Lead Applications Administrator — ILS & Discovery

Alsip-Merrionette Park Public Library District; Naperville (IL); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Vacation accrual 3 weeks yearly

7 holidays yearly

12 days sick leave

Parental leave 12 weeks

Job summary

Naperville Public Library is seeking an Applications Administrator to manage the Sierra ILS and related components, oversee configurations, schedule updates, and integrate software solutions to improve automation and workflows, while supporting reporting and usability enhancements.

The role involves collaborating with stakeholders to optimize discovery and access, testing upgrades, and serving as liaison with vendors to ensure timely resolutions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in computer science or related field preferred.
• Minimum 2 years’ experience creating queries, preferably with Create List and SQL.
• Minimum 3 years’ experience managing or coordinating an Integrated Library Management Solution or other enterprise‑based digital ecosystem.
• Minimum 3 years' experience with Machine Readable Cataloging (MARC) Standards.

Responsibilities

• Serves as the administrator and lead for the Libraries Sierra/Integrated Libraries System (ILS) including administration, data backup and retention, maintenance, and monitoring of the application database.
• Coordinate patching, upgrading, testing, and troubleshooting with vendor.
• Develop and communicate upgrade schedule based on vendors upgrade roadmap.
• Leads regularly scheduled end-user meetings that provide updates on enhancements, changes, ongoing issues and optimal workflow related practices.
• Set and update system configurations to increase efficiency.
• Review and test system upgrades through best practice change management.
• Coordinate, manage incoming datafeeds, including but not limited to patron data.
• Troubleshoot problems with the ILS suite of solutions and acts as a liaison between vendors and Library staff to report problems and ensure timely resolutions.
• Consult with key stakeholders to identify potential workflows and enhancements that allow for increased user experience.
• Provide instructions for creating custom reports and consultation for improving workflows.
• Acts as the Libraries representative to various local and national user groups.
• Act as the ILS liaison with committees and task forces both internally and externally.
• Develop expertise in emerging technologies and changing modes of search and discovery. Researches, identifies and makes recommendations for issues regarding process improvement, system support, upgrades, implementation and interfaces, systems integrity and related technological advancements.
• Lead the development of strategies to improve the discovery of Libraries collections by designing, developing, and implementing solutions that integrate existing tools with new technologies and approaches.
• Gather and report statistics and data from the system to inform decision‑making related to Libraries services.
• Support and participate in usability testing of search, discovery and user interface.
• Upholds the highest standards of customer service with polite, helpful, and efficient interactions with vendors, customers, and staff.
• Participate in the development of policies and procedures as needed to ensure the efficient operation and management of ILS environment.
• Consult across the Libraries with regard to system capabilities and functionality, forwarding requests for system modifications and/or enhancements to the vendor as appropriate.
• Provides a responsive experience for internal business partners while also managing realistic expectations.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Skills

SQL queries

ILS administration

MARC standards

Project management

Customer service

Microsoft Office/Outlook

Communication

Troubleshooting

Education

Bachelor's degree in computer science

3+ years experience with ILS/enterprise digital ecosystem

3+ years experience with MARC standards

Tools

SQL

Job description

Naperville Public Library is seeking an Applications Administrator to manage the Sierra ILS and related components, oversee configurations, schedule updates, and integrate software solutions to improve automation and workflows, while supporting reporting and usability enhancements.

The role involves collaborating with stakeholders to optimize discovery and access, testing upgrades, and serving as liaison with vendors to ensure timely resolutions.