Job Description

Library Technician Position

This position is located in African, Latin America and Western European Division. It is a hybrid position that combines the major technician duties for the functions of acquisitions, cataloging, and serials control. The duties include performing acquisitions searching, placing orders, receiving items, paying invoices, serials check-in, and any other activities needed to support the acquisitions of materials for the library. The duties also include those to support the function of performing cataloging for the library such as shelflisting, record creation, copy cataloging, database maintenance activities, and searching. Often there will be a foreign language requirement for this position depending on the geographical area for which functions are being performed. For example, staff processing and cataloging materials from South America need knowledge of the Spanish language.

As the Library Technician, you will:

• Perform copy cataloging for a variety of materials and formats in an automated cataloging environment. Descriptively catalogs original materials where the bibliographic characteristics of the material are relatively easy to determine and cataloging decisions are made within established standards. Performs CIP verification independently. Completes cataloging data for publications initially cataloged as Cataloging in Publication (CIP) materials. Search entries in automated and manual catalogs. Assign headings to catalog entries. Complete routine authority work; consults with librarians for more complex headings; and refers problems to librarians. Select and assigns classification numbers. Perform content designation on newly created and updated bibliographic records. Perform database maintenance including modifications, updates, and corrections. Create and revises bibliographic records, including initial bibliographic control records (IBCRs). Resolve routine problems and inconsistencies in the cataloging process promptly and independently, involving librarians or the section head on only the more difficult problems.
• Under appropriate review, perform collection development tasks including examination of incoming shipments to select items appropriate for the collections. Independently performs all aspects of acquisition support work, which includes the acquisition of material by exchange, gift, approvals, Copyright, and the most complex order creation and invoice processing. For recommended materials to be acquired, searches reference sources which may include print, automated files, and internal and external databases. Process cancellations or adjustments to acquisition records. Assist in determining if material needs to be claimed and issues appropriate claims to suppliers. Sort and distributes items not destined for the collections. Identify items for the Duplicate Material Exchange Program (DMEP), for the National Agriculture Library, for the National Library of Medicine, for surplus, and for discard. Independently records receipts for all formats (e.g., bound and unbound serial and monograph ink prints, microforms, CD-ROMs, special formats) in an online environment.
• Communicate with a wide variety of patrons by telephone, letter, or electronic means regarding routine and non-routine questions on services to publishers and other specialized library services. Provides complex technical information in clear, straightforward language. Provide referrals to library and non-library services such as ISSN, Copyright. CIP, ISBN, U.S .. Postal Service, Patent and Trademark Office, etc., based on an extensive knowledge of these services and the differences among them. Is called on to deal with difficult patrons or callers, e.g., library donors. Prepare acquisition acknowledgment letters, etc. Determines the best way of formulating requests and selecting and presenting information.
• Efficiently search online databases, such as OCLC, RUN, or an integrated library system, to locate records to use for copy cataloging, or to identify duplicate records or previously processed records. Searches names, uniform titles, series, and subject access points on bibliographic records to verify their existence in the appropriate Library authority files. Perform special searches of various online catalogs to locate and/or verify bibliographic data for acquisitions functions. To identify the relationship of the piece in hand to the collection as a whole completes complex manual and computerized searches in multiple systems.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

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