Vacancy expired!
Mullen Books is a small used bookstore located in the scenic and vibrant river-town of Columbia, PA. We are seeking 1-2 rare book cataloguers for 30-40 hours per week. We would like to fill these positions within the next month. A few key elements of the position, in no particular order, are:
You must have a thorough knowledge of the alphabet, as applied not only to English but to every western language known. It will serve you really well at this point, because that’s what we use to file the books (when we’re firing on all cylinders, that is). Our books are written in many different languages, but English is the most common. We also have lots in Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Russian, but that can be figured out. If you know these languages and would like to work as a translations specialist for us part-time, please inquire!
You’ll need to arrive at the shop consistently within expected and negotiated parameters. You’ll be sober, not hung over, neat and presentable to the eyes of your fellow workers. You will not smell like weed or cigarette smoke or vaping stuff and drive a dependable car.
You ascend a long staircase, perhaps carrying a 50 pound box of books that was waiting at the bottom of the stairs. It took initiative to figure out it needed to come upstairs. Initiative is a good thing in this job, as is the ability to figure stuff out intuitively.
After clocking in, on your way to your desk, you might have put your lunch or dinner in the fridge, located in our full kitchen with a gas stove. Hopefully you closed the door behind you.
You need to be very comfortable using Windows based programs, an email program, and the internet. You will also need the self-discipline and integrity to not be surfing the internet while you are working here, but rather using those skills to research the awesome books you will be handling. Questions are encouraged.
In those instances where you must answer a phone or deal with a client, you will be the perfect foil for the owner, who can be ruthless to fools and does not suffer idiots, trolls and cheapskates well.
The prime focus of this job is data entry of book descriptions (physical and content) into a database. An inquiring mind and initiative to learn is vital to this position in terms of long-term success and enjoyment, because if the subject matter does not engage you, you will quickly become bored. We primarily work with antiquarian books, with a heavy emphasis on art, decorative arts, architecture and history. Besides physical descriptions of the books, you will need to learn how to interpret pricing data and online databases in order to effectively price the books you are working with. This allows the owner to pay you from weekly sales, rather than the owner building a large collection of overpriced books. Your hands may get dirty, depending which books you are working with, and we have lots of soap and water and paper products
You will need to be comfortable interpreting conflicting data the owner may provide you at any given time. Mistakes are forgiven but ignorance is frowned upon. Initiative is expected and very much appreciated.
I might also ask you to vacuum, or clean, or help me move boxes of books from A to B, or into my truck, or out of my truck as the case may be. The ability to lift 50 pounds is essential. Teamwork is vital, and we have a superb team here to join! Other useful qualities or traits in this position are:
The ability to read the owner’s mind; the ability to talk trash on politicians of all parties; the ability to listen to the Grateful Dead or Funkadelic a lot; the ability to work independently and solve problems and not walk away from them; the ability to handle beautiful objects without getting distracted by them (ie not too much reading on the job); the ability to not be offended by the naked human body in various presentations (these are art books, after all); the ability to be constructively critical and look for better ways to do things, and be patient when the owner is slow to grasp what it is you’re saying; the ability to figure computer stuff out (tech savvy approaching geek is fine, we are an inclusive environment!); the ability to not whine or fuss while working; the love of learning for the sake of learning. Your glass is always at least half full if not overflowing!
Seriously now, this job has few benefits, like none. It does offer an extremely flexible schedule in terms of when you want to work, and the pay is going to be $10.50/hr. to start so you know Bernie Sanders would not approve of this message. THIS IS NOT A LIVING WAGE and I realize this. It is an excellent position for anyone to whom a flexible schedule is as important as anything else. It is an excellent opportunity for someone who is retired, has children or others who present needs continually which must be dealt with as they arise. It is a great position if you get your health benefits from someone else or someplace else. It is a job which will stimulate your brain and keep you engaged, and you will be working with other people who have intellect and can carry on a conversation on a variety of subjects they have encountered during their life experiences. Nobody here is getting rich, but we all really enjoy what we are doing and thrive on the mental stimulation that working with books provides. I prefer someone who can work 35-40 hours per week. If you wish to work on a Saturday or Sunday, that is fine but it is not required. Thanks for reading all the way through this, and I hope you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
DO NOT CALL or you will not get this position. DO NOT STOP IN unannounced or you will not get this position. Period. Send me an email telling me why you’d like to try this and why you would be able to work long-term at a job with no traditional benefits. Let’s not waste each other’s time. A current resume would be great, too.
Preference given to anyone who saw Jerry while he was still alive. Just kidding
