Federal

Reader Registration Assistant

Library of Congress ยท Legislative Branch
๐Ÿ“ Washington, District of Columbia GS-05 $46,610 - $60,593/yr
Posted: Apr 22, 2026 Deadline: May 6, 2026 (Closes in 9 days days left)

About This Position

This position is located in the Access Services Section, Researcher Engagement & General Collection, General & International Collections Directorate, Researcher And Collections Services. The position description number for this position is 467968. The salary range indicated reflects the locality pay adjustments for the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan area. The incumbent of this position will work a fixed work schedule including Saturday. This is a non-supervisory, bargaining unit position.

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. Ability to provide customer service. Ability to provide clerical and administrative support in various office activities. Ability to interpret and apply a variety of guidelines and/or regulations. Ability to operate and maintain specialized equipment. Ability to communicate effectively other than in writing.

Major Duties

The incumbent serves as a Reader Registration Assistant on the Reader Registration Team of the Access Services Section in the Researcher Engagement and General Collections Division. All researchers conducting research at the Library of Congress must first obtain a Library-issued reader card at the reader registration stations. The incumbent performs the full range of duties necessary to operate the stations and to assist researchers in obtaining the necessary card.

Among the duties performed by the incumbent: greeting readers entering the stations, disseminating information and necessary forms, and ensuring that the applicant is in possession of the necessary forms of identification; assisting applicants in using the online registration system to input critical data; operating and maintaining the badging equipment which captures a photo and other information, and issues the reader card. Receives and processes documents in accord with established procedures. Reviews documents for completeness and enters relevant information into library patron management system.

Performs system searches for correct identification information. Collects relevant information and data directly from researchers or from the online pre-registration form. Interviews customers to ascertain correct contact information and other specific data affecting the accuracy of Reader Registration processes.

Reads and keeps apprised of organizational and Library-wide directives and procedures to be aware of changes and new requirements affecting the work of the organization. Such procedures concern security issues impacting eligibility for issuing a Reader Card, changes in the forms of identification which can be accepted, policies on issuing reader cards when inadequate identification is presented, and related issues. Operates the equipment utilized in the reader registration badging process, including the badging terminals, card printers, and cameras.

Aids in the maintenance of equipment used by patrons, troubleshoots equipment malfunction problems, and refers for service calls when appropriate. Follows established procedures for collecting researcher information, determining appropriate user group, capturing image, and issuing cards. Readies necessary equipment for operation, including workstation computer, card printer, and camera.

Monitors operations during machine processing, and takes prompt action in response to programmed instructions, machine failures, and unexpected errors. Greets researchers to Reader Registration in a welcoming manner and provides World-class customer service throughout the process of issuing reader cards. Orients and provides information to patrons about reader registration procedures, physical layout of the library, directions to other library locations, and specialized programs.

Assists researchers in using computer terminals and web forms to input preregistration information. Assists patrons participating in library programs. Maintains a high degree of tact and courtesy while working with visitors.

Responds to routine queries from a wide range of individuals regarding the reader registration program. Incumbent is instructed in, and becomes familiar with, the forms of identification which are and are not acceptable to receive a card. Explains the policy on, and requirements for, obtaining a reader card and why an individual may not be eligible to obtain a card.

For example, explains the policy for issuing reader cards to minors, including the required minor permission form and the 16- or 17-year-old age requirement. Provides customer service and outlines options available to researchers, regarding, for example, what to do if the applicant has no fixed address. Relocation expenses will not be authorized for the person(s) selected under this vacancy announcement.

Conditions of Employment

Conditions of Employment Library of Congress employees are prohibited from using illegal drugs, including marijuana. The Library is part of the Federal Government and abides by federal law, so regardless of individual state or District of Columbia laws, marijuana use is illegal, considered criminal activity, and can affect your employment at the Library. In addition, past or current drug use and activities (e.g., selling or distributing) may deem you ineligible for employment.

Education

None

How You Will Be Evaluated

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.

You may preview questions for this vacancy.

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 at step one of the grade. The Library of Congress is an equal opportunity employer.

Applicants must submit a complete application package that is received by the closing date of this announcement. Appointment/retention is subject to a favorable evaluation of an appropriate personnel security/suitability investigation. For more information, please see: Vetting Process 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 email [email protected]. 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 proof or disability/certification may be issued by the State Vocational Rehabilitation Office, Disability Services or Career Services office of the applicant's college or university, or the Department of Veterans Affairs. The letter must verify that the applicant has a severe disability and must be dated within three years of the date of the application. Certification from health care providers are not accepted.

For more information contact the Library's Office of Equal Employment Opportunity at 202-707-6024 or email [email protected]. 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. The Library reserves the right to fill a lesser or greater number of vacancies indicated during the life of this vacancy announcement. Initial permanent appointments to the Library of Congress require completion of a one-year probationary period.

Probationary periods served at other Federal agencies do not count toward this requirement. The Library of Congress may offer repayment for all or part of federally insured student loans. However, not all service units within the Library of Congress participates in the repayment of federally insured student loans.

Therefore, determination to repay a federally insured student loan is subject to approval by the appropriate service unit. A โ€œNot 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.

How to Apply

Please carefully follow all instructions under the How to Apply tab to ensure you are considered for the position. Please note, there is no page restriction to your resume, and you are allowed to upload a resume longer than two pages in the resume section within the application process. When the application system prompts, please proceed to the agency site to complete your application. You are required to apply online for this announcement. We are unable to accept mailed or emailed documents.

You must complete the entire application process, including submission of all documents BEFORE this announcement closes. To do so, complete the following steps. Step 1: If you do not already have one, create a resume and upload it to your profile in the "Resume" section. Although you must enter your Social Security Number for USAJOBS, this information will not be provided to the Library of Congress. Step 2: Review the Job Announcement. We recommend you go to the end of the Qualification and Evaluation section of the job announcement to preview the online questions that you will answer in Step

4.

You may wish to customize your resume to ensure that it supports your responses to these questions. Step 3: Click on the "APPLY ONLINE" button to the right of this announcement.

Follow USAJOBS' instructions to access your account.

You will be redirected to the Hiring Management website to complete the application process. If this is your first time in Hiring Management, you will be asked to answer questions related to your eligibility for Federal employment.

You will be able to update this information and save it to our account for future announcements. Step 4: Once you have completed the eligibility questions, you will be taken directly to the vacancy application questions. Answer all questions honestly and thoroughly. Step 5: Hiring Management offers one option that will electronically attach your documentation to your online application once you finish answering the questions in the job announcement.

You may electronically upload a document directly from your computer to your application. Be certain to review your complete application for confirmation of the document uploaded and click on "Finished" to be returned to USAJOBS. IMPORTANT

NOTE: If you have multiple documents of the same kind, e.g. 2 undergraduate transcripts from different schools or 2 SF-50s, etc., be sure that they are all in the same file on your computer. If you try uploading them individually, only the last one sent will be visible in our system. If you have any questions about this information, please contact the person on this announcement BEFORE the closing date.

Step 6: Click on "Finish" after you have completed your application. Once you have submitted your application, you can check your status online through your Hiring Management or MY USAJOBS account.

Your complete online application and any required supplemental documentation (e.g., SF-50, etc.) must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) on the closing date of the announcement. It is your responsibility to ensure that all documents are received on time and that the materials are readable.

Failure to do so will result in your application being excluded from consideration for this announcement. If you are experiencing any technical difficulty with the online process, you MUST CONTACT THE POINT OF CONTACT FOR THIS ANNOUNCEMENT BEFORE THE CLOSING DATE. For all technical issues please contact [email protected] , no later than 4:00pm EST of the Closing Date.

REQUESTS FOR EXTENSIONS WILL NOT BE GRANTED.

Required Documents

Current or former federal employees must submit their most recent Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50 or equivalent). Applicants with disabilities may be considered under special hiring procedures and must submit an appropriate certificate of eligibility when applying for this position. The proof or disability/certification may be issued by the State Vocational Rehabilitation Office, Disability Services or Career Services office of the applicant's college or university, or the Department of Veterans Affairs.

The letter must verify that the applicant has a severe disability and must be dated within three years of the date of the application. The program does not accept certification from health care providers. For more information contact the Library's Office of Equal Employment Opportunity at 202-707-6024 or email [email protected].

FAILURE TO SUBMIT YOUR CERTIFICATION WILL CAUSE YOUR APPLICATION TO NOT BE CONSIDERED UNDER THE SELECTIVE PLACEMENT PROGRAM.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the salary for the Reader Registration Assistant position at Library of Congress?
The salary range for this position is $46,610 - $60,593/yr. This is a GS-05 position on the General Schedule pay scale. Actual pay may vary based on locality adjustments.
Where is the Reader Registration Assistant job located?
This position is located in Washington, District of Columbia. This is an on-site position.
What qualifications do I need?
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. Ability to provide customer service. ** Ability to provide clerical and a...
How do I apply for this position?
Apply through USAJobs.gov by clicking the 'Apply on USAJobs' button. You'll need a USAJobs account, a federal-style resume, and supporting documents. The deadline is May 6, 2026.
Is a security clearance required?
No security clearance is required for this position.
What does GS-05 mean?
GS-05 refers to the General Schedule grade level. Higher grades require more experience and offer higher pay. Visit our GS Pay Scale page for full salary tables by grade and locality.
What benefits do federal employees receive?
Federal employees receive comprehensive benefits including health insurance (FEHB), retirement through FERS, Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) with government matching, paid annual and sick leave, paid parental leave, life insurance, and student loan repayment programs.