Clarification from the agency

This position is open to all U.S. Citizens or U.S. Nationals. Note: Federal employees with permanent status or individuals eligible for special appointing authorities may also apply to Job Announcement #24R-ST-311278-MPA-SLA More than one selection may be made from this announcement.

The Librarian (Art) is responsible for providing art, art history, and/or related field references and research services to diverse clientele of museum staff and external researchers. This vacancy will be used to fill positions in our Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden located in Washington, DC  and Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum located in New York, NY. 

In this position, you will:

• Perform collection management activities related to fine arts and/or art history: identifies, selects, obtains, organizes, and maintains library collections and resources including serial control, inventory, stacks maintenance, deaccessioning, and preservation activities.
• Provide basic and routine instruction on the use of the library, services, resources, and equipment to users, such as the use of the online catalogs, accessing electronic materials, scanners and copiers, space and shelving arrangement, and the policies of the Smithsonian Libraries and Archives as it relates to art and/or art history.
• Support the diverse and often specialized research and information needs of internal and external researchers, providing research consultations and project assistance and responses to requests for basic information or library assistance. Under supervision, is also responsible for library services such as circulation and interlibrary loan.
• Participate in initiatives for outreach and engagement activities tailored for the needs of internal and external researchers, including orientations to the library, tours, workshops and trainings, drop-in sessions, etc. Develop, maintain, and assess guides, tutorials, relevant webpages, and other outreach and orientation tools in a variety of formats.
• Contribute to basic library operation functions, including monitoring of facilities and equipment; supply inventory and ordering; statistical reporting; assisting in the management of temporary staff; and other administrative tasks.

Conditions of employment

• Pass Pre-employment Background Investigation
• May need to complete a Probationary Period
• Maintain a Bank Account for Direct Deposit/Electronic Transfer
• Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered with Selective Service.

Conditions of Employment

Qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.

For information on qualification requirements, see Qualification Standards Handbook for General Schedule Positions on OPM website.

The work is in an office (library) setting and is a mix of sedentary computer work, physical activity, and lifting of moderately heavy items such as boxes of books or journals, which could weigh as much as 30 pounds unassisted. 

Qualifications

Basic Qualification Requirements:

All librarians must meet the requirements for professional education in library science or possess equivalent experience and education.

A. Completion of 1 full academic year of graduate study in library science in an accredited college or university, in addition to completion of all work required for a bachelor’s degree.

OR

B. A total of at least 5 years of a combination of college-level education, training, and experience. To qualify on this basis, the applicant must establish conclusively that the education, training, and experience provided a knowledge and understanding of the theories, principles, and techniques of professional librarianship; a knowledge of literature resources; and the knowledge and abilities essential for providing effective library and information services.

In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the specialized experience and/or education requirements listed below:

GS-09 Experience:You qualify for this position if you have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-07 level in the Federal Service.  For this position Specialized experience is defined as providing reference assistance, searching bibliographic databases, performing, or assisting with circulation and interlibrary loan services, and assisting with collection development and outreach activities, within the subject areas of art and/or art history.

OR

Two full years of progressively higher-level graduate education or master's in library science or equivalent graduate degree, e.g., LL.B. or J.D., related to the position.

Or a Combination: Education and experience may be combined to meet the basic qualifications. For a full explanation of this option please see the Qualification Standards. Special Instructions for Foreign Education: If you are qualifying by education and/or you have education completed in a foreign college/university described above, it is your responsibility to provide transcripts and proof of U.S. accreditation for foreign study. For instructions on where to fax these documents, see the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

You must submit a legible copy of your college/university transcripts to your online application. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable at the time of application. Official transcripts will be required if selected. Failure to submit the required legible documentation at the time of application will result in disqualification of your application.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Applicants for this position may be evaluated in multiple stages. The first stage is an evaluation of your responses to the online multiple-choice questions that assess your experience, education, and/or training for the job related competencies below:

1. Knowledge of a wide range of library collections functions (e.g., collection development, serials management, deaccessioning, preservation) and standard library operating procedures, policies, and administrative tasks
2. Skill to communicate, provide reference and customer service using print and digital research tools and research methodology of scholarly inquiry in art and/or art history.
3. Knowledge of standard library circulation and interlibrary loan systems, policies, and procedures.
4. Skill to provide routine outreach, training, instruction, and professional knowledge of library services and collections in the fine arts and/or art history to library users (e.g., library tours, orientations, online information, or committees/working groups).
5. Knowledge of standard library operating procedures, policies, and administrative tasks to manage and monitor facilities, equipment, supplies, reporting mechanisms, and job assignments.

Applicants who meet or exceed minimum qualifications will be assigned to one of three category groups based on job-related criteria:

• Best Category - Meets the minimum qualification requirements and excels in most of the job related competencies above.
• Better Category - Meets the minimum qualification requirements and satisfies most of the job related competencies above.
• Good Category - Meets the minimum qualification requirements, but does not satisfy most of the job related competencies above to a substantive degree.

This category rating process does not add veterans' preference points or apply the "rule of three", but protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each category. A selecting official may make selections from the highest quality category (Best Category) provided no preference eligible in that category is passed over to select a non-preference eligible in that category unless the requirements of 5 U.S.C. 3317(b) or 3318(b) are satisfied. Preference eligibles who meet minimum qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent must be listed in the highest quality category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-9 grade level or higher. Applicants who have not submitted a resume in the USAjobs system and/or have not answered all of the vacancy questions will not be considered for this position.

Important Note:

Your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses to the occupational questionnaire or other assessment tool for consistency. If a determination is made that you have rated yourself higher than is supported by your resume, you will be assigned a rating commensurate to your described experience. Your resume should provide sufficient information regarding how your education and experience relate to this position, including the major duties and qualifications criteria listed.