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ORGANIZATION SUMMARY STATEMENT

As the largest university library system in the Washington D.C.-Baltimore area, the University of Maryland (UMD) Libraries serve more than 41,000 students and 14,000 faculty and staff of the flagship College Park campus. The Libraries’ extensive collections, programs, and services enable student success, support teaching, research, and creativity, and enrich the intellectual and cultural life of the community. A member of the Big Ten Academic Alliance and the Association of Research Libraries, the UMD Libraries were honored with the 2020 Excellence in Academic Libraries award in the university category from the Association of College and Research Libraries.

ABOUT SEVERN PROCESSING SPECIALIST

This position is an essential part of the transfer of materials from Special Collections and University Archives (SCUA) in Hornbake Library to Severn Library, a high-density storage facility. They will oversee the accession of SCUA materials at Severn Library; direct the daily work of student employees performing tasks related to materials accession; and process materials into Severn Library. Due to the physical nature of the work, the position requires the ability to safely and consistently lift and move materials weighing up to 60 lbs as part of daily processing and shelving tasks. They will participate in transferring SCUA materials from Hornbake Library to Severn and facilitate loan of SCUA materials held at Severn. Together with the USRS Collection Maintenance and Retrieval Manager, the Associate Director for Special Collections and University Archives, and SCUA curators, they will help prepare for the moves, ensuring a smooth and timely transfer at both ends. Performs other duties as assigned.

Required Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

• Knowledge of the mission and role of college or university library and its primary customers. 
• Ability to learn and apply contemporary library terminology and functions. 
• General knowledge of traditional and emerging practices for describing and organizing information resources. 
• Understanding and ability to apply library and university computing policies and practices that help ensure information quality, integrity, and security. 
• Ability to apply and enforce U.S. Copyright laws and current trends related to access and use of information resources. 
• Knowledge of basic principles of quality customer service, teamwork, and conflict resolution. 
• Ability to work independently and exercise initiative in applying rules, procedures and instructions. 
• Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communications skills. 
• Experience and proficiency with one or more technologies or tools used to create, seek, use, or manage information. 
• Ability to learn and operate a variety of common computing and productivity applications (e.g. email, word processing, databases and spreadsheets, content management, web browsers) and specialized library hardware, systems, and software applications. 
• Ability to apply key concepts and best practices for developing, maintaining, and using collections of digital information. 
• Skill in analytical and problem solving. 
• Ability to assist other library staff in selecting and evaluating technology used in libraries.

Physical Demands

• Must be able to lift and move objects up to 60 pounds.
• Must be able to operate heavy equipment (order picker) to shelve and to retrieve items.
• Must be able to tolerate working in 50°F book storage area for extended periods.
• Must be able to drive Libraries or UMD vehicles (Must possess a driver’s license valid in the state of Maryland and have fewer than six points for moving violations. Must be able to operate a University vehicle safely and in accordance with University of Maryland Motor Transportation Services policies and procedures).  
• Expected work schedule will be Monday through Friday from 8am to 4:30pm or similar hours.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Bachelor's degree

Experience: One year of experience directly related to the primary duties of the position.

PREFERENCES

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Ability to organize work involving conflicting demands; develop workflows; follow exact procedures and suggest changes; and establish and maintain effective work relationships with library users and employees.

Experience:

• Experience working in an academic library and/ or library storage facility.
• Experience working in a warehouse environment.
• Experience working with archival and/or special collections materials.

OTHER:

Except for qualifications established by law, additional related experience and formal education in which one has gained the knowledge, skills, and abilities required for full performance of the work of the job class may be substituted for the education or experience requirement on a year-for-year basis with 30 college credits being equivalent to one year of experience.

ADDITIONAL JOB DETAILS

Posting Close Date: 09/22/2025

Position Location: Off-Campus at the Severn Library, 5245 Greenbelt Road, College Park, MD 20740

Visa Requirement: Visa sponsorship is not available for this position

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