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Job Description
The Special Collections Library Assistant position provides essential operational and service support for Special Collections and plays a key role in supporting the success of the annual Children's Literature Festival. This position requires strong verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills, as well as the ability to work semi-independently, under general supervisory direction and review. Additional responsibilities of this position include providing regular service at the Library Services Desk and performing additional duties in support of library operations as assigned.
This position will:
Provide operational, organizational, and user support for Special Collections services, materials, and activities. Assist with planning, coordination, and logistical support for the annual Children's Literature Festival. Supervise, schedule, and support student employees assigned to Special Collections. Provide service at the Library Services Desk by assisting users with research needs, library technologies, resource access, and interpretation of library policies and procedures. Support daily library operations through collaboration with library faculty and staff across departments. Other duties as assigned. Provides support of library special collections operations and services, including: 30% Maintains working knowledge of the various special collections and sub-collections housed in JCKL. Creates, updates, and maintains finding aids for special collections and related collection documentation. Assists the Special Collections Librarian with research and reference support services, as needed. Organizes, preserves, retrieves, and shelves Special Collections materials in accordance with established procedures. Conducts preliminary checks on gift materials and potential special collections items for consideration under the guidance of the Special Collections Librarian. Assists with the digitization of materials as needed. Supports the planning, preparation, and installation of library exhibits and displays. Supports the annual Children's Literature Festival, including: 30% Maintains, reviews, and updates festival information within registration and event management systems, as well as associated Festival tracking documents related to payments, travel arrangements, accommodations, schedules, and logistics. Prepares group and individual itineraries for festival presenters, guests, and participants. Assists with the setup and preparation of presenter, event, and hospitality spaces across campus. Collaborates with staff, festival volunteers, and campus partners to support smooth event operations and address operational needs during the festival. Responds to registration inquiries and assists with troubleshooting scheduling, registration, and payment-related issues, as needed. Student employee supervision, including: 10% Supervises and schedules student employees for special collections and Children's Literature Festival activities. Assists patrons at the Library Services Desk, including but not limited to : 25% Assists customers in the effective use of library resources, services, technologies, and spaces. Provides basic research and information support by teaching users strategies for finding, evaluating, and accessing information resources, and refers them to appropriate resources on and off campus. Communicates with library users through a variety of service methods, including in-person interactions, email, and telephone support. Communicates library policies, procedures, and service guidelines to library users in a professional and customer-focused manner. Performs other duties as assigned, including but not limited to: 5% Enforces library policies and procedures Participates in special projects and departmental or university committees as assigned Responds to security alerts and emergency procedures as needed Attends in-service programs as appropriate
Education:
Bachelor of Arts or Sciences. A degree in library science or a closely related field is preferred Education may be substituted for experience or experience substituted for education based on the following equivalencies: AA = 2 years; BA/BS = 4 years; MA/MA = 6 years; PhD = 8 years.
Required Experience and Skills:
One (1) year full-time equivalent of customer service-related experience required Excellent written and verbal communication skills Excellent interpersonal, analytical, presentation, and editorial skills Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail Ability to interact successfully with many different constituencies Ability to manage multiple concurrent projects and meet deadlines Ability to work independently as well as part of a team General understanding of and appreciation for an academic library and its function within a university community Demonstrated commitment to and support for promoting community and belonging of all UCM students, faculty, staff, and university community members Availability/flexible work schedule to manage occasional evening and weekend events. Experience with Microsoft Office, including
Excel and Word Preferred Experience:
One (1) year full-time equivalent of library experience One (1) year full-time equivalent of supervisory experience Experience managing a small team or supervising student employees One (1) year full-time equivalent of circulation/reserves experience Library experience with computerized bibliographic database utilities and management systems Experience working in communications and/or marketing Experience and/or aptitude for project management, including leadership of a collaborative team Experience supervising and/or overseeing the work of others Required supplemental skills: Leadership skills, including organization, meeting facilitation, and/or project leadership. Physical abilities, including mobility, agility, strength, dexterity, balance, coordination, and/or endurance. Supervisory skills, including motivation, delegation of duties, evaluation, etc. Mental skills, including concentration, memory, complex decision making, analytical thinking, and/or conceptual thinking. Ability to maintain confidentiality. Ability to teach patrons basic information-seeking skills in a professional manner. Working knowledge of reference materials preferred Ability to calmly resolve issues with challenging patrons in a professional manner.
Required physical and environmental factors:
Ability to manipulate full book trucks and large books Ability to lift up to 40lbs, on occasion Special working conditions Ability to work effectively under occasional high-demand or time-sensitive situations. Professional appearance and conduct appropriate for interaction with students, faculty, staff, and visitors.
