Learning Commons Library Assistant

Loyola University New Orleans; New Orleans, Northern (LA, KY); Hybrid; USD 32,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

Loyola University New Orleans is seeking an experienced Learning Commons and Interlibrary Loan Assistant to support students, faculty, and staff. The role handles circulation, ILL requests, and daily library operations with supervision from the Learning Commons Director.

You will train student employees, manage interlibrary loan activities nationwide, and ensure timely handling of overdue items while maintaining accurate records and excellent service.

Qualifications

• College degree or two years of college and two years library work experience.
• Excellent customer service and communication skills.
• Ability to work in an active learning environment and handle multiple tasks.
• Strong interpersonal and writing skills.
• Flexibility to adjust schedules and respond to changing needs.
• Team-based mindset with high accuracy in detailed work.
• Proficiency with common computer applications (word processing, scanning, printing, spreadsheets).
• Ability to interact effectively with faculty, staff, students and others, both in person and online.

Responsibilities

• Assist patrons with checking out items, locating materials, answering inquiries, providing directional assistance, and resolving patron concerns.
• Update patron records and collect fines and fees for overdue items.
• Sort, shelve, and organize materials per Library of Congress classifications.
• Train and supervise student employees in Learning Commons operations.
• Manage Interlibrary Loan requests via iLLiad and communicate with lenders.
• Prepare outgoing ILL shipments and process incoming materials for pickup.
• Troubleshoot iLLiad issues and stay updated on system changes.
• Complete daily building walkthroughs and monitor library facilities and security.

Skills

Customer service

Multitasking

Interpersonal skills

Writing skills

Problem solving

Teamwork

Independent work

Computer skills

Troubleshooting

Education

College degree

Two years library experience

Tools

Google Suite

Zoom

Microsoft 365

Job description

The Monroe Library Learning Commons (LC) is a dynamic space where students, faculty, and staff come together to study, learn, create, and collaborate. The Learning Commons and Interlibrary Loan Assistant provides excellent customer service, assists patrons with the borrowing and returning of library materials, and helps maintain organization within the library’s collections. The position collaborates with the entirety of the Monroe Library faculty and staff. This role is also responsible for managing the library facilities during the evening, and collaborates with the Learning Commons director to train, supervise, and mentor student employees. Additionally, this position is responsible for Interlibrary loan activities, facilitating the borrowing and lending of materials between libraries nationwide, communicating with patrons on overdue items, fines, and account inquiries, and preparing outgoing materials for shipment/processing incoming items. The day-time LC assistant is also responsible for maintaining reserve books in the library, putting them up and taking them down every semester with direction from the professor teaching the course.

Learning Commons and Interlibrary Loan Assistant position is a full-time non-exempt staff position. The work schedule varies depending on the university’s academic calendar, library hours, and LC desk coverage.

Learning Commons Duties and Responsibilities

• Assist library patrons with utilizing library resources, including but not limited to checking out items, locating materials, answering inquiries, providing directional assistance, and resolving patron concerns
• Update patron records, when necessary
• Collect fines and fees for overdue, lost, or damaged items
• Sort, shelve, and organize library materials according to the Library of Congress classification system
• Work with the Learning Commons Director to locate missing materials and read the stacks to find mishelved items in the library collection, and when necessary, direct users to utilize our Interlibrary loan program.
• Provide excellent customer service to library users over the phone, via email, and in-person and seamlessly hands offs patrons to other library faculty and staff, when necessary.
• Operate and troubleshoot library equipment such as computers, scanners, printers, and copy machines.
• Handle complex situations with tact, discretion, and equity; exercise good judgment in all interactions following library policies and procedures
• Maintain current knowledge about the University
• Possesses the skills necessary to assist users with finding and applying information to support teaching and learning.
• Manage multiple email accounts
• Become proficient in all Google applications, Zoom, and Microsoft 365
• Manage Library Facilities:
• Maintain building occupancy accounts and other statistics/reports for Learning Commons services
• Maintain security of library equipment and inventory
• Perform daily walkthroughs of study and learning spaces.
• Oversee the library furniture to create an organized setting for all library patrons
• Reports any issues to the Learning Commons Director
• Efficiently handle emergency situations, document and report problems to designated persons and University police as appropriate
• Train and mentor all student employees to function efficiently in all previously listed tasks and provide feedback to the Learning Commons Director for future adjustments.

Interlibrary Loan Duties and Responsibilities

• Receive, review, and process ILL requests from the Loyola community using iLLiad.
• Verify bibliographic information and locate requested items from other libraries nationwide to fulfill patron requests
• Communicate with borrowing and lending institutions to easily facilitate this process
• Assist patrons with submitting ILL requests and provide information on the arrival of requested materials
• Communicate due dates with users and help process renewals when items are close to being overdue
• Prepare and package outgoing ILL shipments and process incoming materials for patron pickup.
• Troubleshoot and resolve technical issues related to iLLiad and keep up to date with new updates to the system
• Train and supervise student workers on ILL policies, procedures, and the use of our ILL systems
• Maintain accurate records of all ILL paperwork and ensure timely communication with patrons and lending institutions
• Assist in the resolution of issues related to lost or damaged items, when necessary
• Monitor multiple departmental emails to ensure any and all communication is handled in an appropriate amount of time
• Assist patrons with account retrieval and general inquiries about Interlibrary loans

Additional Responsibilities

• Other duties as required with the changing nature of the workplace
• Participate in ongoing professional development activities

• College degree, or two years of college and two years of library work experience
• Excellent customer service skills
• Demonstrated ability to work in an active learning environment and handle multiple tasks
• Excellent interpersonal skills, communication and writing skills, and clear evidence of ability to interact effectively and cooperatively with faculty, staff, students and others, both in person and online.
• Demonstrated problem solving skills and motivated to learn new skills and concepts
• Flexibility to make temporary or permanent schedule changes to ensure optimal staffing of the service area.
• Strong commitment to team-based work and a high degree of accuracy in complex, detailed work.
• Ability to accomplish tasks and projects independently and in collaboration with others
• Skills and experience in the use of computer applications for word processing, scanning, printing, spreadsheets, etc.
• Knowledge of basic troubleshooting skills with computing, scanning, and printing

Additional Desirable Qualifications

• Experience working in an academic library service environment
• Library circulation experience
• Experience with the Library of Congress Classification call number organization
• Experience with Google Suite applications, Zoom, and Microsoft 365
• Skills and experience supervising, scheduling, and training
• Skills and experience in project planning, and implementations into a service environment

Physical Requirements

• Lift and carry equipment, supplies, and materials weighing up to 25lbs.
• Access upper library shelves with a step stool and bend to lower shelves
• Push a fully loaded, wheeled book cart (up to 100lbs.)
• Sustain long periods of standing and walking back and forth
• Bend, stoop, and reach equipment and materials