Work in the Library

If you are interested in aplying for any of the positions detailed below, please fill out the Student Employee Application. See Human Resources Jobs for WPI students for other options on campus.

Archives Assistant

Assists with a variety of tasks, which may include reference work, organization of materials, and entering information into archives database.

Reports to: Archivist
Schedule: Hours to be negotiated between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday-Friday

Duties

• Assists with reference requests, sometimes greeting and helping patrons
• Helps maintain book collection in proper order
• Enters information into Archives database
• Photocopies and/or scans materials
• Organizes archival materials, usually paper-based collections
• Assists with other tasks as needed

Qualifications

• Attention to detail
• Good communication and interpersonal skills
• Interest in history, particularly WPI history
• Reliable
• Willing to do a variety of tasks, as needed
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision

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Archives Assistant (Digitization Technician)

Assist Archives staff with digitization work, e.g. scanning, web work, and metadata entry.

Reports to: Curator of Special Collections & Archives
Schedule: Hours vary between 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday

Duties

• Assists with scanning of photographs, printed materials for patrons or in-house use.
• Assists with web page creation and editing for Archives’ website or associated digital project projects.
• Assists with entering metadata in Archives’ collections management database or other databases
• Assists with creating and editing digital audio and video projects.
• Assists with photo-reproduction services, such as photocopying and digital photography
• Assists in opening and/or closing procedures of reading room.
• Assists Archives staff with other task, e.g. filing or shelving as needed

Qualifications

• Interest in history
• Familiarity with HTML, XML, and CSS
• Familiarity with Adobe Photoshop & Acrobat
• Experience with using relational databases
• Willingness to learn new software and technologies.
• Attention to detail
• Good communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.

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Archives Reading Room Assistant

Assists patrons with use of the WPI Archives and Special Collections reading room.

Reports to: Reference & Processing Archivist
Schedule: Hours vary between 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Friday

Duties

• Registers patrons and orients them to reading room policies and procedures.
• Assists patrons with locating desired archival and special collections materials.
• Assists with photo-reproduction services, such as photocopying and scanning.
• Answers the telephone, directing calls to the proper staff member or taking messages.
• Answers directional questions for patrons.
• Assists in opening and/or closing procedures of reading room.
• Works on special projects and other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Public service orientation
• Dependability
• Familiarity with WPI history
• Familiarity with library & archives policies & procedures
• Attention to detail
• Good communication skills
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.

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Circulation Assistant

Assists patrons with use of library facilities and provides general and directional information.

Reports to: Access Services (Student) Coordinator
Schedule: Hours vary, may include evening and weekend hours.

Duties

• Checks materials in and out from the circulating and reserves collections
• Responds to Information Desk and telephone inquiries, directing questions to the appropriate staff member(s)
• Answers directional and basic reference questions
• Inputs and monitors Tech Suite reservations
• Assists in collecting statistics on patrons
• Collects and records payment of fines and fees
• Assists patrons in use of printers, photocopiers, scanners, microfilm, and microfiche reader/printers
• Assists in opening and/or closing procedures of library
• Works on special projects and other duties as assigned

Qualifications

• Customer service oriented
• Dependability
• Familiarity with library procedures
• Attention to detail
• Excellent communication skills
• Able to work independently with minimal supervision

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Collections Management Assistant

Assists cataloging staff in maintaining accurate records of library holdings.

Reports to: Collections Management Associates and Assistant Director for Collections Management
Schedule: Hours vary, Mon-Fri from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Duties

• Updates records in online catalog
• Retrieves books from general collection
• Special projects as assigned
• Prepares new library materials for shelving
• Shelves new periodical issues

Qualifications

• Dependability
• Attention to detail
• Knowledge of Windows
• Keyboarding skills

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Digital Initiatives Assistant

Assists with Gordon Library’s Digital Initiatives, including digital capture and conversion of documents, images, and other resources, description and management of files, preparation for upload into WPI’s Digital Commons institutional repository, and other similar tasks as projects evolve.

Reports to: Digital Initiatives Librarian and Associate Director for Technology and e-Resource Management
Schedule: Hours vary between 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday
Frequency: Position totals 10 hours per week, may be filled by one or two students.  

Duties

• Digitize images, documents, and other materials following established best practices and workflows
• Transfer and/or generate minimal descriptive information (metadata) for digitized materials
• Prepare files and descriptive information ahead of upload into institutional repository
• May assist with broader selection, processing, description, and re-housing of materials being digitized
• Keeps work area neat and clean

Qualifications

• Superior attention to detail and good judgment
• Ability to consistently follow very detailed instructions
• Ability to communicate and to articulate complex problems
• Ability to handle fragile materials with care
• Willingness to learn new techniques and technologies
• Familiarity with archives, digital imaging, digital media creation, digital file conversion and management, MS Office, XML, and/or scripting a plus!

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Digital Reformatting Center Assistant

Assists in the Digital Reformatting Center to create high quality, searchable digital images of materials in the library collections to accepted standards and specifications.

Reports to: Preservation Librarian and Assistant Director for Collections Management
Schedule: Hours vary between 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday

Duties

• Scanning student IQP/MQP Projects written prior to e-submission
• Creates PDF/A files from TIF images files using ABBYY FineReader 9.0
• Corrects textual OCR errors using ABBYY FineReader 9.0
• May assist in digital imaging
• Keeps work area neat and clean

Qualifications

• Superior attention to detail and good judgment
• Ability to consistently follow very detailed instructions
• Ability to communicate and to articulate complex problems
• Willingness to learn new techniques
• Love of books!

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Interlibrary Loan Assistant

Assists in retrieving, photocopying, charging, and processing items for Interlibrary Loan Department.

Reports to: Interlibrary Loan Librarian
Schedule: Hours vary, Mon-Fri between 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Duties

• Photocopies journal, book, and microfiche articles taking care to copy the correct pages and ensuring that copies are clear and readable.
• Charges out books on the Voyager system.
• Prepares articles and books for mailing using the proper mailing system (UPS, Shuttle, U.S. Mail, Ariel, Fax).
• Retrieves books and journals.
• Performs other duties as needed.

Qualifications

• Attention to detail.
• Knowledge of Library classification system.

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Library Social Media Content Developer

Assists in the production of content for the library's social media sites including Facebook, Twitter and the WPI Library Blog. Assists with analysis of social media usage and evaluates social media platforms.

Reports to: Associate Director, Research & Instruction Services
Schedule: Monday through Friday. Hours vary.

Duties

• Collaborate with library staff to develop content for various social media
• Assists in the creation & distribution of publicity for library media displays (screen savers, display slideshows, etc.), as well as more traditional methods such as posters and flyers
• Assists with library outreach initiatives, including staffing tables at campus center or during campus events or open houses
• Collates and analyzes statistical information related to the library's use of social media
• Makes recommendations for future strategies regarding the library's use of social media as an outreach method
• Performs duties for the Reference and Interlibrary Loan departments, as appropriate
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

• Working knowledge of basic research skills and use of library databases
• Experience using Facebook, Twitter, and other social media platforms to deploy content
• Knowledge of video and image editing tools, MS Office software suite, and ability to quickly learn SnagIt, Camtasia, and new technologies adopted by library staff
• Creativity, dependability, flexibility, and reliability

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Library Student Supervisor

Supervises students and general operation of the Information Desk in the absence of full-time staff.

Reports to: Access Services (Student) Coordinator
Schedule: Flexible evening and weekend hours

Duties

• Supervises work of student assistants and supports them in maintaining library service standards in the absence of full-time staff
• Resolves problems and handles complaints
• Provides general informational assistance, including reference assistance, when full-time librarians are unavailable
• Supervises opening and closing procedures
• Prepares daily supervisor reports notifying supervisor of problems encountered during shifts
• Assists in continuous training of other student assistants
• Enters data of library statistics
• Registers new patrons and edits patron accounts
• Assists in the scheduling of circulation assistants
• Directs patrons in the event of an emergency and ensures proper library emergency procedures are followed
• Other special projects and duties as assigned

Qualifications

• Thorough knowledge of all library policies and procedures
• Previous library experience
• Supervisory skills
• Customer service oriented
• Familiarity with emergency procedures
• Dependability
• Attention to detail
• Good communication skills

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Library Web Content Aggregator

Assists with maintenance of the library's online presence including the website and blog. Develops publicity materials for library events and instruction initiatives.

Reports to: Associate Director, Research & Instruction Services
Schedule: Monday through Friday. Hours vary.

Duties

• Maintains the library's online presence including the website, video tutorials, and blog for currency and accuracy
• Streamlines and improves usability and attractiveness of online instruction materials and library web pages, including link checking and quality assurance
• Collaborates with staff to develop new web pages for the library site and improving graphical content
• Assists in the creation & distribution of publicity for library instruction and events such as posters, flyers, and online exhibits
• Sets up the Anderson Instruction Lab for instruction sessions, sometimes software installation & troubleshooting
• Assists with library events, instruction, and other outreach initiatives as needed
• Collates and analyzes evaluation responses & library statistical information
• Performs duties for the Reference and Interlibrary Loan departments, as appropriate
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

• Working knowledge of basic research skills and use of library databases
• Knowledge of HTML and web page design & creation
• Knowledge of image editing tools, MS Office software suite, and ability to quickly learn SnagIt, Camtasia, and new technologies adopted by library staff
• Dependability, flexibility, and reliability

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Periodicals Assistant

Assists in processing and maintaining periodicals collection.

Reports to: Periodicals Library Assistant
Schedule: Hours vary, Mon-Fri between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

Duties

• Picks up and re-shelves journals from all floors and study areas daily.
• Surveys use of journals daily.
• Processes all checked in issues.
• Re-files fiche daily.
• Processes and shelves all reference/periodical issues.
• Helps to prepare bindery shipments every 2 weeks.
• Processes and shelves bindery materials as they are received from the bindery every 2 weeks.
• Maintains and organizes all periodical titles; shelving, boxing, and recycling as needed.
• Helps with special projects as needed.

Qualifications

• Dependability
• Ability to work independently with little supervision
• Accuracy
• Good communication skills.

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Preservation Technician

Helps preserve the Library's physical book collections by performing end-processing and conservation procedures on a variety of materials from both general and Special Collections. Uses repair techniques that maintain accepted treatment standards and specifications to ensure quality and consistency.

Reports to: Preservation Librarian
Schedule: Hours vary, Mon-Thurs between 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

Duties

• End Processing
  • Reinforces new paperback books by laminating or paperback-stiffening.
  • Constructs protective enclosures for Special Collections materials, and covers for spiral bound books.
• Repair
  • Repairs bound volumes from the general collections as directed, including re-backing, re-casing and simple rebinding.
  • Treats flat paper materials by surface cleaning and paper mending.
  • Constructs supports for exhibition materials.
• Lab Maintenance
  • Maintains cleanliness of work area by keeping area around workspace clean and free of food and debris and cleaning all tools and brushes at least once a day.
  • Contributes to the smooth operation of the department by monitoring use of supplies, informing supervisor when supplies are low, and cutting your own stock of materials used in treatment.

Qualifications

• Accuracy
• Consistency
• Patience
• Conscientiousness
• Manual dexterity, artistic sense and good judgment
• Willingness to learn new techniques and redo mistakes
• Love of books

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Research & Instruction Assistant

Assists library users with basic research and information needs and assists librarians with reference inquiries and library instruction.

Reports to: Research & Instruction Librarian/Reference Coordinator
Schedule: Hours vary, day and possibly weekend hours

Duties

• Provides general research assistance, instruction, and outreach to the WPI campus community
• Provides basic reference and informational assistance, through in-person, phone, and virtual services
• Assists users with library information resources, including research database and citation management tools
• Assists with link checking and maintenance of online library instructional content
• Triage reference inquires to appropriate library staff
• Assists with special projects, including in-depth research projects, collection analysis and others that arise

Qualifications

• Prior in-depth experience at the Gordon Library information desk
• Dependability
• Ability to present and instruct users on library catalog, journal search, and research databases
• Familiarity with library procedures and policies
• Attention to detail
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision
• Excellent communication skills

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Stacks Assistant

Keeps assigned stack area in correct call number order, shelves returned items, pulls material for mending and corrections, and other stack related needs.

Reports to: Access Services Assistant
Schedule: Hours vary, may include evening and weekend hours.

Duties

• Shelves books in designated areas while removing any debris, papers, paper clips, etc.
• Shelves books with accuracy in a timely fashion
• Maintains shelves in a clean and orderly manner
• Identifies material in need of repair
• Conducts routine stack searches for overdue or missing items
• Shifts library material as needed
• Participates in inventory projects
• Performs other duties as assigned

Qualifications

• Public service and detail orienteation
• Dependable work habits
• Familiarity with library classification system

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