Access Services Assistant IV

Cornell University; City of Ithaca (NY); On-site; USD 36,000 - 41,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Retirement contributions

Education benefits

Employee discounts

Job summary

Cornell University Library's Access Services Department is seeking an Access Services Assistant IV to support daily operations, including check-ins/outs, service desk coverage, and policy enforcement. This on-site role emphasizes strong customer service, organization, and adaptability within a dynamic library environment.

Responsibilities include maintaining proxy records, assisting with documentation, and guiding users to resources.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and up to two years of customer service experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Strong written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Demonstrated flexibility and adaptability in a changing work environment while providing consistent and accurate information.
• Experience working with new and emerging technologies, including desktop applications and internet-based tools.
• Demonstrated ability to learn and adapt to new systems and technologies quickly and effectively.

Responsibilities

• Provide user support and service desk coverage, resolving non-routine issues related to circulation, library materials, equipment, and access services.
• Interpret and enforce library policies and procedures while identifying opportunities to improve services, policies, and workflow efficiency.
• Create and maintain faculty proxy records, resolve proxy-related issues, and coordinate graduate carrel and faculty research space assignments.
• Assist with developing, writing, and updating Access Services documentation.
• Fulfill requests for library materials and assist users in locating resources within library stacks.
• Report maintenance issues, submit facilities service tickets, and help maintain library spaces and equipment.
• Assist patrons with public computer workstations, printers, photocopiers, scanners, and other library equipment.
• Support the use and management of library conference rooms, meeting rooms, classrooms, collaborative areas, and other reservable spaces across library units.
• Provide reference assistance, conduct complex electronic and print searches, and help users identify relevant research materials.

Skills

Customer service

Communication

Organizational skills

Adaptability

Technology proficiency

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience

Job description

The Access Services Assistant IV supports daily library operations under the supervision of the Assistant Director of Access Services. Responsibilities include checking materials in and out, providing service desk coverage as needed, and coordinating day-to-day business operations. The role also requires interpreting and enforcing library policies and procedures, supported by an in-depth knowledge of access services functions.

Cornell University Library’s Access Services Department supports library-wide access and circulation functions, including interlibrary services, document delivery, scanning, reserves, stacks management, and offsite storage. The department also oversees building coverage, patron billing, and other services that help ensure library materials, spaces, and resources are accessible to the Cornell community.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide user support and service desk coverage, resolving non-routine issues related to circulation, library materials, equipment, and access services.
• Interpret and enforce library policies and procedures while identifying opportunities to improve services, policies, and workflow efficiency.
• Create and maintain faculty proxy records, resolve proxy-related issues, and coordinate graduate carrel and faculty research space assignments.
• Assist with developing, writing, and updating Access Services documentation.
• Fulfill requests for library materials and assist users in locating resources within library stacks.
• Report maintenance issues, submit facilities service tickets, and help maintain library spaces and equipment.
• Assist patrons with public computer workstations, printers, photocopiers, scanners, and other library equipment.
• Support the use and management of library conference rooms, meeting rooms, classrooms, collaborative areas, and other reservable spaces across library units.
• Provide reference assistance, conduct complex electronic and print searches, and help users identify relevant research materials.

What We Need

• Bachelor’s degree and up to two years of customer service experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Strong written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Demonstrated flexibility and adaptability in a changing work environment while providing consistent and accurate information.
• Experience working with new and emerging technologies, including desktop applications and internet-based tools.
• Demonstrated ability to learn and adapt to new systems and technologies quickly and effectively.

If you have all those things, great! We have a few more things that we would prefer you to have, but it’s ok if you don’t.

• Previous library experience.
• Knowledge of the Library of Congress (LC) classification system.
• Demonstrated ability to work a non-traditional schedule, including non-standard hours as required.

This is a full-time (39 hours/week) position that is based in Ithaca, NY and fully on-site. This appointment typically includes evening and weekend hours and may be modified based on business needs.

Core hours are:

• Tuesdays-Thursdays: 8:30am-5pm
• Fridays: 8:30am-4:30pm
• Saturdays: 9:30am-5:30pm

The final schedule will be established in collaboration with the supervisor.

Rewards and Benefits

• Cornell receives national recognition as an award-winning workplace for our health, wellbeing, and sustainability.
• Our benefits programs include comprehensive health care options, generous retirement contributions, access to wellness programs, and employee discounts with local and national retail brands. We invite you to follow this link to get more information about our benefits: Understand Your Benefits | Working at Cornell .
• Our leave provisions include health and personal leave, three weeks of vacation and 13 holidays: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and the day after, and an end of the year winter break from December 25-January 1. To offer greater flexibility for observing faiths and traditions we also offer two additional floating holidays. Learn more about our generous leave provisions: Holiday and Accrued Time Off | Working at Cornell
• Cornell's impressive educational benefits include tuition-free Extramural Study and Employee Degree Program, tuition aid for external education, and Cornell Children's Tuition Assistance Program. Learn more about our extensive educational benefits: Education Benefits | Working at Cornell
• Follow this link to learn more about the Total Rewards of Working at Cornell: Total Rewards | Working at Cornell .

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

University Job Title:

Access Services Assistant IV

Job Family:

Library/Museum

Level:

D

Pay Rate Type:

Hourly

Pay Range:

$26.00 - $30.05

Remote Option Availability:

Onsite

Company:

Endowed

Job Titles and Pay Ranges

Non-Union Positions

Noted pay ranges reflect the potential pay opportunity for each job profile. The hiring rate of pay for the successful candidate will be determined considering the following criteria:

• Prior relevant work or industry experience

• Education level to the extent education is relevant to the position

• Unique applicable skills

• Academic Discipline

Union Positions

The hiring rate of pay for the successful candidate will be determined in accordance with the rates in the respective collective bargaining agreement.

Current Employees:

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EEO Statement:

Cornellwelcomes students, faculty, and staff with diverse backgrounds from across the globe to pursue world-class education and career opportunities, to further the founding principle of “... any person ... any study.” No person shall be denied employment on the basis of any legally protected status or subjected to prohibited discrimination involving, but not limited to, such factors as race, ethnic or national origin, citizenship and immigration status, color, sex, pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions, age, creed, religion, actual or perceived disability (including persons associated with such a person), arrest and/or conviction record, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender expression and/or identity, an individual’s genetic information, domestic violence victim status, familial status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Cornell University embraces diversity in its workforce and seeksjob candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty, and staff of all identities and backgrounds. Wehire based on merit, andencourage people from historically underrepresented and/or marginalized identities to apply.Consistent with federal law, Cornell engages in affirmative action in employment for qualified protected veterans as defined in the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) and qualified individuals with disabilities under Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations in accordance with applicable law.

2026-10-23

About Us

Cornell University is an innovative Ivy League university and a great place to work. Our inclusive community of scholars, students and staff impart an uncommon sense of larger purpose and contribute creative ideas to further the university's mission of teaching, discovery and engagement. With our main campus located in Ithaca, NY, Cornell's far-flung global presence includes the medical college's campuses on the Upper East Side of Manhattan and Doha, Qatar, as well as the Cornell Tech campus located on Roosevelt Island in the heart of New York City.

We offer a rich array of services, programs and benefits to help employees advance in their career and enhance the quality of personal life, including: employee wellness, workshops, childcare and adoption assistance, parental leave, flexible work options.