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Part-Time Bookseller

About the Museum

The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art opened its doors in Amherst, Massachusetts 20 years ago with a bold but simple vision: to ensure that picture-book illustration, as an art form, is celebrated around the world. 

We organize exhibitions that encourage the exploration of children’s book illustration through artistic, cultural, and historical lenses. More than 9,000 original illustrations make up our collection, which spans more than 120 years of publishing. Our education programs provide a foundation for arts exploration and literacy.

As an institution and as a team of museum professionals, The Carle is committed to diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion (DEAI). We bring these values to our exhibitions, programs, partnerships, and organizational culture. The Carle Bookshop, for example, prioritizes carrying and displaying a diverse selection of books that reflect authors, illustrators, and characters from underrepresented experiences and backgrounds. Through ongoing professional development, we continue to expand our DEAI knowledge and are striving to diversify our team, currently made up of 40 hard-working, art- and book-loving staff members, with additional support from 35 volunteers. 

How you will contribute

The bookseller supports the Museum’s mission of inspiring a love of art and reading through picture books. You welcome guests and connect patrons of all ages with books, art supplies, and toys from our world-renowned curated collection. You assist visitors and customers in person and over the phone, answering questions, and processing merchandise sales transactions and memberships. In addition, you assist with shop marketing initiatives, promotions, preorders, book signings and special events. You are part of a team of six staff members in the bookshop who work in shifts and report to the retail manager. 

Specifically, you will

  • Demonstrate the highest level of customer service, remaining professional, personable, and engaging to all museum visitors and staff.  
  • Assist customers both in-person and over the phone by recommending, selecting, and helping locate or obtain merchandise.   
  • Process cash and point of sale (POS) transactions and membership enrollment. Compile department deposits and reports, as needed. 
  • Troubleshoot POS and communicate with IT and vendors, as needed. 
  • Maintain knowledge of current sales, promotions, and policies regarding payment and exchanges to answer customer questions and process sales transaction, returns, and exchanges. 
  • Set up and maintain merchandise displays. Price, stock, and restock merchandise. Receive inventory, confirm order quantities, and report discrepancies.   
  • Assists the retail manager with marketing initiatives, shop promotions, preorders, book signing, and special events. 
  • Occasionally support the ecommerce assistant with customer service and preparing merchandise for shipment. 

Your background and experience include

The Carle acknowledges that competitive candidates may not meet all of the experience requirements 100%. We encourage you to apply if many of these job requirements describe you. The position does not require a background in children’s literature. 

  • A high school diploma and previous experience working with the public and as part of a team, an interest in children’s literature is preferred. 
  • Enjoy working with visitors and can work confidently and calmly in a busy environment. 
  • Punctual and reliable. 
  • Strong cash handling skills and basic math proficiency. 
  • Ability to take direction from supervisors and managers. 
  • Strong interpersonal skills including diplomacy and empathy; able to resolve conflicts and de-escalate disagreements with guests in person, over the phone, and online in a constructive manner. 
  • Cultural competency to collaborate and coordinate with individuals from diverse backgrounds.   
  • Ability to work weekends. 
  • Ability to safely lift up to 30 pounds unassisted. 

Position and compensation details

  • Starting pay is $17.50/hour. 
  • This part-time position is approximately 14 to 20 hours per week, Thursday through Saturday. 
  • Benefits include accrued paid time off (sick, vacation, personal and holiday pay), a discount in the Bookshop, professional development opportunities including access to The Carle’s education workshops, plus free admission to many cultural institutions throughout New England.   

Application timeline and process

For priority consideration apply by September 4, 2023. Applications received after that are not guaranteed to be included for consideration for this position. The application form for this position is now closed.

The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.