Job ID: 326905
Job Title: Library Assistant 3
Job Code: 4997
Location: Twin Cities
Empl Group: AFSCME Unit 7 – Technical
Full/Part Time: Full-Time
Regular/Temporary: Regular
Qualifications
Required Qualifications:
● Five (5) years of relevant library experience. College education can be substituted for experience on a year for year basis up to three (3) years.
● Experience providing library reference and research assistance.
● Demonstrated ability to work in a highly collaborative organizational environment.
● Strong commitment to providing excellent customer service.
● Effective verbal and written communication skills; comfortable with public speaking in front of workshop and class groups.
Preferred Qualifications:
● Experience with integrated library systems.
● Experience supporting accessibility to print and electronic information resources.
● Ability to lead, manage, and successfully complete multiple assignments.
● Strong skills with web and software applications, writing HTML content for Content Management Systems, and Google applications.
About the Job
Position Overview
This Library Assistant 3 position provides information and course reserves services in the Agricultural, Biological, and Environmental Sciences (ABES) department, and technical,design, and web support services for the St. Paul Campus Libraries (Magrath Library and Natural Resources Library). This position works closely with St. Paul operations staff and ABES liaisons to contribute to the overall goals of ABES and the Libraries, and has responsibility for staffing Magrath Library and other St. Paul service points.
Essential Functions
Course Reserves (15%)
● Coordinates all aspects of process to place requested print materials on Course Reserve throughout the St. Paul campus, including assisting faculty and teaching assistants by communicating options and outcomes.
● Accepts reserve requests. Provides support for processing materials to be placed on Course Reserve.
● Secures materials from appropriate libraries and recalls needed titles, works with faculty to add/modify courses.
● Creates and adjusts physical course reserves records and course pages in the Course Reserves Catalog.
● Participates in changes, as led by Course Reserves Coordinator, related to upcoming migration to a new reserve system, Leganto, and potential shifts in overall course material support needs.
● Discharges inactive reserve materials including personal copies.
● Creates temporary bibliographic records for non-library-owned items for Course Reserve.
● Orders replacement copies for lost Reserve items through GOBI.
Communications, Web Technology, Digital Media Technology, Design Expertise and Social Media Services Support (30%)
● Create, organize and maintain content on web pages, blogs, Wikis and social networking sites.
● Use specialized software and/or basic web markup to create/move library resources and exhibits both digitally and in library spaces.
● Updates for online descriptions of databases, maintenance of electronic journal lists, and other public-facing digital library content.
● Manages St. Paul digital media equipment, including regular maintenance as necessary.
● Acts as local expert resource for St. Paul digital media equipment, including orienting patrons and staff to equipment use.
● Provides training and one-on-one instructional support for digital media equipment.
● Works with the Libraries Media Outreach Librarian and Multimedia Consultant to coordinate consistent equipment service across the system.
● Serves as departmental expert for specific technologies or software by troubleshooting computer hardware and software problems, providing instruction and answering questions for departmental staff, and testing software.
● Assists users from diverse communities and cultures with library and ABES equipment and technology. Contacts vendors and UCard office to resolve service related issues.
Information and Access Services (30%)
● Staffs the service desks at Magrath Library and the Natural Resources Library to provide reference, information, and access services that require judgment and informed appraisal of the user’s needs, based on thorough working knowledge of relevant library policies, procedures, tools, and facilities. Continuously develops skills related to subject and new collections, materials, and e-resources.
● Serves as front-line staff for digital information services, answering questions in the campus-wide chat, email queues, and making referrals as appropriate.
● Assists users from a variety of cultures and communities in use of online and print materials.
● Promotes best practices and high standards for customer service.
● Helps other library units with user support needs and related training as assigned.
● Coordinates public workstation and instructional workstation access, resolves issues in coordination with the Office of Information Technology and University Libraries Technology Support Services.
Research and Learning Program and General Department Support (25%)
● Teaches and provides support for workshops, (e.g., Introduction to Library Research, Introduction to Citation Managers)
● Supports Libraries-wide and departmental initiatives (e.g., HathiTrust, Systematic Reviews Service)
● Assists library staff and liaisons in data gathering, trend analysis, research, and collaborations.
● Maintains awareness of and promotes evolving suite of specialized researcher support tools, policies, trends, and resources at service points, including citation managers, data management services, and systematic review services.
● Assists with planning, preparation, and logistical support for outreach events and exhibits. Provides orientation and tours as assigned.
● Keeps current with technological and software advances within University Libraries and applies this knowledge to support library functions/activities.
● Coordinates the collection, analysis, and reporting of system-wide library statistics. Creates informational charts and prepares reports; shares with appropriate library departments and staff.
● Serves on Libraries-wide groups and committees as assigned.
The Employer retains the right to change or assign other duties to this position.
About the Department
Department Overview
The Agricultural, Biological, and Environmental Sciences Department, as part of the University Libraries Research and Learning Division, plays a critical role in supporting the University’s research, teaching, and learning through stewardship of and access to content; support of instructional, informational and research services; and engagement/outreach within the University community and to the public. The department is composed of three service points on the St. Paul Campus: Magrath Library, the Natural Resources Library, and (in partnership with the Health Sciences Libraries) the Veterinary Medical Library. The mission of ABES is to provide efficient, effective, and innovative access to and delivery of information and materials to users in pursuit of knowledge, educational goals, research, teaching, and scholarship. Each service point contributes to the overall mission and goals of the University Libraries by serving the user in the best way possible.
Original posting / application information: Visit the U of M Careers page and search for job ID #326905