Library Services Coordinator

DC History Center; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 42,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

DC History Center seeks a Library Services Coordinator to ensure a positive researcher experience in the Kiplinger Research Library. Staff the desk, assist researchers, and support cataloging and digitization tasks across multiple collections.

The role emphasizes welcoming service, attention to detail, and the ability to coordinate with the Library & Collections team to maintain smooth operations and engaging programs for researchers.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Experience in cultural heritage or libraries a plus.
• Excellent customer service and communication skills.
• Punctual, reliable, and detail-oriented.
• Ability to lift up to 40 pounds for materials handling.

Responsibilities

• Staff the registration desk during public access hours, delivering high-quality customer service.
• Create a warm and welcoming environment for local, national, and international researchers.
• Welcome, register, and orient library patrons to the reading room.
• Monitor the library phone, listen to voicemails, and distribute messages to staff.
• Maintain and report library records and user statistics.
• Pull and reshelve materials for onsite collections; shelf-read for preservation.

Skills

Customer service

Verbal communication

Attention to detail

Multitasking

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Position Summary

The Library Services Coordinator is responsible for ensuring a positive researcher experience at the DC History Center's Kiplinger Research Library. As an integral member of the Library & Collections team, the coordinator will staff the researcher registration desk, facilitate pulling and reshelving of special collections materials, maintain library services statistics, complete library and collections projects as directed, and support library programs and field trips. This position reports to the librarian. Our front-facing team is critical to the success of the DC History Center, and we seek an individual who is customer-service oriented, welcoming, and dedicated to providing an unmatched visitor experience for our researchers.

Responsibilities

• Staff the registration desk of the Kiplinger Research Library during public access hours, ensuring researchers receive high-quality customer service.
  
  
  
  • Create a warm and welcoming environment for local, national, and international researchers with diverse interests
  
  
  • Welcome, register, and orient library patrons to the reading room
  
  
  • Monitor the library phone, listen to voicemail, take and distribute phone messages, and transfer calls to staff when appropriate
  
  
  • Maintain and report library records and user statistics
  
  
  
  


• Orient patrons to special collections resources
  
  
  
  • Prepare for all onsite researcher appointments by pulling and reshelving collections materials from four onsite collections storage areas
  
  
  • Monitor patron use of the ready reference resources and reshelve materials after their use
  
  
  • Support collections care by shelf-reading in the library, updating catalog home locations; flagging preservation needs; and other duties
  
  
  
  


• Complete library and collections projects as directed
  
  
  
  • Provide in-person and virtual reference and research support
  
  
  • Catalog new books and other printed materials
  
  
  • Digitize special collections materials
  
  
  • Add thumbnail reference images to the online catalog
  
  
  • Update library resource guides
  
  
  • Other projects
  
  
  
  


• Support K-12 field trips by setting up and breaking down the education stations, corralling students in the exhibit spaces, and otherwise supporting the field trip leaders


• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree


• Experience in, or demonstrated interest in exploring a career in cultural heritage, including libraries, archives, and special collections a plus. Library students are especially encouraged to apply


• Proven track record of excellent customer service


• Proven track record of punctuality, dependability, and reliability


• Outstanding verbal communication skills


• Adept at handling multiple priorities and maintaining high productivity with accuracy and attention to detail


• Due to the essential collections retrieval function of this position, the ability to bend, kneel, and lift heavy boxes up to 40 pounds


• Familiarity with, and enthusiasm for, local DC history, attractions, and culture a plus

Schedule

• Tuesdays 12pm-7pm


• Wednesdays 9am-4pm


• Thursdays 9am-4pm

Ideal start date: September 24, 2026