Slavic & East European Materials Assistant

Title: Slavic & East European Materials Assistant
Division / Dept.: Library R & L - Teaching and Research Support - Humanities Students
Reports to: Slavic & East European Studies Librarian
Work Schedule: 10-15 hours per week

Student positions at the University of Chicago Library are available only to University of Chicago students.

General Summary

This position will report to the Slavic & East European Studies Librarian and support the library’s efforts to build and maintain its collections of materials from and about the people and regions of Russia, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia. The position will specifically work to support materials acquisition and collection maintenance decisions by the librarian, the processing of newspaper and backlog materials, the processing and updating of the Archive of Czechs & Slovaks Abroad (ACASA), and the creation and maintenance of educational materials.

Responsibilities

Tasks associated with this position will vary according to needs at the time of work. They may include:

  • Using provided criteria to read and analyze lists of books for further review by the librarian
  • Identifying materials for purchase consideration through reviews, lists, bibliographies, and other information
  • Performing guided processing and maintenance work in the Archive of Czechs and Slovaks Abroad including updating navigational aids and reorganizing materials
  • Researching owned materials requiring a decision and potential purchases with provided criteria
  • Adjusting and updating reference guides and working with the librarian to create educational content relevant to support researchers
  • Analyzing data on collections and funding using provided tools and questions to inform librarian decision-making
  • Working with the librarian to identify places in workflows that could be better optimized using automation and the assistant’s skillset

Required Qualifications

  • Graduate Student at the University of Chicago
  • Familiarity with the Microsoft Office suite and Google Docs
  • Reading knowledge of at least one language of the region with a preference for Polish, Czech, or Russian
  • Ability to read the Cyrillic alphabet
  • Demonstrated ability to communicate verbally and through e-mail about the needs, limitations, and progress of work
  • Demonstrated ability to quickly learn new procedures and tools

Preferred Qualifications

  • Reading knowledge of Polish or Czech, in addition to a demonstrated understanding of Slavic language structure
  • Experience working with vernacular materials in Slavic & East European languages through library, bookselling, or research experience
  • A demonstrated understanding of the history of and current events in Russia, Eastern Europe, or Central Asia
  • Intermediate to an advanced facility with Excel or Google Sheets

To Apply :

Interested candidates should apply online via our Library Student Employment Application. This position will remain open until filled.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran status, or status as an individual with disability.

The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action / Equal Opportunity / Disabled / Veterans Employer.

Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process may contact Human Resources at Library HR with their request