Library Specialist (Special Collections)

Details

Posted: 2026-06-10

Location: Baltimore, Maryland

Categories: Staff/Administrative

The Lester Levy Sheet Music Collection, comprising over 30,000 popular songs, is one of the premier research archives in American popular music and a key digital repository at the Sheridan Libraries. We are seeking a Library Specialist who will be responsible for administration, testing, maintenance, implementation, and support for library services provision in cataloging, acquisitions, access services, resource sharing, reserves, museum services, other physical collections management services, or general reference/customer support services. Analyze user needs in the library environment and make recommendations for services and service enhancements that meet those needs. Contribute to ensuring that the quality of the library services is maintained efficiently and cost-effectively.

Works with minimal guidance and direction. Prioritize and perform tasks independently with regular process updates. Participates in segments of projects. Leads routine stand-alone projects (for example planning and implementing workflow enhancements) and coordinates team-based projects. Library Applications (Alma, Illiad, Ares, Aeon, etc.) complexity is typically at an advanced level. Demonstrate ability in technology and/or understanding of the clinical/ education/ research process. Build and maintain relationships through positive interactions.

Demonstrates ability to provide good customer service. Tasks are moderately complex (i.e., working with multiple devices, or integrated software, or software that affects multiple customers).

Specific Duties & Responsibilities

• Assist library staff & patrons with non-routine questions through analysis of inquiry and resolution with appropriate staff.
• Support a wide range of services with standard and non-standard workflows.
• Resolve issues based on knowledge and experience.
• Initiate the development of new workflows and/or enhancement of workflows.
• Plan for and guide development of standard practices and associated documentation.
• Lead or actively participate in collaborative department projects, by lending expertise and analysis of issues and/or needs, and coordinates completion of assigned work.
• Lead special projects as assigned, and/or identify and prioritize projects with supervisor.
• Train and mentor new staff.
• Act as a subject matter expert (SME) for their department and the JH libraries and routinely lend expertise to JH libraries special interest and other collaborative groups and efforts.
• Supervise student workers, casuals, or other staff whether directly or through supervising their work outcomes related to specific projects, tasks, goals, or other assigned work.
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• High school diploma or graduation equivalent.
• Five years of related experience.
• Additional education may substitute for required experience and additional related experience may substitute for required education beyond a high school diploma/graduation equivalent, to the extent permitted by the JHU equivalency formula.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in a related field.
• Experience leading projects or training staff.

Technical Skills and Expected Level of Proficiency

• Coaching and Mentoring - Intermediate
• Customer Service - Intermediate
• Interpersonal Skills - Intermediate
• Library Management Systems - Intermediate
• Problem Solving - Intermediate
• Workflow Management - Developing