Associate Librarian, Operations and Communications

The First Church of Christ, Scientist; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

The Mother Church Reading Room in Boston is seeking an Associate Librarian to help run daily operations, provide technology support, and maintain records with confidentiality and care.

The role includes sales and visitor service during shifts, event coordination, and assisting with reports and department communications in a healing, spiritual atmosphere.

Qualifications

• Requires strong administrative, problem-solving, technical and communication skills.
• Experience in customer service and working with the public is highly desirable.
• Ability to work with diverse teams and maintain confidentiality.

Responsibilities

• Supports day-to-day operations of the Reading Room and department.
• Provides technology support and assists with reporting and records management.
• Gathers data for reports and maintains staff and visitor records.
• Serves as backup scrum master and participates in weekly Agile meetings.
• Oversees sales and visitor service during shifts and coordinates events.

Skills

Customer service

Communication

Administrative skills

Problem-solving

Technical support

Education

Bachelor's degree or 3-5 years experience in tourism/hospitality/retail/event planning

Job description

The Mother Church Reading Room is a vibrant spiritual oasis in the city of Boston for neighbors, local college students, Church members and visiting tourists. The Reading Room team ensures that every visitor is welcomed and helped with professionalism, spiritual discernment and care.

Job Details

Description

SUMMARY

The Mother Church Reading Room is a vibrant spiritual oasis in the city of Boston for neighbors, local college students, Church members and visiting tourists. The Reading Room team ensures that every visitor is welcomed and helped with professionalism, spiritual discernment and care.

This position supports efficient and orderly day-to-day operations of the Reading Room, supporting the entire department. Tasks may include, but are not limited to technology support, submitting work and supply orders, compiling reports, maintaining department records (minute-taking and online file management), and serving as backup scrum master.

This position will also serve ongoing, weekly shifts in the Reading Room. The Reading Room affords daily opportunities to answer questions about Christian Science. These opportunities require spiritual discernment, wisdom and love. Developing and maintaining expert knowledge of the products that are published or sold by the Christian Science Publishing Society—and recommending them to meet specific needs—is an essential part of the job. It is equally important to contribute to an uplifting environment of healing and spiritual discovery.

Church founder, Mary Baker Eddy, took great care in the selection of The Mother Church Reading Room Librarian. She describes the ideal candidate in the Church Manual: “He or she shall have no bad habits, shall have had experience in the Field, shall be well educated, and a devout Christian Scientist” (Man. 63:23–2 (to .)). Mrs. Eddy also describes the rule of conduct for any room where the Christian Science textbook is sold: “No idle gossip, no slander, no mischief-making, no evil speaking shall be allowed” (Man. 81:23). The Librarian and all Associate Librarians strive to uphold this standard of conduct. In support of this healing activity, the Associate Librarian prays for and metaphysically defends the mission and activity of The Mother Church Reading Room.

Requires strong administrative, problem-solving, technical and communication skills, initiative, flexibility, ability to work with a diverse team, and confidentiality. Must be detail-oriented and have experience providing outstanding customer service. The incumbent must have a solid grasp of the mission of the Church and must be actively engaged in furthering the cause of Christian Science.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

Operations and Communications Duties

• Works to strengthen TMCRR culture through discerning needs and responding.
• Has a detailed knowledge of TMCRR operations, procedures, and personnel.
• Oversees timely day-to-day office administration, which includes submitting work orders, tracking, and ordering supplies.
• Gathers and compiles fruitage, sales data, and other information to contribute to reports that the Assistant Manager and Manager deliver to stakeholders.
• Helps maintain clean and organized office and break spaces in TMCRR and the Publishing House offices. This includes arranging for equipment repairs as needed.
• Recommends opportunities for process improvements.
• Partners with the Office of the CIO (OCIO) to maintain TMCRR technology and resolve problems promptly. Serves as level-one support on weekdays, evenings and weekends for all Reading Room technology. Escalates questions and problems to Assistant Manager and OCIO as needed.
• Helps keep staff trained on the technology needed for their jobs.
• Prepares for and participates in weekly Agile team meetings.
• Serves as a backup to other team members when they are out of the office.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Associate Librarian Duties

• Prays for, supports, and contributes to the healing atmosphere in the Reading Room.
• Is responsible for sales and visitor service/satisfaction in The Mother Church Reading Room when on shift.
• Recognizes, supports, and communicates to visitors the unique role of The Mother Church Reading Room.
• Maintains an expert knowledge of the products that are published or sold by the Christian Science Publishing Society and recommends them to meet specific needs a visitor may have.
• Has a solid knowledge of the life and work of Mary Baker Eddy.
• Keeps abreast of current developments in The Mother Church’s departments and activities, The Mother Church edifice, the How Do You See the World? experience, The Mary Baker Eddy Library, Christian Science Publishing Society publications and other Mother Church programs and communicates provide current information for visitors and callers.
• Graciously corrects misconceptions about Christian Science in a wise and Christian manner.
• Is able to quickly assess situations and respond with prayer and practical steps to bring solutions that support resolution.
• Hosts and coordinates events in the Reading Room, including doing the technical setup and facilitating discussions.
• Learns new technologies/procedures as the Reading Room continues to evolve.
• Contributes to daily reports when on shift.
• Masters the detailed daily procedures of opening and closing the Reading Room, preparing for visitors, and handling literature. Keeps areas welcoming and neat.
• Attends and contributes to staff meetings.
• Keeps abreast of current trends in spirituality, spiritual healing, and church.
• Collaborates with team members on projects that support the Reading Room and Mother Church activities, as determined by the Manager.

STAFF MANAGEMENT AND JOB CONTACTS

Reporting Relationships

• Supervisor: Assistant Manager, The Mother Church Reading Room
• Supervises: None

Regular Contacts

• Employees, customers, vendors, professionals.

Job Requirements

Education/Experience

• Bachelor’s degree preferred or 3-5 years previous experience in tourism/hospitality, retail or event planning.
• Experience in the following areas is desirable: communications, non-profit work, interfaith experience.
• Experience communicating about Christian Science to the public.
• Experience in the Christian Science field (i.e., branch church work, Reading Room, etc.).

Knowledge/Skills

• Understand and deeply value the mission and goals of The Mother Church, the life and writings of Mary Baker Eddy, the history of the Christian Science movement, and