The Harvard Law School Library (HLSL) aims to support the varied research needs of the Law School faculty and students through traditional and leading-edge services. The FRIDA and Research Services Assistant is a member of both the Faculty Services and Student & Instructional Services teams within the broader Reference and Research Services department. In the FRIDA role, this position provides document delivery services to faculty members at the Harvard Law School, in support of their research endeavors. Our Faculty Research and Information Delivery Assistance (FRIDA) service aims to retrieve and deliver books, articles, court documents, and other materials both from Harvard resources and other institutions.

As a member of the Faculty Services team, the FRIDA and Research Services Assistant also supports the Faculty Bibliography, assists with events involving faculty members such as book talks and film screenings, and engages in outreach-related activities to faculty and faculty support staff. In the Research Assistant role, this position works with the Student & Instructional librarians to schedule, support and maintain files and statistics for Library training initiatives, including tours, Lightning Lessons, and on-demand training for academic classes, clinics, and journals.

This position may also monitor the library queue and answer basic reference questions and provide assistance maintaining virtual reference assets such as Library FAQs and Libguides. This position assists research librarians with special projects as well as with scheduling and promoting library events.

As a FRIDA and Research Services Assistant you will:

• Monitor the FRIDA and Research Services queues for incoming questions and requests. Answer non-faculty ready reference and directional questions as needed. Refer in-depth questions to research librarians as appropriate.

• Receive, prioritize, and interpret faculty requests for library materials. Negotiate delivery deadlines. Verify the accuracy and completeness of the bibliographic information provided and resolve complex problems using library catalogs, reference sources, files, and databases.

• Communicate with Harvard libraries, external libraries, courts, archives, etc. to obtain document resources. This includes working with Harvard Library in all aspects of interlibrary and intra-library loan.

• Refer requests for purchasing, routing, rush cataloging, and interlibrary loans to appropriate library staff. Notify faculty promptly when there is a delay in a request fulfillment.

• Provide direction and training to part-time students and less than half-time (LTE) employees about document delivery workflow and systems used in the unit.

• Collaborate with FRIDA & Research Services team members in planning new projects and work initiatives, proposing changes and improvements to workflows and executing approved changes.

• Provide administrative support for departmental projects, services and events, such as tours and classes, and for ongoing tasks such as maintaining department files and records, organizing department statistics, monitoring supplies in the reference area, and shelving reference materials as necessary.

Minimum of 3 years of library or related experience required.

We are looking for people who have:

• Experience working in a busy research library and using library systems and databases.

• Strong customer service orientation.

• Well-developed oral and written communication, interpersonal, and presentation skills.

• Creative problem-solving skills.

• Ability to work independently and as a team member.

This position is based primarily on campus with the opportunity for remote work based on business needs and manager approval.

• Paid Time Off: 3-4 weeks of accrued vacation time per year (3 weeks for support staff and 4 weeks for administrative/professional staff), 12 accrued sick days per year, 12.5 holidays plus a Winter Recess in December/January, 3 personal days per year (prorated based on date of hire), and up to 12 weeks of paid leave for new parents who are primary care givers.
• Health and Welfare: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits, disability and life insurance programs, along with voluntary benefits. Most coverage begins as of your start date.
• Work/Life and Wellness: Child and elder/adult care resources including on campus childcare centers, Employee Assistance Program, and wellness programs related to stress management, nutrition, meditation, and more.
• Retirement: University-funded retirement plan with contributions from 5% to 15% of eligible compensation, based on age and earnings with full vesting after 3 years of service.
• Tuition Assistance Program: Competitive program including $40 per class at the Harvard Extension School and reduced tuition through other participating Harvard graduate schools.
• Tuition Reimbursement: Program that provides 75% to 90% reimbursement up to $5,250 per calendar year for eligible courses taken at other accredited institutions.
• Professional Development: Programs and classes at little or no cost, including through the Harvard Center for Workplace Development and LinkedIn Learning.
• Commuting and Transportation: Various commuter options handled through the Parking Office, including discounted parking, half-priced public transportation passes and pre-tax transit passes, biking benefits, and more.
• Harvard Facilities Access, Discounts and Perks: Access to Harvard athletic and fitness facilities, libraries, campus events, credit union, and more, as well as discounts to various types of services (legal, financial, etc.) and cultural and leisure activities throughout metro-Boston.