Preservation Assistant

Details

Posted: Unknown

Location:

Salary:

Summary:

Summary here.

Details

Posted: 13-Apr-25

Location: Houston, TX, United States,

Type: Full-time

Internal Number: 4685

Special Instructions to Applicants : In PDF form, applicants should attach a resume and cover letter in the Supporting Documents section of the application.

About Rice

Boasting a 300-acre tree-lined campus in Houston, Texas, Rice University is ranked among the nation's top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has a 6-to-1 undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio and a residential college system, which supports students intellectually, emotionally, and culturally through social events, intramural sports, student plays, lecture series, courses, and student government. Developing close-knit, diverse college communities is a strong campus tradition, which is why Rice is highly ranked for best quality of life and best value among private universities.

Rice is also a wonderful place to work. Rice faculty, staff, and students share values that are essential to our success as a healthy community. Those values guide our decisions and behaviors and shape Rice's culture. They come through in how we treat each other and the welcome we extend to our visitors. These values can be recalled simply by our name -- RICE -- Responsibility, Integrity, Community, and Excellence.

Position Summary

The Preservation Assistant position requires strong attention to detail and the ability to perform various technical tasks. Responsibilities include printing and labeling library materials with unique call numbers for proper shelving and marking them to indicate university ownership. Additionally, the Preservation Assistant updates or corrects previously labeled materials and relabels items when call numbers become unreadable due to wear. They identify discrepancies and determine the appropriate person or department to return items for correction, which may require tact and professionalism when interacting with staff in higher-level positions. They prepare and update library materials for binding in the library system (ALMA) and the online binding platform (ABLE). They repair and/or provide enclosures and covers for various physical items. This position also involves supervising 2-3 students conducting related tasks.

The ideal candidate possesses strong attention to detail and organizational skills, demonstrates initiative, and maintains a service-oriented approach.

Workplace Requirements

This position is exclusively on-site, necessitating all duties to be performed in person at Fondren Library. Per Rice policy 440 , work arrangements may be subject to change.

Hiring Range

This is a full-time, benefits-eligible position, and the proposed salary is $15.72-$18.00 per hour, depending on qualifications and experience. *Non-exempt (hourly) positions under FLSA are eligible for overtime.

Minimum Requirements

• HS Diploma or equivalent
• 1 year experience in library support, archival work, book preservation, or a related field involving detailed manual tasks and the use of library systems
  • In lieu of the experience requirement, additional related education above and beyond what is required may be substituted on an equivalent year-for-year basis

Skills:

• Ability to quickly learn and accurately use the library's computer system (ALMA)
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Attention to detail, accuracy, and ability to follow diverse instructions
• Strong organizational skills
• Ability to provide guidance or supervision for 2-3 part-time students when necessary
• Capable of mastering complex details and performing work accurately with minimal supervision
• Ability to understand and follow a manual with varied instructions
• Ability to maintain manual statistics
• Manual dexterity and ability to work with hands

Essential Functions:

• Locates the correct computer record for each item to be labeled and prints out the computer-generated labels
• Repairing damaged clothbound, paperback, and leather books, torn pages, and tip-in of replacement pages
• Construction of book pockets for materials accompanying books (folded maps, CDs, etc.)
• Creates a variety of protective enclosures for damaged books, music scores, and other appropriate materials in pamphlet binders
• Updates the library online system with binding status
• Prepares bindery records using the bindery online system (ABLE)
• Processes materials by affixing labels to book and non-book items and makes changes or corrections to previously labeled materials and relabels items
• Performs all other duties as assigned

Rice University HR | Benefits: https://knowledgecafe.rice.edu/benefits

Rice Mission and Values: Mission and Values | Rice University

Rice University is committed to ensuring Equal Employment Opportunity and welcoming the fullness of diversity into our candidate pools. Rice considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status. Rice also provides reasonable accommodations to qualified persons with disabilities. If an applicant requires a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, please contact Rice University's Disability Resource Center at 713-348-5841 or adarice@rice.edu for support.

If you have any additional questions, please email us at jobs@rice.edu . Thank you for your interest in employment with Rice University.