Library Technician (Preservation Science Technician)

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.

Duties

• This position reports to the Chief, Preservation Research and Testing Division (PRTD), Preservation Directorate. The Directorate is responsible for the long-term, uninterrupted access to the Library's numerous and diverse collections through a variety of preservation programs. The incumbent provides assistance to PRTD programs and projects involving scientific analysis and research related to the preservation of collections; the development and maintenance of scientific reference collections; and the testing of materials used to exhibit, house, or store collections to ensure they meet current Library specifications. As the Library Technician (Preservation Science Technician), you will: Operate scientific and imaging equipment to conduct typical capture of data and digital images on a variety of library materials and scientific reference samples using both detailed and more general specifications. Conducts post-processing of resulting data and digital images. Undertakes routine maintenance and calibration of equipment according to established specifications or in concert with supervisor following a troubleshooting approach. Maintains equipment documentation and undertakes routine equipment maintenance activities, including assisting with inventory control and management of computing and software systems. Assists supervisor in maintenance of scientific equipment. Perform organization, arrangement, and description work on many scientific records or data files arising from the range of assigned testing activities. Assesses the correctness of data and metadata and makes both minor and some major corrections as needed, and consults with senior staff as needed. Creates and updates both basic and moderately complex databases for project documentation. Organizes and creates a variety of reports based on laboratory data and activities. Uses automated tools and performs searches on preservation science databases and associated files to locate metadata and information. Undertakes both routine and moderate data maintenance activities, including assisting with management of computing and software systems. Verify that files contain associated metadata and are archived and stored in appropriate location on servers. Creates and updates complex databases with project documentation. Perform organization, arrangement, and description work on a number of materials in scientific sample collections (such as the Center for Heritage Analytical Reference Materials (CHARM). Works with supervisor to maintain samples and records related to documentation, organization, description, and metadata of imaging and scientific data. Use automated tools and performs complex searches on library and preservation science databases and associated files to locate metadata and information. Undertakes more sophisticated collection maintenance activities, including inventory control and management of computing and software systems. Conduct basic and moderate testing and quality assurance procedures on a variety of materials to evaluate the materials considered to exhibit, house, or store collection materials using both well-defined and more general specifications. Compiles data and reports on testing results for review. Assists supervisor in developing new testing or quality assurance procedures. Performs routine and difficult maintenance activities related to testing and quality assurance, including assisting with inventory control and management of computing and software systems. Assists supervisor in training staff on testing and quality assurance procedures. Perform other duties as assigned. The position description number for this position is 317063. 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. This is a non-supervisory, bargaining unit position. Relocation expenses will not be authorized for the person(s) selected under this vacancy announcement.

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. Ability to compose correspondence.** Ability to use computerized search tools, databases, and functions.** Ability to operate and maintain scientific, preservation laboratory, and/or imaging instrumentation.** Ability to plan, organize, and execute work within specified deadlines. Ability to use integrated information systems. Knowledge of library and cultural heritage preservation processes and procedures. Ability to communicate effectively other than in writing.

Requirements

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.

How to apply

Please carefully follow all instructions under the How to Apply tab to ensure you are considered for the position. Please note, there is no page restriction to your resume, and you are allowed to upload a resume longer than two pages in the resume section within the application process. When the application system prompts, please proceed to the agency site to complete your application. You are required to apply online for this announcement. We are unable to accept mailed or emailed documents. You must complete the entire application process, including submission of all documents BEFORE this announcement closes. To do so, complete the following steps. Step 1: If you do not already have one, create a resume and upload it to your profile in the "Resume" section. Although you must enter your Social Security Number for USAJOBS, this information will not be provided to the Library of Congress. Step 2: Review the Job Announcement. We recommend you go to the end of the Qualification and Evaluation section of the job announcement to preview the online questions that you will answer in Step 4. You may wish to customize your resume to ensure that it supports your responses to these questions. Step 3: Click on the "APPLY ONLINE" button to the right of this announcement. Follow USAJOBS' instructions to access your account. You will be redirected to the Hiring Management website to complete the application process. If this is your first time in Hiring Management, you will be asked to answer questions related to your eligibility for Federal employment. You will be able to update this information and save it to our account for future announcements. Step 4: Once you have completed the eligibility questions, you will be taken directly to the vacancy application questions. Answer all questions honestly and thoroughly. Step 5: Hiring Management offers one option that will electronically attach your documentation to your online application once you finish answering the questions in the job announcement. You may electronically upload a document directly from your computer to your application. Be certain to review your complete application for confirmation of the document uploaded and click on "Finished" to be returned to USAJOBS. IMPORTANT NOTE: If you have multiple documents of the same kind, e.g. 2 undergraduate transcripts from different schools or 2 SF-50s, etc., be sure that they are all in the same file on your computer. If you try uploading them individually, only the last one sent will be visible in our system. If you have any questions about this information, please contact the person on this announcement BEFORE the closing date. Step 6: Click on "Finish" after you have completed your application. Once you have submitted your application, you can check your status online through your Hiring Management or MY USAJOBS account. Your complete online application and any required supplemental documentation (e.g., SF-50, etc.) must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) on the closing date of the announcement. It is your responsibility to ensure that all documents are received on time and that the materials are readable. Failure to do so will result in your application being excluded from consideration for this announcement. If you are experiencing any technical difficulty with the online process, you MUST CONTACT THE POINT OF CONTACT FOR THIS ANNOUNCEMENT BEFORE THE CLOSING DATE. For all technical issues please contact [email protected] , no later than 4:00pm EST of the Closing Date. REQUESTS FOR EXTENSIONS WILL NOT BE GRANTED.