Library Assistant Jobs in Reston, VA (NOW HIRING)

Summary
The Library of Congress shares its vast collections of books, manuscripts, photographs, maps, audiovisual materials, and priceless artifacts to cultivate curiosity and spark imagination. We engage, inspire, and inform Congress and the American people with a universal and enduring source of knowledge and creativity.
We seek highly talented professionals to join a vibrant and collaborative community. Your work here will have lasting impact on the Library and its users well into the future.
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Duties
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This position is located in the Serial and Government Publications Division, General and International Collections Directorate, Researcher and Collections Services. The incumbent serves as a deck attendant in the Serial and Government Publications Division. Incumbent is responsible for the maintenance, services and shelving of collections housed in the Division during hours of public service. This includes retrieving materials for researchers, shelving and maintaining the serial collections of the division, and utilizing the LC ILS and other online systems. Critical to this position is the ability to work with a high degree of accuracy, to produce a large quantity of work, often under sever time constraints, and to interact effectively with researchers and other users of the Newspaper and Current Periodical Reading Room.
As the Library Technician (Deck Attendant), you will:

• Follow a body of standardized library rules, procedures, and operations, assist in maintaining the collections. Maintain simple records and verify information by comparison. Collate serial material according to classification scheme appropriate for the collection. File materials and forms in alphabetical or numerical order. Arrange, sorts, and re-shelves materials returned to the stacks according to shelflist order. Reads shelve and assure that they are properly arranged. Continually shelfread in assigned area to ensure that each item is in proper shelflist order. Learn to use reference tools to identify materials.
• Handle brittle, damaged, or deteriorated material. Identifies and removes items suspected of containing errors in labeling and/or cataloging and forwards items for further determination of disposition. Withdraw materials in need of rebinding, re-labeling, and repair forwarding them for appropriate correction. Effects minor shifts necessitated by growth of collection.
• Follow a body of standardized library rules, procedures, and operations, assist in retrieval of materials. Receive, sort, and transmit books, serials, or other materials back to the appropriate location. Receive call slips indicating call number, title, volume, chronology, etc.: of materials requested by readers or staff. Draw upon knowledge of the classification system, an understanding of the peculiarities of more than one system of classification, and the meaning of different shelf markers, to locate material which may have special requirements such as material in a foreign language. Check title, call number, and other indicia information against call slip.
• Assist patrons participating in standardized library programs and services. Communicate library policy regarding material retrieval to readers. Respond to directional questions posed by readers. Provide messenger services, delivering and picking up material as scheduled. Maintain a high degree of tact and courtesy in dealing with visitors.
• Perform searches for routine print and non-print materials in bibliographic and copyright files, using bibliographic tools, to organize data into a catalog record as prescribed by the appropriate rules. Identify problems and bring them to the attention of the supervisor. Input and update manual or automated information systems, using other data compiled during processing.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• The duties of the position require the incumbent to lift and carry items weighing up to 50 pounds on a recurring basis. There is constant walking, standing, bending, or carrying of light items. A physical examination is required every three (3) years to perform the work of the position. After an offer of employment has been made and before commencement of duties, the selectee MUST be physically qualified by the Library's Health Services Office.
  
  • The position description number for this position is 130130.
  • The salary range indicated reflects the locality pay adjustments for the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan area.
  • The incumbent of this position will work a Flexitime work schedule.
  • This is a non-supervisory, bargaining unit position.
  • Relocation expenses will not be authorized for the person(s) selected under this vacancy announcement.

Requirements
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Conditions of employment
Conditions of Employment
The duties of the position require the incumbent to lift and carry items weighing up to 50 pounds on a recurring basis. There is constant walking, standing, bending, or carrying light items. A physical examination is required every three (3) years to perform the work of the position. After an offer of employment has been made and before commencement of duties, the selectee MUST be physically qualified by the Library's Health Office.
Library of Congress employees are prohibited from using illegal drugs, including marijuana. The Library is part of the Federal Government and abides by federal law, so regardless of individual state or District of Columbia laws, marijuana use is illegal, considered criminal activity, and can affect your employment at the Library. In addition, past or current drug use and activities (e.g., selling or distributing) may deem you ineligible for employment.
Qualifications
Applicants must have had progressively responsible experience and training sufficient in scope and quality to furnish them with an acceptable level of the following knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the duties of the position without more than normal supervision.
Ability to retrieve materials. **
Ability to maintain materials in library collections. **
Ability to provide customer service in a library setting while exercising judgment and discretion.
Ability to search and perform data entry using computerized search tools and databases.
Ability to communicate effectively other than in writing.
Additional information
Although it is the Library's policy to afford the maximum pay benefit to employees when setting rates of pay, a new appointee who has had no previous Federal service will generally be paid at step one of the grade.
The Library of Congress is an equal opportunity employer.
Applicants must submit a complete application package that is received by the closing date of this announcement.
Appointment/retention is subject to a favorable evaluation of an appropriate personnel security/suitability investigation. For more information, please see:Vetting Process
This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please email ADA@loc.gov. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be determined on a case-by-case basis.
Applicants with disabilities may be considered under special hiring procedures and must submit an appropriate certificate of eligibility when applying for this position. The proof or disability/certification may be issued by the State Vocational Rehabilitation Office, Disability Services or Career Services office of the applicant's college or university, or the Department of Veterans Affairs. The letter must verify that the applicant has a severe disability and must be dated within three years of the date of the application. Certification from health care providers are not accepted. For more information contact the Library's Office of Equal Employment Opportunity at 202-707-6024 or email spp@loc.gov. FAILURE TO SUBMIT YOUR CERTIFICATION WILL CAUSE YOUR APPLICATION TO NOT BE CONSIDERED UNDER THE SELECTIVE PLACEMENT PROGRAM.
The Library of Congress is the national library of the United States and is part of the Legislative Branch of the Federal government. As such, all positions are in the excepted service.
The Library reserves the right to fill a lesser or greater number of vacancies indicated during the life of this vacancy announcement.
Initial permanent appointments to the Library of Congress require completion of a one-year probationary period. Probationary periods served at other Federal agencies do not count toward this requirement.
The Library of Congress may offer repayment for all or part of federally insured student loans. However, not all service units within the Library of Congress participates in the repayment of federally insured student loans. Therefore, determination to repay a federally insured student loan is subject to approval by the appropriate service unit.
A "Not to Exceed" (NTE) status is used to identify an appointment with a specific ending date. However, the Library has the right to separate a NTE employee at any time due to either performance issues or budget constraints.
Are you a veteran? Please indicate the type of veterans' preference you are claiming in your application materials and/or applicant profile and provide the appropriate supporting documentation to validate your claim. Those applying for 5-point preference must submit Member Copy 4 of your DD 214. Those applying for 10-point preference must fill out an SF-15 (click here for the form) and provide the required documentation listed on the back of the form. If required supporting documentation is not attached, Veterans' Preference will not be considered in the application process.
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Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
Benefits
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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.