Public Services Library Assistant

• While this position does oversee evening/weekend student workers to ensure completion of tasks, it has no supervisor authority.
• Customer Service:
  • Acts as a library ambassador during evening and weekend hours, offering information about library services to guests, prospective students, and the public. Ensures students, faculty, staff and the public are afforded excellent customer service in person, via email or on the phone
  • Assists patrons in using the library, locating materials, and overseeing the accurate circulation of library materials
  • Assists patrons in locating information for research needs by teaching the use of library specific tools (e.g., Google Scholar, library catalog and web page, Library of Congress Classification system, and other bibliographic tools)
  • Facilitates and supervises patron access to the rare library materials in Special Collections
  • Instructs patrons in the operation of public computers, copiers, printers, scanners, microfilm reader, and AV equipment, including assisting patrons with technology questions regarding software and printing processes
• Supervision:
  • Supervises on-duty student workers and oversee their performance and projects. Carries out mentorship approach of supervision with the mission of preparing student employees for post-graduation employment by modelling and coaching professional conduct and customer service
  • Supports the Scholes Public Services Coordinator in training of evening/weekend college work-study students
  • Supports the Scholes Public Services Coordinator to ensure adequate service desk scheduling and staffing. May work additional evening/weekend hours to cover absences or during periods of extended hours, such as finals week. Acts as back-up closer in the absence of the evening/weekend student closers
• Public Services:
  • Helps maintain the aesthetics and proper functioning of the library public spaces and equipment and reports problems to the Director of Libraries, Public Services Coordinator, ITS or custodian as appropriate
  • Responds to immediate building or security issues by calling Public Safety or the facilities after hours number
  • Assists Scholes Public Services Coordinator in circulation management tasks such as tracking overdue notices, searching for missing and lost items and retrieving request materials and processing for pick up
  • Supports the Scholes Public Services Coordinator through projects such as Reserve processing, creating displays and acting as library representative during evening/weekend programming in the libraries
  • Actively contributes to and supports a unified Scholes and Herrick Library Public Services Team by keeping up to date with policy, service, and workflow changes and identifying making recommendations for innovation to the Public Services Librarian
  • Assists in collection, recording, and tracking of library use statistics

• Supports and assists in creating an evolving culture of mentoring and rich engagement opportunities for faculty, staff, and students
• Maintains a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion and a high degree of cultural competence and respect for a wide range of identities and experiences, therefore welcoming and supporting all faculty, staff, and students and expanding access to the AU experience
• Participates in all required assigned training, including safety training and will comply with safety rules, regulations, and protocols
• Effective written and oral communication skills
• Contributes to the overall success of the University by performing other duties as assigned

• Associate's degree or college experience is required. A combination of education and relevant customer service experience may be substituted in lieu of education requirement
• A minimum of 1 year of customer service experience is required. Previous experience working in an academic or library environment and/or previous supervisory experience is highly desirable. Experience or ability to perform college-level research is highly preferred
• Additional Knowledge/Skills:
  • Flexibility and problem-solving skills are essential
  • Poise in dealing with the public, including the ability to exercise independent judgment, and a strong service orientation with an emphasis on providing excellent customer service
  • Because libraries are technical environments, proficiency with computers, including Microsoft Outlook, Word, and Excel, familiarity with Internet searching and knowledge of office machines such as printers, copiers and scanners is required
  • Ability to learn new software and tools
  • Attention to detail and good oral and written communication skills are necessary
  • Ability to collect statistical data and keep records accurately. Ability to work on a team in collaboration with colleagues
  • Ability and interest in working within a diverse, open and inclusive environment
  • Ability and interest in supervising and working with college students
  • Ability to manage multiple ongoing projects and work with interruptions
  • Support Alfred University Libraries' values of free and open pursuit of knowledge and the Libraries' commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Anti-Racism

Alfred University actively subscribes to a policy of equal employment opportunity, and will not discriminate against any employee, student or applicant because of race, age, sex, color, sexual orientation, gender identification or expression, physical or mental disability, religion, ancestry or national origin, marital status, genetic information, military or veteran status, domestic violence victim status, criminal conviction status, political affiliation or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.