Library Helper Jobs in Laurel, MD (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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The Asian Division provides services to members of Congress and their staff, librarians, scholars, government agencies, academic institutions, the press, publishers, profit and nonprofit organizations, and the general public. The incumbent of this position is responsible for a variety of activities in support of Asian collections inventory control and tracking, both behind-the-scenes activities, e.g., problem resolution, quality control, searching collections storage areas for items not readily found or for which a problem might be present, support of the inventory program, and direct public service. The incumbent provides support to reader services in the Collections Services for readers using the Library's Asian collections that include monographs, serials, microfilms, microfiche, CDs, and online electronic resources.
As the Library Technician, you will:

• Resolve complex collections maintenance issues. Develop plans to expedite sorting, arranging, and shelving of incoming or returned books, periodicals, or microform receipts; demonstrate initiative in recognizing and solving problems, inconsistencies, and errors in piece identification and labelling before such items reach final destination. Make necessary arrangements to rearrange or shift items in accordance with available space or participates in planned moves to achieve this purpose.
• Search and identify bibliographic records in the online catalog for items in the Library's collection. Create holdings and/or item records where none are already present. Review existing cataloging records to report item-specific errors such as call number and location data. Mark duplicate holdings and item records for deletion. Link the barcode on the physical item to the bibliographic record to create an inventory record for that specific item. Construct summary holding records that accurately reflect items in the collection.
• Locate items not readily available on the shelf; complete special searches in all major and special catalogs for general and special collections of all types of materials, including hard-to-find items. Check shelf to locate material; check to determine if item has been charged outside the library or to a location within the library. Verify entry in the shelf-list and/or serial record and consult the full range of library technical tools, reference and bibliographic sources of all types, and the entire spectrum of printed and computerized card catalogs and files to determine the accuracy of information provided by the requester.
• Perform complex support work in a special area of collection materials preservation, such as surveying collections to determine appropriate housings; construct custom housings for collections, such as folders, envelopes, sleeves, and polyester encapsulations; and determine the optimum use of supplies in the creation of housings. Physically handle books, paper, photographs, CDs, microfilms and microfiches, or moving image materials in order to track and apply appropriate labels, barcode labels, security devices, and/or property stamps across the Library.
• Proficiency in reading and writing in Chinese is required.

This position is located in the Collections Services Section, Asian Division, General and International Collections Directorate, Research and Collections Services.
The position description number for this position is 464462.
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 work requires some physical exertion such as standing for extended periods of time, walking, climbing, kneeling, stooping, bending, pushing and pulling book carts, tubs, wire carts and lifting and carrying moderately heavy items such as oversized books. Incumbent may need to push wire carts up and down an incline for more than 100 feet.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENT: 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. A physical examination is required every three (3) years to perform the work of the position.
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 use written and spoken English and Chinese to maintain and process library materials.**
Knowledge of library processes and procedures. **
Ability to use information systems, databases and computerized search tools and equipment.**
Ability to maintain materials in a library collection.
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.