Req #: 242396

Department: UW LIBRARIES

Appointing Department Web Address: https://lib.uw.edu/about/

Posting Date: 01/10/2025

Closing Info: Closes On 01/31/2025

Salary: $3,749 - $5,010 per month

Shift: First Shift

Notes: As a UW employee, you will enjoy generous benefits and work/life programs. For a complete description of our benefits for this position, please visit our website, click here.

As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills, and dedication to build stronger minds and a healthier world.

UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits, and natural beauty.

The UW Libraries has an outstanding opportunity for a Slavic, Baltic and East European Acquisitions Specialist

Under the direction of the Slavic and East European Librarian, this staff member is responsible for ordering all Slavic, Baltic, East European and Central Asian monographs and media, in a variety of scripts, from exchange partners and vendors based in the Slavic, East European and post-Soviet region. In addition, the staff member is responsible for processing all monographs received by the Section through exchanges, blanket and approval plans, or as gifts. The Slavic Acquisitions Specialist’s responsibilities include routing of materials, transliteration and transcription of bibliographic information, maintaining the flow of materials, day-to-day communication and troubleshooting with suppliers, and guidance of student assistants’ work.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Ordering Materials

Does preorder searching and inputs bibliographic and acquisitions data for all monographic exchange, firm order, and blanket order plans, in all area languages, using the Alma acquisitions system, in accordance with Slavic Section and Monographic Acquisitions standards.

Reconciles citation conflicts with existing OCLC catalog bibliographic records, transliterates from Cyrillic, and completes data input, adhering to appropriate ordering procedures.

For orders placed with online bookstores in Eastern Europe, populates UW’s order queue, annotates selection tools for action taken, checks to eliminate duplication and notifies the Slavic librarian when all orders are queued.

Prioritizes ordering jobs to ensure orders are placed in a timely manner.

Assigns deadlines to book lists and catalogs received by the Slavic Section, based on priorities set by the Slavic Librarian.

Transmits purchase orders to suppliers.Receiving Materials

Processes all incoming monographic exchange shipments, in all formats in Alma; drawing on knowledge of Slavic languages, verifies accuracy of data entry against source.

Processes all blanket, approval and firm-ordered purchased monographic materials.

Maintains, tracks and reviews invoices for accuracy.

Routes completed invoices to the Slavic Librarian for approval and Libraries Accounting for payment.

Prints routing forms for all materials received and processed by the Section. Flags materials requiring special handling and links rush orders to patron records.

Receives, checks and processes all maps and micro formats received by the Section. When necessary, reports defects to the Librarian and requests new copies.

Is responsible for limited processing of serials and management of subscriptions, including checking and adding appropriate notes regarding status, holdings and special treatment to automated online check-in records; for inputting new records for newly acquired serial titles; for identifying and reporting title changes and other maintenance categories; for transliterating titles/issue numbers/dates and marking issues; and for routing issues/volumes received.

Uses various files and search strategies to identify snags and processes them according to procedures, including misrouted serial volumes, monographs in series received on standing order, etc.Process Maintenance

Assists with maintenance of manuals and documentation.

Troubleshoots potential acquisitions-related problems by referring to appropriate in-house authorities.

Resolves complex acquisitions problems involving Slavic orders, referring the most complex problems to the Slavic librarian.

Conducts periodic monograph claim and cancellation projects as assigned.

Searches for, retrieves and processes patrons’ rush item requests from the Slavic backlog.

Answers routine informational questions about acquisitions policy, procedures, and order status of materials.

Trains other Section staff and student assistants.

Provides oversight and quality control for all monographic processing activities of the Section.

Serves as the Section’s first line of communications with monograph suppliers, including both vendors and exchange partners, and corresponds with them to resolve acquisitions-related questions and problems.

Responds to exchange partners’ requests for North American publications, after first consulting with the Slavic librarian.

Does routine troubleshooting of problems arising in the exchange supply line, whether with YBP or exchange partners.

When needed to avoid impoundment of shipments at customs in Eastern Europe, composes and sends pre-shipping lists of titles being sent on exchange to partner libraries.

Receives and forwards YBP Slavic exchange invoices to Financial Services for payment.

May assist clients with general reference and bibliographic questions.

May assist with the selection of materials from a regional provenance of particular interest and expertise.

Assists with other short-term projects as requested.

Understands and abides by the Libraries Personal Communication Responsibilities. Communicates appropriately, effectively and positively. Plays an active role in staying informed and participating in Libraries and unit meetings, activities and events. MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

High school graduation or equivalent AND four years of applicable library technical experience including one year of experience in the area of specialization. ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Strong reading knowledge of Russian or another Slavic Cyrillic-alphabet language.

A commitment to providing excellent customer service.

Successful work experience in a highly automated production environment.

Accurate and quick typing skills and computer literacy. DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Good working knowledge of Russian and at least one other Slavic or relevant East European language.

Familiarity with other Slavic languages.

Knowledge of MARC format and library cataloging rules.

Experience using OCLC Connexion.

Experience working with a consortial implementation of the Alma library management system.

Ability to transliterate from the Cyrillic alphabet as adapted for a wide range of Slavic, Siberian and Central Asian languages; and from other non-Roman area alphabets (Georgian, Armenian).

Work experience in technical services in a large academic library.

Accurate typing skills and computer literacy. CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

Occasional lifting of shipping boxes to unpack, weigh or move them on carts.

University of Washington is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, among other things, race, religion, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.