Resource Worker (USC Libraries, Specialized Collections)

The University of Southern California is one of the world’s leading private research universities. An anchor institution in Los Angeles, USC has a large number of international students and offers extensive opportunities for internships and study abroad. With a strong tradition of integrating liberal and professional education, USC fosters a vibrant culture of public service and encourages students to cross academic as well as geographic boundaries in their pursuit of knowledge. For more information, visit www.usc.edu.

USC Libraries

The USC Libraries actively support the discovery, creation, and preservation of knowledge. We develop collections and services that support and encourage the academic endeavors of faculty, students, and staff; build a community of critical consumers of information; and help develop engaged world citizens. Through these means, we contribute to the continued success of the University of Southern California. The USC Libraries includes the Doheny Memorial Library and fourteen specialized libraries with an operating budget of approximately $41 million. Library collections encompass over 4.2 million volumes, 5.9 million microforms, 3.1 million images, 49,300 linear feet of manuscripts and archives, with access to over 113,800 serials in print and electronic formats, over 1,650 datasets, and nearly 1.3 million e-books. For more information, visit libraries.usc.edu.

The Position

USC Libraries searches for two Resource Employees, a part-time, twelve-month engagement, anticipated to work no more than twenty-hours each week. The Resource Employee position is not benefits eligible.

The Resource Employees are responsible to coordinates, oversees and participate in Special Collections merger, inventory and preservation project

Special Collections merger, inventory and preservation project

Special Collections’ monograph collection comprises over 250,000 volumes. It currently is located in Doheny library, Grand library and the Crozier facilities. This collection has evolved and expanded over the decades and includes multiple collections, including but not limited to the Hancock Foundation, the Boeckmann collection, the University Archives book collection, and more.

For decades all of these sub-collections have been shelved separately, which has made retrieval and reshelving complicated. In order to facilitate retrieval, the collection as a whole requires a thorough and systematic reconfiguration and shelf read to merge and make it cohesive and logical. Furthermore, the rare books collection, which totals over 70,000 volumes, is in an extremely fragile state requiring immediate preservation attention to ensure continued access.   

This project will

• Merger of two large rare book collections currently in an off-site location (Grand), totaling over 45,000 volumes. The merged collection will be relocated and housed in appropriate locations in Doheny library.
• Return and merger of the Boeckmann and the University Archives book collection from an off-site location (Crozier) to Doheny library.
• Relocation and merger of several specialty collections from various locations in Doheny within the appropriate stacks and vault area.

• Finalize the shelving of the collection;
• Inventory the monograph collections to match, correct and clean up bibliographic records;
• Reclass the Dewey portion of the collection to Library of Congress classifications;
• Identify errors and inaccuracies in the collection and the Libraries’ holdings; and
• This project will deliver a uniform and logically distributed collection. It identifies and corrects errors in the database and physical holdings. It also produces the necessary data to plan a program for the preservation of the USC rare book collection.
• This is a multi-year project, subject to annual evaluation of the deliverable and the objectives of the project. This will enable us to modify and enhance the project to include other factors that may have occurred in the interim.

The Responsibilities

• Conducts inventories, arranges materials and details unorganized collections within established guidelines and/or under supervision. Performs intricate searches through online and physical files for unusual and specialized materials, and resolves any complex problems found. Consults with proper authorities to make recommendations and when best resolutions may lead to necessary changes to policies and/or procedures. Monitors the library’s shelves and physical organization for neatness and necessary shifting. Maintains and supervises the flow of loading and shelving of new or existing materials, and makes note of problem sections. Prepares items for binding

• Supervises the work of student workers and assigns and prioritizes workloads daily.

• Resolves problems and assists in the paging of library materials. Search for missing and misplaced items, and corrects and resolves issues and conflicts in library records

• Oversees and assists with the quality control of the library’s entries in the specialized library database(s). Audits entries and makes appropriate corrections Collects and compiles library statistics as relate to the project.

• Oversees collection(s), including appropriate processing, check-in and preparation for various physical locations. Maintains shelf list files. Corrects conflicting records, resolves record problems. Consults with the proper authority when resolution to a problem may result in precedent setting changes to policies and/or procedures

• Monitors the physical organization of library materials and spaces. Maintains and supervises workflow for organizing and housing new or existing materials. Identifies and supervises needed collection shifts.

The Qualifiers

• Minimum Education: Associate’s degree and combined experience/education as substitute for minimum education
• Minimum Experience: 2 years
• Minimum Field of Expertise:
  • Thorough knowledge of general library operations and working knowledge of standard bibliographic and other reference tools.
  • Understanding of library databases, cataloging rules and procedures, and Library of Congress standards. Aptitude for detail and accuracy
  • Ability to work under pressure while multi-tasking. Strong commitment to excellent customer service, demonstrated in part by meeting or exceeding all established quality and quantity standards.
  •  Required to exhibit an awareness of how their own activities contribute to the whole, and how activities and workflows within their unit mesh with those of others in the organization.
  •  Actively participates and positively contributes to the work of teams, partnerships, and committees established in the unit, across units within libraries, or between libraries and external units and organizations.
  • Promotes an atmosphere of collegiality and demonstrates a professional commitment that supports USC’s and the libraries’ mission and values, resulting in the attainment of stated and strategic operational goals

What We Prefer

• Preferred Education: Bachelor’s degree
• Preferred Field of Expertise:
  • Proficiency with library management software/systems.
  • Experience in higher education and/or library environments, and with handling archival materials.
  • Some knowledge of basic web server functions, networking, file system maintenance, HTML and web editing tools.

Physical Requirements

Due to the physical nature of this position applicant must meet the following physical requirements described here in order to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

• Balancing, bending and climbing. Fine Manipulation and flexion/extension and pinching in both hands. Repetitive motion especially reach (above shoulder). Sit, stand, twist and walk.
• Ability to push and pull fully loaded standard library booktrucks. Ability to lift 25-50lbs.

Application Procedure

As part of the application, candidates must upload one document file (Word or PDF) that contains the following: 1) a cover letter, 2) Resume (including telephone and e-mail address).

The hourly rate for this position is $22.00. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.

USC is an equal-opportunity educator and employer, proudly pluralistic and firmly committed to providing equal opportunity for outstanding persons of every race, gender, creed and background. The university particularly encourages members of underrepresented groups, veterans and individuals with disabilities to apply. USC will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities unless doing so would result in an undue hardship. Further information is available by contacting uschr@usc.edu.

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Minimum Education: Associate’s degree and combined experience/education as substitute for minimum education Minimum Experience: 2 years Minimum Field of Expertise: Thorough knowledge of general library operations and working knowledge of standard bibliographic and other reference tools. Understanding of library databases, cataloging rules and procedures, and Library of Congress standards. Aptitude for detail and accuracy Ability to work under pressure while multi-tasking. Strong commitment to excellent customer service, demonstrated in part by meeting or exceeding all established quality and quantity standards. Required to exhibit an awareness of how their own activities contribute to the whole, and how activities and workflows within their unit mesh with those of others in the organization. Actively participates and positively contributes to the work of teams, partnerships, and committees established in the unit, across units within libraries, or between libraries and external units and organizations. Promotes an atmosphere of collegiality and demonstrates a professional commitment that supports USC’s and the libraries’ mission and values, resulting in the attainment of stated and strategic operational goals