Senior Library Specialist-Access Services -Circulation-Rockefeller-Sciences-Orwig

Socket.dev; Rhode Island; Hybrid; USD 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

Brown University is seeking a Senior Library Specialist-Access Services for Rockefeller, Sciences, and Orwig libraries. The role supports Circulation at multiple service points, helps users locate and use resources, and promotes self-sufficiency in information seeking.

Responsibilities include assisting with course reserves, resource sharing, and managing standard library transactions. Evening/weekend shifts are required; union staff position with internal posting.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.
• Public service experience in an academic library preferred.
• Computer skills with standard software.
• Ability to learn new technologies and systems.
• Strong interpersonal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work evenings and weekends.
• Knowledge of foreign languages desirable.
• Attention to detail and accuracy.

Responsibilities

• Provide customer service and assistance to library users.
• Guide users in locating resources and using library services.
• Assist with research software and e-book tools.
• Support course reserves and resource sharing workflows.
• Process materials and manage holds, loans, and fines.
• Trains and supports student assistants and co-workers.

Skills

Customer service

Communication

Problem solving

Technology literacy

Typing speed

Teamwork

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience

Job description

Job Description

This position performs skilled tasks in Access Services-Circulation in support of the Library's mission. Provides Circulation services at multiple service points (Rockefeller, Science & Orwig libraries). Provides library users with timely assistance and customer service, and promotes self- sufficiency in locating and using library and information resources, equipment and services onsite or online. Provides library users with timely retrieval of library materials upon request and within preferred time frame. Performs functions related to the operation and maintenance of course reserve systems.

Hours of work during the Academic year

Tuesday through Saturday

Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday: 2:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Friday & Saturday, 2:15 p.m. to 5:15 p.m.

Hours of work during the summer

Tuesday through Saturday:

Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday 1:45: p.m. to 9:15 p.m.

Friday & Saturday 9:45 a.m. to 5:15 p.m.

This is a full-time position working as a member of the Library's bargaining union staff.

Typical Duties and Responsibilities

• Provides customer service and assistance to users in support of library services
• Provides instruction and guidance on how to use the library, access its re-sources, and develop information seeking skills
• Provides assistance to increase self-sufficiency
• Assists users with research software and related tools (e.g., bibliographic citation management software and e-book reading software)
• Provides general library tours consistent with the Library's tour outline Interprets library policies and procedures
• Assists users in locating alternative information resources and services Answers directional, navigational, informational, and how-to queries Facilitates referral of in-depth questions to specialists as appropriate
• Responds to and interacts with online users referring to specialists as appropriate Assists users in locating, retrieving, borrowing, and copying library-owned information resources
• Routes, lends, pages, searches, receives, charges, discharges, holds, scans, downloads, and copies library materials
• Creates and edits patron, course reserve, bibliographic (e.g., minimal level "on the fly") records; creates and edits item records for storage.
• Collects fines and fees, adjusts patron accounts, issues library privileges, and assigns carrels/lockers
• Assists onsite users with the Library's public equipment; does basic troubleshooting, arranges for repair, and refers to specialist as appropriate. Checks and performs basic maintenance on the Library's public equipment (e.g., fills paper trays, adds toner, clears paper jams, stocks needed supplies)
• Assists onsite users with other equipment within the library, including CIS-owned, Graphic Services-owned and BrownCard-owned equipment in the absence of non-library staff; does basic troubleshooting, refers to specialist as appropriate and checks and performs basic maintenance on such equipment
• Utilizes resource sharing systems including consortia! and reciprocal agreements to borrow and lend library materials
• Receives and processes requests for material, as for example, course reserves or resource sharing
• Physically prepares material for reserves and resource sharing, and for return to stacks
• Identifies, selects and creates physical or electronic copies of source material requested for course reserves or resource sharing
• Creates links for electronic reserves
• Assists with compliance with resource sharing policies within Library guidelines Assists supervisors with generating and/or reviewing reports
• Maintains hold shelf, Reference collection and Course Reserves Opens and closes buildings in the absence of other security personnel
• Assumes additional responsibility on evenings, weekends and holidays for collections and buildings in the absence of other library personnel
• Trains and provides assistance to co-workers
• Trains, schedules their work, directs, and assists with payroll for student assistants
• Performs related duties as required

Supervisor

Rockefeller Circulation Manager

Works independently under general direction; makes independent judgments and decisions within scope of library policies and procedures

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience

Previous public service experience in an academic library preferred

Computer skills, ability to use standard computer software packages

Capacity to learn new technologies and systems necessary for continually effective job performance

Ability to interact favorably with library users and co-workers

Oral and written communication skills Problem solving skills

Ability to unpack, shelve, and move library materials

Eyesight which permits close work

Ability to perform detailed work accurately with reasonable speed

Knowledge of one or more foreign languages desirable Keyboarding skill of 30 WPM

Successful completion of a test may be required

Will be required to work evenings and/or weekends

Library Union position which must be posted internally for 5 work days prior to posting for external candidate

All offers of employment are contingent upon a criminal background check and education verification satisfactory to Brown.

Benefits of Working at Brown

Please review additional information on the Benefits of Working at Brown.

Recruiting Start Date

2026-07-21

Job Posting Title

Senior Library Specialist-Access Services -Circulation-Rockefeller-Sciences-Orwig

Department

University Library

Grade

Library Grades

Worker Type

Employee

Worker Sub-Type

Regular

Time Type

Full time

Scheduled Weekly Hours

37.5

Position Work Location

Hybrid