Join Our Team

Employment Opportunities

Thank you for your interest in working at Jones Memorial Library. The library has a small and nimble staff. Our team handles a variety of responsibilities daily, from assisting researchers and patrons, to preparing materials for long-term preservation and access. We seek colleagues who have a passion for sharing the historical record, skills to advance use of genealogical and archival collections today and tomorrow, and a ‘can-do!’ attitude.

Current openings

PART-TIME REFERENCE DESK ASSISTANT

Join a small and collegial staff who provide specialized genealogy and history services for patrons and researchers.

Jones Memorial Library in Lynchburg, Virginia specializes in history and genealogy with a primary focus on central Virginia. The collection spans 20,000+ books, 600+ manuscripts, and 5,000+ sets of architectural drawings and documents. We serve patrons in person and online from an 11,000 square foot facility. Learn more about us at www.jmlibrary.org

The Library is accepting applications for part-time Reference Desk Assistant staff. Reference staff have a central role in making our collections more accessible to the public. These roles involve work in-person at the library, Tuesday-Saturday and typically include one weekly evening shift and/or one full-day, alternate Saturday rotation shift. Our Reference Desk staff are scheduled for a regular shift of between 8 to 28 hours per week, depending on availability and library needs.

This role reports directly to the library’s Executive Director. Working from the main Reference Desk in our Reading Room, you will:

Connect patrons with accurate and complete information from our collections, providing a welcoming, attentive, and positive user-centered experience.
Manage and staff the reference desk, assisting patrons in person, by telephone, by mail or by electronic means, in meeting their informational needs through the selection, location, retrieval and use of library materials; refer patrons to other sources for further information.
Correctly identify and retrieve materials for patrons; instruct patrons in use of materials and monitor usage to preserve the collections for future generations; correctly re-shelve materials after use.
Instruct patrons on use of digital resources and databases, provide basic computer instruction or troubleshooting as needed; instruct patrons on use of microfilm machines.
Tabulate usage of the collections and provide regular reports.
Stay up-to-date on evolving practices and issues affecting archival collections, genealogical research, and special libraries.

We don’t believe in a “perfect candidate.” Individuals who meet most of the qualifications should apply. The Library will provide training to candidates who show an interest and aptitude for work at a research library. JML is an equal opportunity employer.

Minimum Qualifications

Interest in local history and genealogy.
Strong communication and organizational skills; strong customer service orientation.
Prior experience in a library, information services, or customer-centered environment.
Familiar and agile with a wide variety of software, databases, and online tools that advance the mission and work of the library (i.e., Omeka, SQL, social media, Google Office, websites, databases).
Able to accurately identify and retrieve relevant resources in many formats.
Comfortable working in a technologically adaptive and mobile environment.
Enthusiasm for working with individuals of different ages, backgrounds, and abilities; able to provide consistently accurate, fair, and reliable services to patrons.
Successful completion of an associates or bachelor’s degree, preferably in the humanities or social sciences.

What We Offer

Work is on-site and in-person.
Annual paid time off, plus paid holidays.
Eligible for retirement plan contributions.
Anticipated hiring range of $17.50- $22.50 per hour.

How to Apply

Submit a cover letter, C.V. or resume, and contact information for three references by email to director@jmlibrary.org

Please note that our finalist candidate will undergo reference and background checks.

Volunteer Opportunities

Jones Memorial Library welcomes students and volunteers interested in connecting visitors with our many resources. From assisting staff and patrons with research, to processing, preserving, and digitizing the library’s collections, we serve the public in many capacities.

The Library offers flexible internship and volunteer experience. We tailor assignments depending on the skills, expertise, and availability of volunteers. Our internships provide opportunities to gain experience and skills that are applicable to many industries. Working closely with interns and academic advisors, we plan fulfilling projects and provide ongoing feedback during service.

In our commitment to training a new generation of leaders in the library, archives, and museum field, Jones Memorial Library encourages individuals from diverse, differently abled, or underrepresented backgrounds to apply. If an opportunity below does not fit your background or interests, please contact the Executive Director to discuss how we might benefit from your skills in another capacity.

Jones Memorial Library’s Board of Trustees is a collegial group of volunteer members with diverse skills, interests, and experiences. All board members share a commitment to preserving Lynchburg’s history. Members serve for three-year, renewable terms; terms begin each year in July. The board’s work is enhanced through an active and engaged committee structure. Trustees can anticipate a time commitment of 1-2 hours a month for board and committee meetings. To learn more about board service, or to make a nomination for the board, please email director@jmlibrary.org

All Ages

Thank you for your interest in volunteering at the Library. Please contact us to let us know of your interest, skills, and experience. Most of our volunteer projects are conducted at the library in -person; we also have some remote and digital projects.

Whether you can give a few hours a week or can help out at special events, we will add you to our volunteer roster and be in touch.

Volunteers must be age 12 or older and able to work with minimal supervision. Please note that the Library cannot accomodate or supervise court-mandated service for juveniles or adults.

High School Students

Working under direction of the Library’s senior Research Assistants, student interns and volunteers greet library users and connect them with resources. Tasks include staffing the welcome table and assisting with basic research. Additional projects may include filing materials, preparing mailings and newsletters for distribution, designing publicity to promote library services and events, or preparing social media outreach. Other duties may be assigned based on aptitude and interest.

The library accepts both regular volunteers and students completing service hours for school or club requirements; the library does not offer opportunities for court-mandated service. Volunteer shifts may include service on Saturdays. To ensure opportunities are available to the widest number of interested students, volunteers should expect to serve for one (1) or two (2) semesters; some summer opportunities are available.

Undergraduates

Working under the direction of the Archivist and Research Assistants, college interns provide assistance with managing the library’s collections. We offer a flexible internship, tailoring assignments to a candidate’s academic interests and skills. We seek a minimum commitment of two (2) or three (3) hours per week on a semester basis. Most of our collections are in physical format and most interns work in our facility; some tasks may be suitable for remote work.

We provide professional supervision throughout an internship, including regular reporting to faculty advisors. At the end of a successful internship, we may offer a professional reference and access to a network of connections within the library and archival field.

The following are examples of some of the projects and tasks available to interns:

Collections management: Shelf read and straighten materials on shelves; shift materials from closed to open stacks; code materials for improved retrieval; inventory collections and match contents with inventories; convert Finding Aids from Word to PDF format and submit documents to online repositories
Office administration: Organize supplies and workspaces for better workflow; conduct equipment inventories and research new equipment; convert and upgrade media files
Communications & Outreach: Using the library’s collections, create and post social media content; promote genealogy and local history research; like and follow similar institutions; create content for newsletters and e-newsletters; design brochures, flyers, and posters; curate and create physical exhibits

Graduate Students

Graduate-level internships are intended for students pursuing a master’s or doctorate in library science or archival science. Students pursuing a graduate degree in related fields such as history, information science, or records management may also be considered.

Working under the direction of the Library’s Executive Director or Archivist, graduate interns help manage the collections. We offer a flexible practicum experience, tailoring assignments to a candidate’s academic and professional interests, skills, and expertise. We expect a minimum commitment of five (5) hours per week on a semester basis. Due to the fact that most of our collections are in physical format, internships include some in-person or hybrid scheduling.

We provide professional supervision with regular reporting to faculty advisors and institutional partners. Interns are supervised by staff who hold terminal degrees in library and information science. At the end of a successful internship, we may offer a professional reference and access to a network of connections within the library and archival field.

The following are examples of the types of projects and tasks that may be available:

Process collections; identify opportunities for acquisitions; preserve and repair rare materials
Digitize items from physical collections; create and manage metadata using controlled vocabularies; create digital exhibits; conduct community outreach to share digital resources
Develop and manage staff workflows for collections; catalog books and materials; track and report usage of materials, identify and implement improvements to reduce and eliminate barriers to accessibility of collections
Plan and present programs on topics related to the library’s collections; conduct community outreach with area organizations and public library partners; develop opportunities to cultivate and expand engagement with underrepresented audiences.

Post-graduate Fellows-in-Residence

The library is exploring a fellowship to support graduates and post-graduates who want to conduct research in our collections. In exchange for a modest stipend, the library offers dedicated work space and access. We are particularly interested in proposals that use materials from our architectural and newspaper collections and promote the study of central Virginia. Fellowships commitments range from a few weeks or months to a maximum of one academic year and require a residency component. The library expects fellows to pursue scholarly publication.