPUS ---- Job Details: The Ransom Center is an internationally renowned humanities research library and museum at The University of Texas at Austin. Its extensive collections provide unique insight into the creative process of writers and artists, deepening our understanding and appreciation of literature, photography, film, art, and the performing arts.  Visitors engage with the Center's collections through research and study, exhibitions, publications, and a rich variety of program offerings including readings, talks, symposia, and film screenings. The Ransom Center encourages discovery, inspires creativity, and advances understanding of the humanities for a broad and diverse audience through the preservation and sharing of its extraordinary collections. The Ransom Center welcomes and respects all individuals and communities by valuing and maintaining awareness of under-represented perspectives and experiences. We believe inclusivity is critical to fostering excellence in all of our endeavors, and we strive to promote diversity in our collections and services. We welcome applicants from under-represented groups and those who demonstrate a commitment to inclusion. To learn more about our institutional mission and values, visit: https://www.hrc.utexas.edu/about/#mission-values .

Responsibilities: • Locates, shelves, and reshelves manuscripts, books, photography, art, flat files, personal effects, and other visual materials for patrons in a secure, closed-stacks library and archive.

• Performs all Circulation Desk functions and has several desk shifts each week. Trains at and serves as backup at Reception.

• Assists patrons with creating requests for photoduplication orders of collection materials.

• After training, performs basic preservation tasks and assists patrons with materials handling.

• Answers directional and minor reference questions in the Reading Room and may assist with  Reading Room orientations for new patrons.

• Assists with training of Work Study students and Student Assistants.

• Locates and pulls materials for use in the classrooms, helps with the set up and take down of classroom materials, and may assist with materials selection and classroom instruction.

• Assists with Library Storage Facility material requests by inputting requests,  routing of requests when materials arrive, and strapping and preparing materials for return.

• Helps foster a welcoming research environment while also safeguarding collection materials. Revisits policies with the team to ensure alignment with National Standards and current best practices.

• Serves as the primary staff member for pulling materials on Saturdays and support at service points.

• Assists with occasional opening and closing responsibilities.

• Participates in occasional cross-departmental projects.

• Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications: • High school graduation or GED

• Two years of library experience OR s ixty hours of college credit and one year of full-time equivalent library experience OR t welve hours of graduate coursework in Library and Information Science.

• Must be able to work Saturdays.

Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

Preferred Qualifications: • Demonstrated knowledge of Ransom Center collections.

• Experience in a special collections library.

• Demonstrated good customer service skills.

• Demonstrated knowledge of Library of Congress and Dewey Decimal classification systems.

• Experience with an automated circulation tracking system.

• Proficient in more than one language.

• Experience in preservation techniques.

• Ability to communicate and work well with scholars in the humanities and with library and other staff as a team member.

• Experience with an online library catalog and with databases.

• Experience with or interest in literary materials.

• Good written and oral communication skills. 

Salary Range: $20,000 prorated annual salary

Working Conditions: • May work around standard office conditions

• Repetitive use of a keyboard at a workstation

• Use of manual dexterity

• Ability to appropriately handle large, heavy, and fragile collection materials of significant value.

Work Shift: • Availability to work most Saturdays required with additional hours on weekdays to be scheduled between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM M-F for a total of 20 hours per week.

Required Materials: • Resume/CV

• 3 work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor

• Letter of interest

Important   for applicants who are NOT current university employees or contingent workers:  You will be prompted to submit your resume the first time you apply, then you will be provided an option to upload a new Resume for subsequent applications. Any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) will be uploaded in the Application Questions section; you will be able to multi-select additional files. Before submitting your online job application, ensure that ALL Required Materials have been uploaded.  Once your job application has been submitted, you cannot make changes.

Important for Current university employees and contingent workers:  As a current university employee or contingent worker, you MUST apply within Workday by searching for Find UT Jobs. If you are a current University employee, log-in to Workday, navigate to your Worker Profile, click the Career link in the left hand navigation menu and then update the sections in your Professional Profile before you apply. This information will be pulled in to your application. The application is one page and you will be pro

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