Job Title: Library Specialist III
District/Division: University Libraries
Department: Operations and User Services
Classification: C3
Updated: January 2019

Job Summary

This position is a part of the Operations and User Services department in the Mary Idema Pew Library Learning and Information Commons, a busy five story facility with a capacity of up to 1500 patrons. This department is responsible for building safety, library operations, and user services across three library locations. In the Mary Idema Pew Library, this area consists of a “front of the house” User Experience Team (UX) and a “back of the house” Access and Delivery Team (A&D). The UX team provides leadership in our user-centered service desk environment, provides event support, and participates in a variety of projects aimed at better understanding and improving user experience. The A&D team is responsible for internal mailroom, stacks maintenance, course reserves, interlibrary loan, and automated storage and retrieval system operational processes.

Reporting to the User Experience Librarian, this is a UX position in which primary responsibilities include working in our user-centered desk environment, event coordination, assisting with emergency and evacuation procedures, and implementing user experience initiatives. This position will be cross-trained and required to occasionally work at other University Libraries locations. This is a designated essential staff position in support of library operations; flexibility to work varied shifts, occasionally closing, and significant functional independence is required.

Essential Functions

User Experience:

• Works regular shifts at the single service point, overseeing all activity, including the frontline services provided by student employees. This requires active engagement with student employees to identify teachable moments, provide coaching and feedback, and to gain perspective on what students are seeing around the building.
• Delivers exemplary customer service, in person and virtually, by maintaining satisfactory levels of competency in a number of diverse and complex areas associated with our single service point.
• Provides reference assistance requiring significant knowledge of the library services, holdings, website, and online databases.
• Provides basic instruction and troubleshooting for building technology.
• Communicates with event organizers to coordinate and facilitate their use of the building.
• Works with Facilities Services to coordinate scheduling and event set-up for multiple events per week.
• Communicates and documents event information for service desk staff.
• Provides operational support for events and programs in the facility.
• Assists with training initiatives for the UX students.
• Participates in the implementation of various UX initiatives aimed at understanding and improving user experience.
• Maintains awareness of all library services to help with referral and promotion.
• Roams the library to collect data, answer questions, and help with facilities and security-related issues.
• Demonstrates knowledge of design features and building facts and leads building tours.
• Assists with projects as assigned.

Access and Delivery:

• Identifies problems with and assists in troubleshooting of the library’s Automated Storage Retrieval System (ASRS), including contacting Operations and User Services Management or the vendor when necessary.
• Creates brief bibliographic records for circulating technology.

Building Safety and Operations:

• Responsible for the security and safety of all library users, resources, collections and equipment, and for ensuring that the library environment is conductive to learning.
• May occasionally oversee secure closure of the library.
• Assists with emergency procedures and communicates with emergency personnel as needed.
• Identifies and reports problems with the facilities (i.e. burned-out light bulbs, water leaks, etc.) and helps reduce energy use in the building (shut off unneeded lights, etc.).

Non-Essential Functions

Not Applicable

Required Qualifications

• High school graduate or equivalent.
• Minimum of three years of relevant work experience.
• Experience with various computer software applications such as Microsoft Office and/or equivalent.
• Data entry experience.
• Typing and spelling competency with grammar and proofreading skills.
• Possess strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated experience to successfully provide quality customer service.
• Demonstrated experience to successfully work independently, organize own work and coordinate work activities of others.
• Demonstrated experience to successfully coordinate large projects.
• Demonstrated experience to successfully handle multiple demands efficiently.
• Demonstrated experience to successfully organize and prioritize workload.
• Demonstrated experience to successfully navigate challenging situations in the workplace, while using good judgement.
• Demonstrated experience to successfully work under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Demonstrated experience to successfully maintain satisfactory work performance and attendance records.
• Ability to successfully maintain positive intercultural and interpersonal relationships.

Preferred Qualifications

• Significant college coursework.

Supervision Received

Receives minimal supervision from a designated supervisor. Much of the work is self-initiated. Person is expected to function with considerable independence and apply appropriate policies and procedures within the assigned area of responsibility.

Supervision Exercised

Hire, train, schedule and coordinate the work of student employees and may act as lead worker to PSS staff members within the department/unit/division. 

Physical Demands

• To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. Must have the physical stamina to work long hours and/or more than 5 days per week. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• The information contained in this job description is for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (A.D.A) and is not an exhaustive list of the duties performed for this position. Additional duties are performed by the individuals currently holding this position and additional duties may be assigned.

Back to C3 Position Descriptions