Data & Access Assistant

Boston College; Massachusetts; On-site; USD 33,227 - 41,520; Full time

Job summary

A prominent university is seeking a full-time Data and Access Assistant to manage library collections and resolve access issues. Responsibilities include preparing usage reports for resources, troubleshooting access problems, and collaborating with vendors to ensure timely resolutions. The candidate should understand library workflows and have strong data presentation skills. This is an in-person position with a salary range of $24.12/hr to $30.14/hr.

Qualifications

• Understanding of library content and workflow vendors.
• Ability to collaborate with colleagues in technical and public services.
• Experience with managing multiple priorities.

Responsibilities

• Prepare usage reports for scholarly collection resources.
• Respond promptly to access issues reported by users.
• Communicate regularly with library vendors for access resolution.

Skills

Understanding of library content and workflow vendors

Ability to collaborate with colleagues

Experience communicating with vendors

Problem solving and ambiguity resolution

Familiarity with Ex Libris Alma Analytics

Knowledge of Microsoft Excel/Google Sheets

Skill in collecting and presenting data

Job description

We are seeking a full-time paraprofessional to join the Resource Acquisitions & Management team at Boston College Libraries in the newly defined role of Data and Access Assistant.

Under the supervision of the Renewing Resources Librarian, the Assistant will collect and format data on library collections in order to support ongoing management of the Libraries collection development and collections maintenance, utilizing reporting tools provided by library content vendors and the Ex Libris Alma Analytics module to generate and collate reports on print and online collections usage.

The Assistant will also troubleshoot all issues affecting end user and staff access to online resources, including online journals, databases, streaming video, e-books, and datasets. The Assistant will report access problems to external vendors and publishers and coordinate communications with them and internal library staff in order to resolve access issues as quickly and expediently as possible.

Responsibilities:

• Prepares usage reports of scholarly collection resources such as journals, journal packages, and databases in line with RAM department’s calendarized work to inform renewal decisions and help determine return on investment made by librarians in the Collections department.
• Prepares other collection reports to help librarians identify areas of collection overlap for print and online collections as well as data to inform deselection projects in subject areas, titles, and formats to support stewardship of Libraries’ budget, personnel, and physical resources.
• Prepares required usage reports for annual reporting to Association of College & Research Libraries (ACRL) and Association of Research Libraries (ARL), using vendor-supplied usage reports as well as Alma Analytics reporting where appropriate.
• Responds promptly to issues affecting access to online resources as reported by library patrons or internal library staff utilizing the online ticketing system (LibAnswers).
• Communicates regularly to manager regarding problem reporting and resolution as well as with library content vendors, aggregators, consortia, discovery services, and internal library staff for the prompt resolution of access issues.
• Reviews updates to Alma Knowledge Base (Community Zone), checking for deleted and updated collections, and, with guidance from supervisor, making recommended updates to Alma holdings, links, and indexing where appropriate to prevent loss of patron access to licensed content.

Qualifications:

• Understanding of library content and workflow vendors for a variety of online and print resources, including streaming film, e-books, journals and journal packages, and databases.
• Ability to collaborate with colleagues in technical and public services areas as necessary for the resolution of issues of collection access.
• Experience communicating with vendors and understanding appropriate follow-up timelines as well as ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Experience with problem solving and ambiguity as well as collaboration with colleagues in service of issue resolution.
• Familiarity with building and running reports in Ex Libris Alma Analytics module as well as requesting and interpreting vendor-generated usage and inventory reporting.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Excel/Google sheets and spreadsheet management, including but not limited to creation of pivot tables and other intermediate Excel/Google Sheets skills.
• Skill in collecting, preparing and presenting data.

This is an IN PERSON position. Please submit both a cover letter and resume

Hiring Range: $24.12/hr to $30.14/hr. Pay rate commensurate with relevant experience.