Duties

Summary

The position description number for this position is 137132.

The salary range indicated reflects the locality pay adjustments for the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan area.

The incumbent of this position will work a flexitime work schedule.

This is a non-supervisory, bargaining unit position.

Relocation expenses will not be authorized for the person(s) selected under this vacancy announcement.

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

The Processing Technician position is located in the Processing Units of the Moving Image Section and the Recorded Sound Section, Motion Picture, Broadcasting and Recorded Sound (MBRS) Division at the National Audio-Visual Conservation Center (NAVCC) in Culpeper, Virginia. Incumbent reports to the Processing Unit Head and is responsible for the accessioning, processing, conservation, and reference servicing of the audio and moving image collections of the Library of Congress.

Serves under the guidance of staff trainers, team leaders, and supervisors and works independently on less complex collection materials. Following extensive library rules, procedures, and operations, processes library collections for use, preservation and storage. Receives incoming collections.

Distinguishes the type of material, and separates and properly distributes all types of library collection items for processing; completes appropriate forms and/or data records for accessioning, recording, and statistical reports; using primary bibliographic databases, receives and sorts materials into categories and identifies duplicates. Accessions newly received material. Prepares materials for long-term storage and/or digital conversion. Performs basic conservation on materials as needed, including re-housing, cleaning, rewinding and labeling. Prints and attaches labels and barcodes. Alerts the supervisor to the presence of material requiring evaluation for special treatment and other considerations. Identifies, in a variety of formats, moving image/recorded sound materials, title, source, date of acquisition, and other important data to serve as the basis for initial processing and cataloging. Inputs information in manual/automated systems for inventories, container lists, shelf lists, or other kinds of finding aids using box/folder information, series titles, and other data compiled during processing and/or provided by a librarian, cataloger, curator, specialist, or supervisor.

Performs manual/automated preliminary access/inventory cataloging for single items or collections following the established procedures of the division.

Following extensive library rules, procedures, and operations, maintains the collections. Handles requests for collections materials. Retrieves items from storage and delivers them to the proper location or staff. Arranges, sorts, shelves new materials and re-shelves materials returned to the stacks according to shelf order. Identifies and removes items suspected of containing errors in labeling and/or cataloging and forwards items for further determination of disposition. Examines collection materials to assess physical condition under the guidance of specialists and selects best copies for retention. Withdraws materials in need of conservation treatment and re-labeling, forwarding them for appropriate correction. Effects shifts necessitated by growth of collection. Inputs information in manual/automated systems for inventories, container lists, shelf lists, or other kinds of finding aids using box/folder information, series titles, and other data compiled during processing and/or provided by a librarian, cataloger, curator, specialist, or supervisor.

Prepares simple materials for reformatting such as digital scanning. Such preparation includes, but is not limited to, counting and marking pages and items, examining completed copies against the original material, and linking scanned images to appropriate bibliographic and inventory data records. Works with staff and/or contractors to prepare and scan collections for preservation. Operates scanning equipment. Retrieves and returns scanned materials to collections storage areas.

Under minimal supervision, conducts basic background research on the collections and research correspondence assigned. Carries out basic research to refine and amplify the curatorial files; to provide preliminary records for the creation of catalog entries, captions, and other documentation necessary for the control and access to the collections; to create finding aids, catalogs, and other publications; and to develop caption information and documentation.

Travel Required

Not required

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
08

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

The incumbent may perform strenuous physical work requiring standing for extended periods of time, walking, kneeling, stooping, bending, pushing and pulling carts, reaching, climbing ladders and lifting.

Qualifications

Applicants must have had progressively responsible experience and training sufficient in scope and quality to furnish them with an acceptable level of the following knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the duties of the position without more than normal supervision.

Knowledge of library and archival collection material processes and procedures.**

Ability to use information systems and equipment.**

Knowledge of moving image history and formats.

Ability to conduct library research.

Ability to communicate effectively other than in writing.

Education

Additional information

Although it is the Library's policy to afford the maximum pay benefit to employees when setting rates of pay, a new appointee who has had no previous Federal service will generally be paid the minimum step of the grade.

The Library of Congress is an equal opportunity employer. Women, minorities, and persons with disabilities who meet eligibility requirements are strongly encouraged to apply.

Applicants must submit a complete application package that is received by the closing date of this announcement.

This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please ADA@loc.gov. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be determined on a case-by-case basis.

Applicants with disabilities may be considered under special hiring procedures and must submit an appropriate certificate of eligibility when applying for this position. The certificate of disability must verify that the applicant has a severe disability and may be issued by a State Vocational Rehabilitation Office, a Disability Services or Career Services Office of the applicant's college or university, or the Department of Veterans Affairs. The date of certification must be within three (3) years of the vacancy closing date and must be submitted with your application. For more information contact the Library's Office of Equal Employment Opportunity and Diversity Programs at 202-707-6024 or email spp@loc.gov. FAILURE TO SUBMIT YOUR CERTIFICATION WILL CAUSE YOUR APPLICATION TO NOT BE CONSIDERED UNDER THE SELECTIVE PLACEMENT PROGRAM.

The Library of Congress is the national library of the United States and is part of the Legislative Branch of the Federal government. As such, all positions are in the excepted service.

Appointment/retention is subject to a favorable evaluation of an appropriate personnel security/suitability investigation.

The Library reserves the right to fill a lesser or greater number of vacancies indicated during the life of this vacancy announcement.

Initial appointments, permanent or indefinite, to the Library of Congress require completion of a one-year probationary period.

A "Not to Exceed" (NTE) status is used to identify an appointment with a specific ending date. However, the Library has the right to separate a NTE employee at any time due to either performance issues or budget constraints.

Are you a veteran? Please indicate the type of veterans' preference you are claiming in your application materials and/or applicant profile and provide the appropriate supporting documentation to validate your claim. Those applying for 5-point preference must submit Member Copy 4 of your DD 214. Those applying for 10-point preference must fill out an SF-15 (click here for the form) and provide the required documentation listed on the back of the form. If required supporting documentation is not attached, Veterans' Preference will not be considered in the application process.

For more information regarding eligibility requirements, please see the Library of Congress Merit Selection Plan, Section X.D, at: http://www.loc.gov/hr/employment/msp010909.pdf .

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

The Library of Congress evaluates applicants through an applicant questionnaire and a structured interview. Applicants may also be screened for some jobs through licensing, certification, and/or education requirements, a narrative/application review, and/or a preliminary telephone interview. The knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) that are marked with a double asterisk (**) in the vacancy announcement and the applicant questionnaire are considered the most critical for a position. To be considered for final selection, applicants must demonstrate fully acceptable experience in these designated KSAs in the narrative/application review, preliminary telephone and/or full structured interview. The various assessment tools listed above are designed to verify or explore applicants' experience, knowledge, and training directly related to the job in order to identify the best qualified applicants for selection.
To preview questions please click here .

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Not Required

Drug test required
No

Required Documents

Current or former federal employees must submit their most recent Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50 or equivalent). Disabled applicants claiming Selective Placement eligibility must submit proof of disability and a certification of job readiness. If Selective Placement is applicable to you, you will not be considered without submitting this documentation.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education .

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.