Library Assistant

National Gallery of Australia; Canberra; On-site; AUD 68,000 - 83,000; Full time

Job summary

National Gallery of Australia in Parkes, ACT, seeks a Library Assistant to support Special Collections and Reference Library operations under the Librarian. This full-time, 24-month role focuses on improving discoverability, processing ephemera, acquisitions assessments, and rehousing materials, with occasional work at offsite storage.

Based at the National Gallery, you will provide reader services, process Reference Library and Special Collections materials, create MARC records to RDA

Qualifications

• Qualifications in, or progress towards, library and archive studies or relevant experience with museum/gallery/special libraries is desirable
• Qualifications in or knowledge of art history and theory or visual arts is desirable

Responsibilities

• Provide reader services, including directional and facility enquiries, circulation, use of online and physical resources, visitor bookings, and undertaking research for staff and external reference enquiries
• Follow relevant procedures and guidelines to process Reference Library and Special Collections materials
• Assist with the provision of bibliographic services including creating catalogue records to RDA and internal standards, adding holdings and items, and improving discoverability of resources in the Library Management System
• Undertake short-term Reference Library or Special Collections projects with a defined scope, as directed by the Librarian
• Provide guidance regarding standard Research Library and Archives operations, procedures, guidelines and policies as needed
• Assist with general collection maintenance including shelving, filing and cascading under best practice manual handling principles
• Assist the Library Technician with general library administration
• Assist the Librarian, Archivist or Library Manager as required

Skills

Reader services

Cataloguing

Reference enquiries

Library management system

Education

Library/Archive studies (desirable)

Art history knowledge (desirable)

Tools

Library Management System

Job description

National Gallery of Australia - Parkes ACT

The Research Library and Archives is a specialist art library responsible for collecting and providing access to significant publications and original material from the national collection including archives and special collections. We have recently entered an exciting period of change, providing the opportunity to innovate modes of access, and harness our wealth of materials.

As the Library Assistant, you will work under the direction of the Librarian to assist in managing Special Collections and Reference Library materials, enhance discoverability of resources, and support general library operations. You will have the opportunity to work on discrete collections projects, such as ephemera processing, collection acquisition assessments, and rehousing of materials.

The Library Assistant will be based at the National Gallery in Parkes but may be required to work at our offsite storage facility on occasion.

This is a full-time, non-ongoing employment opportunity for a 24-month period which may become ongoing.

The key duties of the position include:

In accordance with the APS 4 work level standards, you will:

• Provide reader services, including directional and facility enquiries, circulation, use of online and physical resources, visitor bookings, and undertaking research for staff and external reference enquiries
• Follow relevant procedures and guidelines to process Reference Library and Special Collections materials
• Assist with the provision of bibliographic services including creating catalogue records to Resource Description and Access (RDA) and internal standards, adding holdings and items, and improving the discoverability of resources in the Library Management System
• Undertake short-term Reference Library or Special Collections projects with a defined scope, as directed by the Librarian
• Provide guidance regarding standard Research Library and Archives operations, procedures, guidelines and policies as needed
• Assist with general collection maintenance including shelving, filing and cascading under best practice manual handling principles
• Assist the Library Technician with general library administration
• Assist the Librarian, Archivist or Library Manager as required

Eligibility

Citizenship - To be eligible for employment with the Gallery, you must be an Australian citizen.

Police Check - to be eligible for this role you must complete a police check.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION - Qualifications, Certifications and Registrations

Role specific mandatory qualifications /certification and/or registrations include:

• Qualifications in, or progress towards, library and archive studies or relevant experience with museum/gallery/special libraries is desirable
• Qualifications in or knowledge of art history and theory or visual arts is desirable

Getting to know the National Gallery of Australia

The National Gallery is one of Australia's leading visual arts institutions. The National Gallery is based in Canberra and is a vital part of the Australian cultural landscape. Our Purpose is to collect, preserve, promote and share the national collection of art. The Vision of the National Gallery is to be the international reference point for art in Australia, inspiring all people to explore, experience and learn. Our Values include Boldness, Integrity, Respect, and Excellence.