Library Specialist for Access & Circulation, Evening at Barnard College Library

METRO | 599; New York (NY); On-site; USD 43,619 - 62,124; Full time

Job summary

An academic institution in New York seeks a Library Specialist for Access & Circulation, Evening. This role involves coordinating library services during evening hours, providing customer support, and overseeing student staff. Candidates should have a minimum of 3 years in public service, excellent technical troubleshooting skills, and a commitment to diversity. The position offers competitive pay at $38.38/hour for 35 hours a week, with shifts mainly from 2 PM to 10 PM, Sunday to Thursday.

Qualifications

• At least 3 years in public service, preferably in a library.
• Experience with integrated library systems and software.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate public services of the library during evening hours.
• Supervise student staff at the Circulation Desk.
• Troubleshoot library technology and equipment.

Skills

Customer service excellence

Technological troubleshooting

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Independence

Tools

FolioVoyager

Google Suite

Microsoft Suite

Job description

Library Specialist for Access & Circulation, Evening

The Library Specialist for Access and Circulation, Evening, coordinates the public services of the library connected to the collection through direct work with the collection, in support of the research and community life of the Barnard College communities. The purview of this position is frequently the first point of contact for people with the library during evening hours; using superb oral and written communication skills to close on the in-person and email inquiries from users; responsibilities include stacks maintenance; supervising student staff members; coordinating maintenance and troubleshooting of user-serving equipment on the collections floors; creating and maintaining outstanding customer service practice including basic reference and referrals at the circulation desk; proven ability to multitask multiple transactions at our service point; connecting with other service points including the Centers of the Milstein Teaching and Learning Center, ATLIS, AV, and the Archives; creating a welcoming environment for all users including students, alums, faculty, staff, and community partners; participating in Operations Team projects; collaboration on some projects with Library Specialist for Access Services, Day; and supporting Barnard College’s commitment to diversity, inclusion, and equity.

This position reports to the Associate Director of Access and Engagement and is part of the Library Operations Team at Barnard Library. All members of the Library Operations team cross-train and provide backup for other Operations Team positions; participate in ongoing learning; build Library relationships across Barnard and Columbia; raise the profile of the Library; and work toward equity and inclusion to contribute to a thriving work environment and a user-focused commitment to accessibility.

Position is 35 hours per week. During the academic year: 7-hour shift Su-Th that ends when the library services conclude; during summer and academic breaks: 7-hour shift M-F that ends when the library closes. Must be available for occasional days and Friday/Saturday coverage.

Job Description

Responsibilities

Access & Circulation Responsibilities

Services the Circulation & Help Desk, a central access point for Library services and collections, including, but not limited to these responsibilities:

• Executes best practices for all operations of the library service desk, including basic reference, referrals, and excellent service, including sharing information about policies and collections (including the main collection, reserves, media, and zines), resolving problems, and clearing blocks (includes accessing and protecting users’ confidential circulation records) at the desk and in the Library in person, by email, by phone, and on chat reference.
• Carrying out customer service practice with a focus on affirming students of historically marginalized identities; accessibility; and a welcoming environment for students, alums, staff, and faculty.

Troubleshooting and supporting spaces and equipment in connection with the collection throughout the library:

• When needed, working with BCIT and AV, to ensure maintenance and function of equipment throughout the library user space, including maintenance for printers, computers, scanners, adjustable-height desks, etc.
• When needed, reporting or placing tickets with Barnard Facilities and Custodial Services to ensure maintenance and repair of all building facilities related to the collection area when needed, including furniture, lighting, etc, should issues arise during the evening shift.

Supporting access to the collection, a core resource for research, teaching, and community building, including but not limited to:

• Coordinate daily circulation of the collection, including:charging and discharging items;maintaining book drop during peak times;reshelving;maintaining hold shelf;serving consortial borrowing and lending, including lending and receiving ReCAP, Borrow Direct, Interlibrary Loan (ILL), Rapid, Health Sciences Library (HSL)-Morningside, and returns of Barnard materials to Columbia Libraries and consortial partners;
• Collection maintenance, including shelf reading, inventory, stacks shifting, and reviewing condition
• Completing projects as assigned and working in collaboration with the Library Specialist for Access and Circulation, Day or independently as assigned.
• Supporting and troubleshooting computer connectivity and software issues independently during the evening shift.
• Effective, affirming and consistent, asynchronous communication with the Library Specialist for Access and Circulation, Day concerning necessary updates regarding our service point, Library space and correspondence. Also effective reporting to the Associate Director for Access and Engagement Librarian when issues arise that cannot be resolved with the resources and tools available during the evening shift. Keeping users, team members and supervisors in the loop.

Supervise student staff, a pathway to librarianship for students as well as a key relationship between Barnard students and the library:

• Manage student staff, including recruiting, hiring, training, scheduling (with attention to funding packages), holding feedback and coaching meetings, retention, project supervision across Operations and the Library, team building with student staff across the Library, building and evaluating learning objectives, and promotion/scaffolding responsibility.
• Create and maintain staffing schedules (coordinating schedules for staff and students) for the Circulation Desk, including back-up coverage.
• Approve and resolve student staff timesheets; coordinate with the Director of Collections Strategy and Library Operations to manage budget allocation for student staff, including preparing monthly report of confidential student staff funding packages.

Operations Team Responsibilities

• Practice excellence in customer service across the organization and with users. Internal and external customer service work includes: contributing to user-focused accessibility of the Barnard Library, and collaborating with the Associate Director of Access to consider the impact of daily work on and evolve practices to affirm staff and users of historically underserved identities.
• Contribute to Operations Team projects, including serving as backup for Library Operations Team workflows and training Library Operations Team members to prepare them to serve as backup for collection maintenance and digitization.
• Build and maintain positive connections with colleagues across Operations Team, Library, Barnard, and the Columbia University Libraries in order to support the work of the Operations Team.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

This job description is intended as a summary of the primary responsibilities of and qualifications for this position. The job description is not intended as inclusive of all duties an individual in this position might be asked to perform or of all qualifications that may be required either now or in the future.

Skills, Qualifications & Requirements

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Demonstrated excellence in customer service and multi-tasking in a fast-paced and vibrant environment.
• Demonstrated excellence in supporting use of and troubleshooting technologies.
• Evidence of strong communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
• Evidence of excellence in written and asynchronous communication with colleagues.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and to contribute to a team environment.
• Experience with service in an academic library and/or with undergraduate students, faculty, and staff.
• Demonstrated ability to plan, document, prioritize, complete, and communicate about projects.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and access in education and/or libraries.

Qualifications

• At least 3 years of work experience in an academic and public service environment with a focus on affirming people of historically marginalized identities required; prefer at least 1 year working in a library.
• Experience with software and programming including, not limited to: integrated library system (FolioVoyager currently used), Google Suite, Microsoft Suite, scanner software, media stations, macros, html/drupal, email.

Physical Demands

• Ability to lift items weighing as much as 25 lbs. Ability to carry, lift, and shelve books and equipment. Ability to push full book carts.
• Tolerance for possible exposure to dust and mold on books and shelves.
• Ability to perform office tasks such as sitting and/or standing, moving, computing, and answering telephone for moderate to prolonged periods of time combined with moderate reaching, bending, and lifting.

Shift

During the majority of the academic year, the position is Monday – Thursday from 2pm – 10pm and Sunday from 10am – 6pm. During intersession and summer, the shift switches to Monday – Friday from 10am – 6pm.

This is a Local 2110 Grade 10 position.

Pay Rate: $38.38/hour @ 35 hours/week

The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to departmental budgets, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, specialty, and training. The above hiring range represents the College’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.