University Library Technician -

Western Carolina University; Cullowhee (NC); On-site; USD 37,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Health insurance

Tuition waivers

Paid holidays & leave

Job summary

Western Carolina University is seeking an on-site University Library Technician to support Special Collections in Cullowhee, NC. The role focuses on reference service, processing manuscript collections, and maintaining access to rare materials.

Responsibilities include answering inquiries, preparing finding aids in ArchivesSpace, organizing materials, and ensuring secure handling of items while collaborating with cataloging and other units.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent is required plus two years of experience in library services, office support, or related field.
• Ability to provide responsive reference assistance to researchers and patrons.
• Working knowledge of library systems, online catalogs, databases, digitization standards, and common office technologies.

Responsibilities

• Provide independent reference service to patrons for rare materials in Special Collections.
• Process manuscript collections, create inventories, and enter finding aids into ArchivesSpace.
• Ensure security and proper handling of holdings in Closed Stacks and Reading Room.
• Maintain precise arrangement of holdings and support other unit functions as needed.

Skills

Customer Service & Communication

Technical & Digital Resource Pro

Attention to Detail

Organization & Adaptability

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

Library systems

Online catalogs

Databases

Job description

Western Carolina University continues to rank high on Forbes ‘Best Employers’ lists each year. Including:

• 2025 – Ranked 1st in the top 100 employers in North Carolina in Forbes ‘America’s Best Employers by State’ list.


• 2024 – Ranking in the top 8.5% on Forbes ‘America’s Best Midsize Employers’ list, WCU was ranked 34 out of the top 400 employers across all industries.


• 2023 – Ranked in the top 20% on Forbes ‘America’s Best Midsize Employers’ list, WCU was ranked 97 out of the top 500 employers across all industries.


• 2022 – Ranked 14th in the top 100 employers in North Carolina in Forbes ‘America’s Best Employers by State’ list.

Western Carolina University is the UNC system’s westernmost campus and has been consistently ranked as one of the top 15 public regional institutions in the South.

Employees of WCU are provided a comprehensive benefits package as well as other resources, policies and programs to ensure a happy and healthy work/life balance. Benefit eligible employees have access to dental, vision and health insurance plans – eligibility begins on the first of the month following date of hire. Retirement plan contributions begin on the eligibility date following election and include employer contributions for either a defined contribution or a defined benefit plan. Optional disability plans are also available.

Eligible employees have access to tuition waivers for up to three courses per academic year; employee may enroll at any of the constituent UNC System campuses. Also offered are free group exercise classes multiple times per week, a discounted membership to the campus recreation center, free vaccine and booster shots offered on campus, pretax flexible spending accounts, 12 paid holidays and 24 hours of paid community service leave each year. Leave earning employees (staff and 12-month faculty) who work at least half of the working days of their first month of employment will begin accruing vacation and sick leave immediately. Paid parental leave after 12 months of continuous service.

WCU offers an abundance of training and development programs, certifications, workshops and conferences – many of which are offered free of charge.

Position Summary

The primary location of this position is on-site in Cullowhee, NC. This position is subject to the State of North Carolina Human Resources Act (SHRA).

The University Library Technician provides services which are part of the overall mission of Special Collections to acquire, arrange and describe, and provide access to its unique or rare research materials, consisting of manuscripts collections, photographic collections, books, ephemera, etc.

Primary duties include:

• Provide independent, analytical reference service to patrons with differing research skills (students, faculty staff, community, and professional researchers) to the unique and rare holdings of manuscript collections, photographs, books, and ephemera to in-house individual researchers or to groups, through telephone inquiries and by email. Direct researchers to relevant materials found in the Southern Appalachian Digital Collections. Retrieve relevant research materials from the unit’s Closed Stacks area. Maintain usage statistics for filled reference requests. Provide effective and timely assistance to patron requests for high-resolution images for projects, exhibits, or publications. Serve as initial point of contact for Special Collections’ unit email.


• Process manuscript collections acquired by Special Collections. Arrange materials in a logical and systematic format for reference access. Conduct research to provide context to the collection and its contents, preparing descriptive reports and concise inventories for electronic finding aids. Conduct audit of a collection’s contents and components, selecting materials for inclusion in the collection and creating a succinct description of individual items and groups of items. Create inventories based upon critical analysis of discrete items within collections, determining descriptive terminology that accurately conveys the singular and collective contents of the manuscript collection. Enter finding aids into ArchivesSpace in collaboration with Cataloging Department. Identify materials in collections that are fragile, damaged, or in danger of deterioration; determine appropriate preservation strategies; and perform preservation. Collaborate with other library units to add finding aids to the library catalog and ArchivesSpace.


• Provide security for the unit’s unique and rare holdings in the unit’s Closed Stacks area and in its public Reading Room by ensuring that patron use of holdings is in accordance with the unit’s regulations.


• Maintain precise arrangement of the unit’s physical holdings, especially individual manuscripts, to expedite retrieval at the request of future researchers.


• Must be dependable in attendance, in maintaining office hours and routines, and in carrying out assigned tasks consistently.


• Other duties as assigned.

Must be eligible to work in the United States without sponsorship.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities Required for this Position

• Customer Service & Communication: Ability to provide responsive reference assistance, explain procedures and resources, and communicate effectively with researchers, library users, staff, and external partners.


• Technical & Digital Resource Proficiency: Working knowledge of library systems, online catalogs, databases, digitization standards, and common office technologies, with the ability to learn new software and tools as needed.


• Attention to Detail & Quality Assurance: Ability to follow verbal and written instructions, maintain accurate records, and ensure adherence to established standards, procedures, and naming conventions.


• Organization & Adaptability: Ability to manage multiple priorities, adjust to changing workload demands, and effectively balance reference, processing, and other operational responsibilities.

Minimum Qualifications

Some state job postings say you can qualify by an ‘equivalent combination of education and experience.’ If that language appears below, then you may qualify through EITHER years of education OR years of directly related experience, OR a combination of both.

High school diploma or equivalency and two years of experience in library services, office support, or related field; or equivalent combination of training and experience.

Anticipated Hiring Range

Anticipated Hiring Range $41,200

Position Type

Position Type Permanent Full-Time

Number of Hours per Week

Number of Hours per Week 40

Number of Months per Year

Number of Months per Year 12

Salary Band Range

Salary Band Range $33,540 - $65,378

Salary Grade

Salary Grade For administrative purposes during the implementation of Career Banding this Journey level position is considered a Salary Grade 61

Background/E-Verify

Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks.

Western Carolina University uses E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify. Proper documentation of identity and employability are required at the time of employment.

All new employees are required to have listed credentials/degrees verified within 30 days of employment. All new employees who will be teaching are required to provide official transcripts within 30 days of employment. Transcripts should be provided for the highest earned degree and/or the degree which is being used to satisfy credential/qualification requirements.

EOE

Western Carolina University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race; color; ethnicity; religion; sex; pregnancy; sexual orientation; gender identity or expression; national origin; age; disability; genetic information; political affiliation; National Guard or veteran status, consistent with applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations, and policies, and the policies of The University of North Carolina. Persons with disabilities requiring accommodations in the application and interview process please call [phone] or email at [e-mail].

University Safety

The Western Carolina University Annual Safety Report is available online at University Annual Safety Report or in hard-copy by request at the office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, 227 HFR Administration Building, Cullowhee, NC 28723 (828-227-7147) or the Office of University Police, 111 Camp Annex, Cullowhee, NC 28723 (828-227-7301). The report, required of all universities participating in Title IV student financial aid programs, discusses crime statistics, procedures for reporting suspicious or criminal activity, security, police authority, crime prevention strategies, university policies on substance abuse and sexual offenses, workplace violence and fire safety.

Required Documents

• Cover Letter/Letter of Application


• Resume


• List of references

Optional Documents

• DD-214


• NGB 23A (RPAS)


• DD256 or NGB22

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

• * How did you hear about this employment opportunity?
  
  
  
  • HigherEdJobs.com
  
  
  • Inside Higher Ed
  
  
  • HERC - Higher Education Recruitment Consortium
  
  
  • Website - Jobs.wcu.edu
  
  
  • Indeed.com
  
  
  • Personal Referral
  
  
  • Agency Referral
  
  
  • Other