Library Assistant II

Harry Ransom Center; Main Point South (UT); On-site; USD 41,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

The Harry Ransom Center at UT Austin is seeking a Library Assistant II to support public service in the Reading Room and Circulation Desk. You will locate and shelve materials, assist with duplication orders, and help run desk operations.

This position requires a high school diploma or equivalent, library experience, and the ability to work Saturdays. The role offers steady hours, opportunities for growth, and a chance to support scholars in the humanities on UT's campus.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED with two years library experience.
• 60 college credit hours with one year library experience or twelve graduate LIS credits.
• Must be able to work Saturdays.

Responsibilities

• Locates, shelves, and reshelves manuscripts, books, and related materials for patrons.
• Performs Circulation Desk functions and may back up Reception.
• Assists with duplication requests and processing orders.
• Performs basic preservation tasks and helps patrons with materials handling.
• Supports Reading Room orientations and tracings for patrons.

Skills

Customer service

Communication

Multilingual

Education

High school diploma or GED

LIS-related coursework or library experience

Job description

General Notes

The Ransom Center is an internationally renowned humanities research library and museum at The University of Texas at Austin. Its extensive collections provide unique insight into the creative process of writers and artists, deepening our understanding and appreciation of literature, photography, film, art, and the performing arts. Visitors engage with the Center's collections through research and study, exhibitions, publications, and a rich variety of program offerings including readings, talks, symposia, and film screenings. The Ransom Center encourages discovery, inspires creativity, and advances understanding of the humanities for a broad and diverse audience through the preservation and sharing of its extraordinary collections.

Job Posting Title

Library Assistant II

Hiring Department

Harry Ransom Center

Position Open To

All Applicants

Weekly Scheduled Hours

40

FLSA Status

Non-Exempt from FLSA

Earliest Start Date

Nov 02, 2026

Position Duration

Expected to Continue

Location

UT MAIN CAMPUS

Job Details

General Notes

The Ransom Center is an internationally renowned humanities research library and museum at The University of Texas at Austin. Its extensive collections provide unique insight into the creative process of writers and artists, deepening our understanding and appreciation of literature, photography, film, art, and the performing arts. Visitors engage with the Center's collections through research and study, exhibitions, publications, and a rich variety of program offerings including readings, talks, symposia, and film screenings. The Ransom Center encourages discovery, inspires creativity, and advances understanding of the humanities for a broad and diverse audience through the preservation and sharing of its extraordinary collections.

Purpose

To provide public service for the Harry Ransom Center Library Reading Room.

Responsibilities

• Locates, shelves, and reshelves manuscripts, books, photography, art, flat files, personal effects, and other visual materials for patrons in a secure, closed-stacks library and archive.
• Performs all Circulation Desk functions and has several desk shifts each week. Trains at and serves as backup at Reception.
• Assists patrons with creating requests for duplication orders of collection materials and assists Circulation Librarian in processing the orders.
• After training, performs basic preservation tasks and assists patrons with materials handling.
• Answers directional and minor reference questions in the Reading Room and may assist with Reading Room orientations for new patrons.
• Assists with training of Work Study students and Student Assistants.
• Locates and pulls materials for use in the classrooms, helps with the set up and take down of classroom materials, and may assist with materials selection and classroom instruction.
• Assists with Library Storage Facility material requests by inputting requests, routing of requests when materials arrive, and strapping and preparing materials for return.
• Helps foster a welcoming research environment that centers on accessibility, while also safeguarding collection materials and revisits policies with the team to ensure alignment with National Standards and current best practices.
• Serves as the primary staff member for pulling materials and support at service points on Saturdays.
• Trained to open and close the Reading Room with required closing responsibilities.
• Participates in occasional cross-departmental projects as assigned.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• High school graduation or GED, and two years of library experience or sixty hours of college credit and one year of full-time equivalent library experience or twelve hours of graduate coursework in Library and Information Science.
• Must be able to work Saturdays. Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated knowledge of Ransom Center collections.
• Experience in a special collections library.
• Demonstrated good customer service skills.
• Demonstrated knowledge of Library of Congress and Dewey Decimal classification systems.
• Experience with an automated circulation tracking system.
• Proficient in more than one language.
• Experience in preservation techniques.
• Ability to communicate and work well with scholars in the humanities and with library and other staff as a team member.
• Experience with an online library catalog and with databases. Experience with or interest in literary materials.
• Ability to appropriately handle large, heavy, and fragile collection materials of significant value.
• Good written and oral communication skills.

Salary Range

$45, 000 annual salary

Working Shift

• Availability to work Saturdays required.
• Scheduled hours between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM Tuesday -Saturday for a total of 40 hours per week.

Required Materials

• Resume/CV
• 3 work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor
• Letter of interest

Employment Eligibility

Regular staff who have been employed in their current position for the last six continuous months are eligible for openings being recruited for through University-Wide or Open Recruiting, to include both promotional opportunities and lateral transfers. Staff who are promotion/transfer eligible may apply for positions without supervisor approval.

Retirement Plan Eligibility

The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.

Background Checks

A criminal history background check will be required for finalist(s) under consideration for this position.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.

Pay Transparency

The University of Texas at Austin will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.

Employment Eligibility Verification

If hired, you will be required to complete the federal Employment Eligibility Verification I-9 form. You will be required to present acceptable and original documents to prove your identity and authorization to work in the United States. Documents need to be presented no later than the third day of employment. Failure to do so will result in loss of employment at the university.

E-Verify

The University of Texas at Austin use E-Verify to check the work authorization of all new hires effective May 2015. The university’s company ID number for purposes of E-Verify is 854197. For more information about E-Verify, please see the following:

E-Verify Posters

• E-Verify Poster (English and Spanish) [PDF]
• Right to Work Poster (English) [PDF]
• Right to Work Poster (Spanish) [PDF]

Compliance

Employees may be required to report violations of law under Title IX and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act). If this position is identified a Campus Security Authority (Clery Act), you will be notified and provided resources for reporting. Responsible employees under Title IX are defined and outlined in HOP-3031.

The Clery Act requires all prospective employees be notified of the availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety report. You may access the most recent report here or obtain a copy at University Compliance Services, 1616 Guadalupe Street, UTA 2.206, Austin, Texas 78701.