Sr. Prebindery Assistant

Princeton University Library is looking for a motivated individual to be part of the Physical Collections Receipt and Processing unit. The primary duty of this position is to ensure that incoming library materials acquired by the university are properly received, recorded, processed, tracked and routed as appropriate to other library units for further processing in the most efficient and cost-effective manner, rigorously monitoring quality control on all workflows. This position reports to the Supervisor of the Physical Collections Receipt and Processing unit, working within a team of six other employees. Consistent high production, attention to detail and ability to multi-task are essential elements of the position.

Princeton University Library, one of the world’s leading research libraries, has a dedicated, knowledgeable staff of 300 in a large central library, 9 specialized branches and 3 storage facilities. PUL supports a diverse community of 5200 undergrads, 2700 graduates, 1200 faculty, and many visiting scholars. Holdings include more than 7 million printed volumes, 5 million manuscripts, 2 million non-print items, and extensive collections of digital text, data and images.

• Unpacking library materials, sorting by material type onto carts, verifying contents of shipments against invoices. Scanning invoices and saving to the appropriate folders on a networked drive.
• Processing both shelf ready and non-shelf ready approval plan material; involving searching of Princeton’s Integrated Library System, retrieving appropriate catalog records, receiving and editing holding records as necessary, and scanning items into relevant workflow statuses. Data entry of Purchase order information into shared spreadsheets. 
• Adding bindable units within Princeton’s current Integrated Library System, Alma; involves complex searching of bibliographic records, reviewing for title changes and accurate publication dates. Analyzing, reviewing and editing holdings records, ensuring accurate bibliographic information. Collapsing of item records into work orders for bindable units, applying appropriate process statuses, and determining/assigning accurate designators, as well as researching bindable units for completeness.
• Processing bindery shipments in a timely manner; validating bindable units for accuracy, data entry into commercial binder’s proprietary software, packing and unpacking shipments and scanning material in and out of appropriate statuses in the Integrated Library System.
• Physical end-processing; labeling and property stamping, examining if an item needs to be sent for binding or other preservation work, adjusting call number labels when location changes, identifying problem material for forwarding on to next level resource as appropriate for resolution and/or sorting material by final destination to be shipped out to owning library.

Required qualifications

• High school diploma.
• Ability to comprehend and follow instructions.
• Ability to set priorities in order to meet assignment deadlines.
• Basic computer skills (familiarity with internet browsers, common desktop applications, email, Microsoft Windows Operating Systems; Word/Excel, Ability to learn library’s automated system)
• Physical requirements include the ability to box and unpack material, handle heavy books and boxes, and the pushing and pulling of heavy book trucks; must be able to lift or handle boxes weighing from 60-75 pounds.

Preferred qualifications

• Prior library experience and knowledge of an integrated library management system(s).
• Language proficiency not required but the ability to work with set parameters for handling material published in most foreign languages is, as well as the ability to detect the language.

Princeton University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. KNOW YOUR RIGHTS