REFERENCE DESK MANAGER The Organization The Geor gia Historic al Societ y (GHS) i s the premier independent statewid e institution responsibl e for collecting, examining, and teaching Geor gia history. GHS hou ses the oldest and most distinguished collection of materials related exclusive ly to Georgi a histor y in the nation. To learn more, go to www.georgiahistory.com . Position Summa ry The Reference D esk Manager is responsibl e for coordinating reference staffing, scheduling the day- to-day operation s of referenc e services , providing in person and remot e referenc e services, and performing copy cataloging and origin al cataloging of librar y and archiva l materi als according t o accepted nation al standards . This position works under the direction of the Special Collection s Director. Duti es and Responsibilities Include (incumbent may perform other duties as assigned): Percentag e of Role: 50%: Manag e reference d esk associates , interns, and volunteers. Coordin ate referenc e desk staffing and scheduling 30 days in advance and ensur e communication wit h management . Establi sh goals and metrics , deve lop wor k plans, and monitor productivity of referenc e desk associates. Effective ly onboard and train staf f following established policies and procedures. Ensur e all intern al polici es ar e adhered t o and enforc e compliance as needed . Hand le staffing issue s in consultation wit h management and Human Resources. Responsibl e for working wit h management to establish, maintain , and hold reference staf f account able t o quality and productivit y metrics . Responsibl e for tracking and reporting referenc e project updates and other deliver ables to management. Percentag e of Role: 35 %: Manag e referenc e activiti es on a day-to-day basis by providing excellent customer service and effective inventory management . Evaluate and manage resources; enforc e current ly defined reading r oom procedur es wit h staf f and patrons; report resource s for collection development ; direct and assist other s wit h updating for ms and ready referenc e resources as needed. Oversee the scheduling of research appointment s and orientations; overall responsibilit y for managing the Research Center calendar. Work wit h referenc e desk staff to respond t o incoming referenc e request s in a variet y of format s (email , telep hone, in-person , and mail ) and ensur e a ti mely turn-around respon se by logging incoming requests, monitoring respon se times, and ensuring payment for researc h requests are paid in full. Present instruction al orientation s of Researc h Center resourc es to group s and individuals; participate in outreac h activities, as necessary. Percentag e of Role: 15 %: Assist in collection s management tas ks for bo ok and seri al collection s including she lf reading, inventorying , and deaccessioning projects . Consistent ly ensur e the Reading Room i s clean, organized , and secure. Plan and execute periodic facility and operational auditing t o ensur e processes , procedures, and facilit y maintenance ar e meeting the need s of the institution and researchers. Supervisory Responsibilities Reference Desk Associates, interns, and volunteers. Experience/Skills Required: Knowledge, skills, and abilities: Position requires adaptability and emotional maturity and intelligence in a demanding and fast-paced environment and an employment history that reflects tenure and stability. Comfort working selflessly behind the scenes for the good of the institution.Must have prior experience and proven skill set to supervise others to include scheduling, performance management, metrics creation, monitoring, and reporting, and impactful onboarding and training of others. Demonstrated ability to work independently and as a part of a team, to organize, prioritize work, and act with initiative and good judgment. Must be a self-starter with flexibility and a willingness to get the job done along with excellent problem solving, interpersonal, and communication skills. Must be able to work well under pressure and with attention to detail. Must represent GHS in a professional manner and be able to work well with diverse groups of people includi ng patrons, board members, donors, volunteers, and staff. Experience assisting users in finding information and providing reference services in -person, through email, and over the telephone . Experience in developing and organizing reference resources. Knowledge of Anglo -American Cataloging Rules 2nd Rev (AACR2r), Resource Description and Access (RDA), and skilled application of Library of Congress Classification and Subject Headings. Knowledge of the principles and procedures of professional library work including methods, practices, and techniques of library cata loging and classification . Possess computerized cataloging as well as knowledge of standard bibliographic sources, MARC 21 bibliographic format, and verification tools . Education: Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience Experience: Five to seven years of progressively responsible experience including a minimum of t hree years in a people management and/or a n operational capacity . Special collections experience is strongly preferred, however experiences in academic, corporate , law library collections , or bookstore will be considered. Prior e xperience scheduling shifts for hourly workers required. Must be able to work occasional evenings and the 1st and 3rd Saturday as scheduled. Physical Requirements: Must have the ability to alternate between sitting and standing for extended periods with frequent walking . Will spend a significant amount of the time standing to assist patrons and researchers. Must be able to reach with hands and arms, lift and carry objects up to 50 pounds occasionally, and use hands to manipulate objects including a keyboard/mouse and GHS collection material. Must have good vision and hearing to perform tasks like reading do cuments and communicating with colleagues, donors, patrons, a nd the general public in person and over the phone. Must be able to ascend and descend ladders while carrying objects, ascend and descend stairs and work in semi -confined spaces. While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be regularly required to reach, stoop, a nd kneel to reach materials at various angles and locations occasionally. Must provide staff support with an annual event requiring additional work hours and advanced walking, standing, reaching, lifting, and carrying materials. This annual event will require an ability to hear accurately to interact with the public, demonstrate clarity of vision, judge distance and space relationships, and identify and distinguish colors. To Apply Send cover letter and resume to: Reference Desk Manager Georgia Historical Society 104 West Gaston Street Savannah, GA 31401 Fax: 912.651.2831 Email: jobs@georgiahistory.com No phone calls please
