Job Opening Title: Research Associate
Institution/Organization Name: The Mary Baker Eddy Library
Job Location (City, State, Province, Country): Boston, MA
Application Deadline:
Link to job posting: https://www4.recruitingcenter.net/Clients/tfccs/PublicJobs/controller.cfm?jbaction=JobProfile&Job_Id=10689&esid=az
Years of experience required: 1-3
Job Description (if URL to posting not available). Please include instructions for how to apply.: The Mary Baker Eddy Library is a trusted and authoritative resource on Eddy and the history of the Christian Science movement, providing public access to original materials and educational experiences about Eddy, the ideas she advanced, her writings, and the institutions she founded and their healing mission.
As a member of the Research & Reference Services staff, the Research Associate works as part of the Library’s research team to provide assistance to individuals interested in the collections of The Mary Baker Eddy Library. The research team handles queries from all over the world, numbering in the thousands— posed by email and phone, as well as in person. Patrons include distinguished scholars as well as the general public. An important component of the work is fulfilling the historical information needs, large and small, of The First Church of Christ, Scientist, including The Christian Science Publishing Society. Collections the Research staff uses are primarily documentary in nature, and include special collections focused on Eddy, her life and times, as well as the organizational archives of the Church.
ESSENTIAL ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES
As a member of the Research team, the Research Associate responds to internal and external inquirers. This includes responding to emails and phone messages from patrons, and assisting those who visit the Library’s Research Room. Answering queries involves conducting historical research in the archival collections, published materials, and various databases.
Regular duties include:
– Staffing public research spaces
– Providing one-on-one research and reference assistance, including introducing patrons to the collections, databases, and finding aids
– Providing guidance on how to correctly handle historic materials
– Answering phone calls and fills purchase requests
– Retrieving original materials and publications from the Library stacks
– Requesting materials from offsite storage, and fills photocopy requests
– Assisting with projects related to archival processing; digitization; records management; acquisitions; programs; and exhibits
Additional duties may include:
– Writing articles about the collections for the Library’s website
– Assigning and tracking queries for the entire staff, using a Salesforce database
Performs other duties as assigned, including participating in the Library’s in public programs.
Archives Gig 