Library Assistant - Access Services & Resource Sharing

Mount Allison University; Sackville; On-site; CAD 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

Mount Allison University is seeking a Library Assistant to manage daily operations in Access Services and Resource Sharing. You will handle circulation, stacks maintenance, and assist students, faculty, staff, and visitors with library resources and services.

The role requires professionalism, strong customer service, and the ability to work evenings/weekends on a rotating schedule. Training and collaboration with librarians are included.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or Library Technician Diploma or an equivalent combination of knowledge and experience.
• At least one year of library experience is preferred.
• Strong service orientation and excellent interpersonal/communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Operate the Library Management System to circulate materials and manage records.
• Assist with circulation and resource sharing, including ILL and loans processing.
• Provide welcoming, front‑line service to students, faculty, staff and visitors; guide users on catalog and databases.

Skills

Customer service

Interpersonal skills

Organization

Problem solving

Multi-tasking

Education

University Degree or Library Technician Diploma

Tools

Office365

Job description

Reporting to the Head of Access Service and Resource Sharing, and working within a team environment, this primarily public-facing role is responsible for carrying out the day-to-day operations of the department. This includes primary responsibility for tasks such as circulation and resource sharing, stacks maintenance, assisting students, faculty, staff, and visitors, maintaining course reserves, and supporting the work of librarians and other library departments. The AS&RS team proactively fosters safe and welcoming library spaces and ensures the security of patrons, collections, and the facility. While the duties of the team are shared, individuals may be assigned specific areas of responsibility. This position works shifts on a rotating schedule that includes evenings and weekends; this may also include statutory holidays and work during inclement weather. Schedule is subject to change, pending departmental needs. This position requires frequent lifting, bending, crouching, climbing, and pushing heavy book carts with library materials.

Position Responsibilities

• Use the Library Management System (LMS) to circulate library materials in multiple formats; accurately maintains library records, handles financial transactions, protects patron confidentiality, and ensures user understanding of library policies and procedures.
• Support print and digital resource sharing (i.e., Novanet) and, under direction from the ILL Coordinator, Inter-Library Loan services; pulls, digitizes, processes, and ships materials accurately and efficiently; retrieves items for patrons from on and off-site shelving.
• Provide welcoming, helpful and knowledgeable service to students, faculty, staff, community members, and visitors. Answers questions about the library and library resources; provides front‑line information services following established guidelines (e.g., use of the library catalogue, locating items in the library, finding electronic databases and LibGuides); instructs patrons on how to locate and use microforms; refers research and assignment support questions to librarians, the Writing Centre/Academic Success, or other resources as appropriate.
• Maintain the library’s print and digital course reserves in collaboration with faculty and librarians and in accordance with Canadian copyright law; communicates effectively with librarians and faculty to ensure timely access to materials.
• Perform stacks maintenance projects including shelving, shifting, interfiling, shelf‑reading, and checking against lists; utilizes the LMS to create lists and run circulation reports (e.g., long missing) as directed; prints and applies spine labels and performs basic repairs as needed, and may assist with activities including digitization, barcoding, labeling, and withdrawals.
• Liaise with librarians about maintenance of the collection within librarians’ subject areas, providing reports and other information as requested.
• Performs basic updates to catalogue records on a case‑by‑case basis (e.g., creating dummy barcodes, updating display location information); provides backup to Technical Services and other departments for collections projects following established guidelines.
• Provide clerical, research, and special projects assistance to librarians, the university archivist, and library administration on request.
• Troubleshoot basic technology issues with student copying, printing, scanning, and wi‑fi; refers more complex issues to technical support as required; provides guest passes to visitors; maintains and instructs patrons on the use of circulating electronics such as chargers and laptops.
• Assist with the training, mentoring, and supervision of student employees.
• Maintains library displays in collaboration with Librarians; updates stacks and display signage as needed; assists with library marketing and social media as requested.
• Assist patrons with the library’s room booking system; accurately records and maintains library statistics in the unit.
• Open and close the library building; monitors the security and safety of the patrons, collections, and building; responds to and reports facilities and security issues following established procedures.
• In collaboration with librarians, participates in orientation activities, leads tours for new students, and proactively engages with students visiting Mount Allison as prospective students; library staff are encouraged to participate in activities and events that promote our collections, services, and resources.
• Participate in the development of policies and procedures to advance the goals of the unit; participates in the planning, implementation and evaluation of relevant products and services.
• With the permission of the department head and taking into consideration the needs of the unit, participates on internal and external committees and pursues appropriate professional development opportunities to stay up‑to‑date on best practices and trends in library services and technologies.
• Work collaboratively and effectively with library colleagues on shared strategies, initiatives, and issues. Library staff take a cross‑functional team approach to problem solving and are encouraged to assist colleagues to the extent permissible and appropriate when a need arises.
• Access Services staff are members of the library team and are encouraged to participate in activities and events that promote our collections, services, and resources.
• Other duties as assigned.

Special Conditions of Employment

• First Aid training
• Commitment to accessibility, diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti‑racism
• Ability to perform bending/lifting tasks, and to safely handle/shelve heavy items.
• Must be available to work in rotation evenings, weekends, and statutory holidays as well as in inclement weather.
• Only those already eligible to work in Canada need apply.

Qualifications

• University Degree OR a Library Technician’s Diploma; an equivalent combination of knowledge, skills, and experience may be considered
• At least one year of library experience is strongly preferred; relevant work in retail, service, or educational settings may be considered
• Strong service orientation and desire to work with students, faculty, and staff
• High degree of comfort with standard programs (e.g., Office365) and the ability to learn and adapt quickly to new technologies, apps, and platforms
• Experience with digitization is an asset
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
• A willingness to learn and appropriately apply new skills
• Good judgement and problem‑solving skills; must be able to work independently and know when to refer issues or problems appropriately
• High level of comfort with multi‑tasking; must be able to move effectively and efficiently between tasks while providing public service
• Ability to foster cooperation, positive outlook, and a culture of appreciation

Review of applications will begin on September 13, 2026.

Mount Allison is committed to diversity and inclusiveness. We encourage applications from members of racialized communities, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, and persons of all sexual and gender identities. We seek candidates with qualifications and knowledge to contribute specifically to the further diversification of our campus community.