User Services Specialist

University of South Carolina; Columbia (SC); On-site; USD 23,419 - 31,684; Full time

Job summary

University of South Carolina’s South Caroliniana Library seeks a User Services Specialist to provide reference assistance and materials access both remotely and on-site. This role supports digitization efforts and coordinates reading room activities, ensuring proper handling of special collections materials and efficient service to researchers.

The position requires a bachelor’s degree or equivalent library/research experience, with preferred familiarity in public services within special

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience working in a library or conducting academic research.
• Experience in public services in a special collections library and/or library reference services preferred.
• Knowledge of South Carolina history.

Responsibilities

• Provide reference services at the User Services Desk and help ensure security of materials.
• Assist with digitization and reprographics using scanners and related equipment; support digitization projects.
• Use Springshare LibAnswers ticket system to provide reference responses and coordinate with librarians as needed.
• Handle materials in Alma, stage for reading room use, and support reading room operations.
• Assist with stacks management, retrieval, reshelving, and handling materials to/from offsite storage.

Skills

Reference services

Public service

Research skills

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Alma/Primo

ArchivesSpace

CONTENTdm

Job description

Position

User Services Specialist

Salary

$20.00/Hr.

Hours

37.5 hours per week (Full Time)

Location

Columbia – University Libraries – LIBR South Caroliniana Library

Work Schedule

• Monday – Friday 8:30am – 5:00pm
• Must be willing to work a flexible schedule to meet the needs of the department.

Advertised Job Summary

Under the limited supervision of the User Services Manager (SCL), the User Services Specialist provides reference assistance and materials access both remotely and on-site to patrons of the South Caroliniana Library, a unique special collections library and archive. The User Services Specialist is primarily responsible for supporting user-focused public services by answering complex reference inquiries to help patrons discover and access collection materials using research skills, accumulated knowledge of the collection, and resources such as the library catalog (Alma/Primo), finding aids (ArchivesSpace), and digital collections (CONTENTdm); helping manage and perform digitization of library materials primarily in fulfillment of scan‑and‑deliver reproduction orders from patrons; helping coordinate researcher appointments, staffing, and operation of the reading room; helping ensure visitors follow procedures for the reading room and the proper handling of special collections materials; helping manage the orderly flow of materials through the reading room and reproduction areas; and performing other duties as assigned.

Job Duties

• South Caroliniana Library User Services Desk: ensures requested materials are provided to researchers, maintains security of the materials, supervises patron compliance with building use and materials handling policies, maintains circulation log, answers inquiries from the public in person and by telephone, and helps maintain the user services calendar for staffing and researcher appointments.
• South Caroliniana Library reprographics: helps ensure accurate and timely fulfillment of reference queries requiring digital surrogates by assisting the User Services Manager and student workers with scanning and reprographic requests using a Zeta overhead scanner, Epson flatbed scanner, and other equipment; supports additional digitization projects.
• South Caroliniana Library Ticket System: using the Springshare LibAnswers ticket system, provide reference services for patron inquiries and assist other employees with their responses, consulting with other librarians as needed, ensuring a timely and orderly response to reference queries; request materials for researcher visits and reproductions using Alma and other procedures.
• Materials management: help to ensure that all materials are scanned to the correct status in Alma, stage materials for reading room use in advance of patron appointments, return materials to stacks manager for reshelving, assist with stacks management when needed especially through retrieval, reshelving, and receiving and sending materials to and from offsite storage.
• Other duties as assigned or needed for the smooth operation of South Caroliniana Library.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience working in a library or conducting academic research.

Preferred Qualifications

• One or more years of applicable experience; previous experience working in public services in a special collections library, and/or in library reference services or academic research; knowledge of the daily operations of special collections repositories; knowledge of South Carolina history.

EEO Statement

The University of South Carolina does not discriminate in educational or employment opportunities or decisions for qualified persons on the basis of age, ancestry, citizenship status, color, disability, ethnicity, familial status, gender (including transgender), gender identity or expression, genetic information, HIV/AIDs status, military status, national origin, pregnancy (false pregnancy, termination of pregnancy, childbirth, recovery therefrom or related medical conditions, breastfeeding), race, religion (including religious dress and grooming practices), sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other bases under federal, state, local law, or regulations.