Coordinator, Public Services and Outreach

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Job Description

The Arthur Mendel Music Library, a branch of the Princeton University Library, seeks accomplished, energetic, and highly motivated candidates for the position of Coordinator for Public Services and Outreach.

 

Under the general supervision of the Music Librarian and working collaboratively with two other full-time staff members, the successful candidate will manage all aspects of public and circulation services in the Mendel Music Library; provide leadership for student workers; co-author, interpret and enforce library policies; oversee and perform front-line reference service; coordinate Mendel’s outreach, maintenance, and security operations; and assist with collection development, new materials processing, and records management.

 

Designed by Spanish architect Juan Navarro Baldeweg and opened in 1997, the Music Library shares the Woolworth Center of Musical Studies with the Department of Music. Mendel’s extensive collections in print, multimedia, and electronic formats, plus its well-appointed and inviting study spaces, support the complex and varied research and performance needs of Princeton’s preeminent music faculty, some fifty graduate students in musicology, music theory, and composition, undergraduate music concentrators and certificate candidates, and hundreds of non-majors participating in the department’s outstanding performance ensembles. Mendel is also a haven for students, faculty, and staff from the entire campus who study music and the performing arts as part of their interdisciplinary work or personal pursuits. Mendel’s highly regarded collections also attract a wide range of outside users, including researchers from across the U.S. and abroad and musicians from the local area. Mendel also houses the materials supporting the programs in dance and music theater associated with Princeton’s Lewis Center for the Arts.

 

Responsibilities

  • Oversees the day-to-day operations of the library’s busy service/circulation desk, which includes supervising the hiring, training, performance, and assigned duties and projects of 18-20 Public Services Assistant student employees who staff the desk 100+ hours per week during the normal term.

  • Answers reference questions, trains Public Services Assistants in basic question answering skills and the referral process, oversees library signage, and collaborates in developing content for print and online quick information, reference, and research guides.

  • Serves as the Music Library’s liaison to the Library Communications Manager; collaborates with Mendel’s website editor to promote services, resources, special events programming, and exhibits; and regularly contributes to the Music Library’s active social media platforms.

  • Coordinates the Music Library’s interlibrary loan, Borrow Direct, ReCAP, and Article Express services.

  • Manages the Music Library’s assigned study carrel and carrel check-out system.

  • Oversees patron use of rare/fragile materials from the Mendel and off-site collections.

  • Serves as the Music Library liaison to relevant library service units and staff groups.

  • Performs complex bibliographic searching, collection analysis, and evaluation of availability for CDs, DVDs, and scores earmarked for potential acquisition by the Music Librarian.

  • Insures the accurate processing of incoming new materials in all formats by the Public Services Assistants.

  • Oversees the new book and score collection and completes the processing and updating of records for newly received multimedia materials.

  • Coordinates facility service and equipment and technology maintenance requests; oversees supply orders; coordinates minor refurbishment projects with the Library Facilities Managers; and serves as the Music Library’s Emergency Response Coordinator and liaison to the Office of Public Safety.

  • Manages the Mendel Music Library in the absence of other full-time staff.

  • Qualifications

 

Essential Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree with significant academic coursework in music history, world music, performance, musical theater, or the performing arts.

  • Minimum two years of experience working in an academic, research, or special library, or in a public library with a strong humanities and performing arts collection.

  • Reading knowledge of at least one foreign language relevant to the Mendel Music Library.

  • Proven, outstanding skills and recent and relevant experience, in managing several student employees or staff and overseeing the varied tasks they perform.

  • Fluency in reading music, understanding complex music terminology, and familiarity with the common formats of published and recorded music, plus a broad, relevant knowledge of the history and discipline of music.

  • Aptitude and recent experience working with bibliographic citations and descriptive detail in several languages common to music, and relevant experience searching online catalogs and other resources for music materials.

  • Working knowledge of the standard online bibliographic, full-text, and streaming resources specifically related to music and the performing arts, and familiarity with equivalent fundamental print reference sources.

  • Outstanding writing skills and experience producing signage, user guides, and outreach publicity.

  • Exemplary ability to communicate, negotiate, and cooperate effectively with undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, the campus and general public, and colleagues across numerous departments and service centers, both verbally and in writing.

  • Expertise and recent experience in operating the circulation module of an integrated library system.

  • Proficiency with desktop productivity software, scanning equipment, and web-authoring tools, managing social media, and a basic knowledge of computer hardware, printers, peripherals, and sound and video playback equipment

  • Affinity for leadership, teamwork, and to be flexible and resourceful in a busy, public, and fast-paced, service-oriented environment.

  • Ability to work with a diverse constituency and to enforce policies with tact and professionalism.

  • Self-starter able to prioritize, be highly productive, solve problems, and perform sustained and accurate detail work at a computer and with print materials.

 

Preferred Qualifications

  • Undergraduate degree with a major or minor in music or the performing arts.

  • Advanced degree in music, the performing arts, or library science.

  • Facility with Voyager circulation and cataloging modules.

  • Familiarity working with vendors and service providers in a library or institutional environment.

  • Fluency in reading and interpreting MARC records and some knowledge of RDA and related new coding developments, especially in connection with music bibliographic records.

  • Facility with editing LibGuides.

  • Working knowledge of design program software such as Canva and/or the Drupal content management system.

  • Reading knowledge of German, French, or Italian.

 

Princeton University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. EEO IS THE LAW

 

Salary Grade

ADM, 020

 

Standard Weekly Hours

36.25

 

Eligible for Overtime

No

 

Benefits Eligible

Yes

 

Essential Services Personnel (see policy for detail)

No

 

Physical Capacity Exam Required

No


How to Apply

See the job posting and apply here.

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