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 Prints and Photographs Division has one of the largest pictorial research collections in the world with more than 15 million pictures in a variety of visual formats contained in hundreds of individual collections and stored in several locations and remote sites. The collections are among the most varied in subject, time-period, medium, format, physical condition, and intellectual property rights requirements, with attendant concerns regarding security, preservation, safe handling and service. The collections are accessed by means of complex, diverse and often multi-layered intellectual controls in written, filmed and digital forms. The Graphic Arts area has an estimated 500,000 artist prints, posters, documentary drawings, cartoons and comics, historical prints, and pictorial ephemera like trade cards.
- Provides reference and research services of limited technical complexity to researchers where user needs are determined easily from interviews or written requests. Provides accurate, competent research guidance on the use and technical aspects of the visual materials collections. Examines publications, electronic resources, and trends in topics related to a specialized field. Develops knowledge of collections for use in performing research tasks. Assists in preparing finding aids and related written products describing collections. Prepares basic and standard responses to written, telephone, or electronic media inquiries.
- Assists with the full range of curatorial duties, including reference, processing, preservation, publication, and exhibition work. Identifies and provides basic curatorial documentation on items and collections for purposes of preservation, processing, and cataloging. Monitors condition and preservation needs of items in the collections. Assists with special reference service, such as unprocessed collections.
- Sees to arrangements for new acquisitions or donations. Researches visual works identified for possible acquisition. Proposes works for possible acquisition. Helps maintain contacts with donors and potential donors, including correspondence and phone communications. Arranges for delivery of objects. Prepares listings of new items.
- Conducts research using established methods. Researches visual collections, searches published and unpublished sources to complete cataloging, establish provenance, answer public inquiries, provide research support for exhibit/publication projects, and otherwise contribute to the accessibility and wider availability of the collections, etc. Compiles background materials under the direction of a curator to inform the interested public (government officials, scholars, publishers, writers, learned societies, etc.) of the Library's resources and services and to support special exhibit and publication projects. May participate in professional associations.
Performs other duties as assigned.
This position is in the Curatorial Section of the Prints and Photographs Division of the Library of Congress.
This is a non-supervisory, bargaining unit position.
The position description number for this position is 470301.
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.
Requirements
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Conditions of employment
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.
Knowledge of the field of artist prints, posters, and other popular graphic arts.**
Ability to provide research and reference services.**
Knowledge of library principles, concepts, and techniques.
Ability to communicate in writing.
Ability to analyze and solve problems related to visual and documentary materials in graphic art collections.
Ability to communicate effectively other than in writing.
Education
There are no education requirements for this posting.
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.
