Librarian

Working at the National Baseball Hall of Fame is a career experience unlike any other. Every member of our team is a steward of the game’s history. Our mission is simple - we preserve history, honor excellence and connect generations. These six words define our commitment to giving fans and visitors a home to celebrate the game and its history, honor the all-time greats, and make memories that will last a lifetime.

To best fulfill our mission we prioritize people, and that starts with our own team. We deeply value and support our dedicated team members. We provide a respectful and inclusive workplace. We work to foster connection, grow, and cultivate talent, and provide flexibility to best support the health and well-being of our staff – all while having fun along the way. 

If you are a baseball fan, a fan of museums, a student of history, love arts and culture, or someone who appreciates the unique connections that sports can create, this could be the team for you!

The Cooperstown Pitch.

Located on Main Street in the heart of picturesque Cooperstown, New York, the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum opened its doors for the first time on June 12, 1939, and has grown to become one of the country's most popular destinations. The Hall of Fame is the home of the game’s treasures, where the magic of baseball’s stories and legends are passed on from generation to generation.

With its character and charm, the Village of Cooperstown is an American treasure. For many Cooperstown means baseball, but it also offers golf, shopping and dining, hiking, biking, snowmobile trails, a pristine lake, unique museums, world-class arts, and a wide array of craft beverages.

To check out more information about living and working in Cooperstown, please visit: https://www.cooperstownny.org/about-cooperstown/

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Accessibility & Inclusion.

We’re looking to recruit, hire, and collaborate with people of all backgrounds to help us build a team with varied perspectives and experiences. We are committed to cultivating a diverse, inclusive, welcoming, and supportive environment for all and are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer

Overview:

This position is a front-facing position that provides library public services to patrons of the A. Bartlett Giamatti Research Center, including reference and research assistance, enforce library policies regarding public use of the collection, help to preserve and maintain the library collections, assist in content creation for museum programs and publications, and create catalog records for materials in the library collection. 

Position Type:

This is a full-time, benefit eligible position that will work in-person at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, NY. The salary range for this position is $35,000 - $45,000 commensurate with experience. Benefits associated with this position include health insurance, dental insurance, life insurance, medical/dental FSA, retirement, and paid time off (vacation, sick, holidays). 

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Primary Responsibilities:

• Help to organize and maintain master schedule for research appointments and group visits, handle reference desk operations for on-site researchers, oversight of Giamatti Research Center calendar
• Respond to patron inquiries received via email, telephone, mail, and on-site visits  
• Interact and provide excellent customer service assistance to patrons in identifying, locating, and accessing information
• Function as a point of contact for potential donors and facilitate donation process
• Handle invoicing and petty cash account
• Perform activities relating to the development and maintenance of the library collection (inventory, evaluations, preservation, and weeding)
• Enforce all institutional policies and regulations regarding the use of library and archival material, and applicable copyright and intellectual property laws
• Assist with research needs of Museum staff for Museum projects (exhibits research, VIP visits, tours, etc.), under direction from Library Director
• Care of the Library collection, including books, periodicals, and clippings files
• Maintain physical appearance and good order of the Giamatti Research Center
• Assist in processing new library acquisitions including books and periodicals
• Assist in creating original and copy catalog records for books, serials, and commercially produced audio/visual material in accordance with professional descriptive standards (AACR2/RDA, MARC), using the the institution’s catalog system (LibraryWorld)
• Assist in contributing original and upgraded catalog records to OCLC, an international cooperative bibliographic utility 
• Serve on the Library and Archives Acquisitions committee
• Assist with organization of book and periodical collections, including stack maintenance
• Assist in processing library material scheduled for deaccessioning and assist the appropriate disbursement or disposal of these items
• Assist in maintaining collection management records for library materials, using internal Museum database 

 Secondary Job Functions:

• Assist in the creation of unique content (research, writing and/or editing) for use in the institution’s website, publications program (magazine, yearbook, press releases, etc.), retail projects (books, documentaries, merchandise, etc.), exhibits, and other similar activities
• Participate in library and museum public programs
• Assist in institution sponsored events as needed, including the Cooperstown Symposium, Hall of Fame Classic, and Hall of Fame Weekend
• Assist in ongoing migration project as needed
• Remain familiar with current events in baseball and sports, as well as learning about the history of the sport
• Participate in professional development and trainings relevant to the field of librarianship, archival studies, and museum studies
• Digitize library materials on demand in response to requests
• Provide assistance to other staff in the use of collections and cataloging software
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

Education/Experience:

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university required. Master’s degree in Library Science (MLS or MLIS) from an American Library Association-accredited institution strongly preferred.

1-3 years of relevant library experience

Ability to communicate effectively in written and oral expression. Ability to deal with the public in a professional, highly attentive, and courteous manner. Basic knowledge of library reference operations and baseball history. Knowledge of library collections management and professional descriptive standards. Experience using collections management and cataloging software. Ability to work without supervision and to balance and prioritize multiple projects. Use of the Library of Congress classification system. Must be able to work in a team environment.

Typical Physical Demands:

Lifting up to 40 pounds

Standing/sitting for long periods

Retrieving/shelving materials

Typical Equipment Used:

Computer (PC)

Phone

Copier/scanner

Microfilm/microfiche reader