Library Assistant

  • Knoxville, Tennessee, United States
  • Staff
  • Staff Full-Time

Title: Library Assistant

Number of Positions: 1

Position #: 600720

Pay Rate: $32,150 $38,150/per year. Pay will be determined based on related work experience above required. To be considered in determining pay, all related work experience must be listed on the application.

Classification: 3 – On campus

Type of Appointment: Full-Time

Department: Academic Testing

Required Documents Needed to Upload at Time of Application:

  • Resume 
  • Three professional references (See below)

Reference check requirements:

  • Non-supervisory roles: three (3) current or former supervisors
  • Personal references (friends, clergy, customers, relatives) are not considered acceptable references

Position Summary: The overall purpose of this job is to provide circulation, interlibrary loan, intercampus loan, billing, physical course reserves, and general reference services to all library patrons. This position uses the Alma integrated library system to provide all circulation-related support services including circulation of materials, maintenance of the reserves collection, and the creation of catalog records for new technology items; uses Worldcat to manage interlibrary loan services; ,shares responsibility for the maintenance of the print-format collection, and upkeep of office printers, and other equipment.

Essential Functions:

40% Circulation: Provide services to patrons at the circulation desk as scheduled.

  • Use Alma, the integrated library system, to check books/materials/technology out and in, help patrons locate specific materials or reserves items, and add or update patron records.
  • Issue borrower’s cards to community patrons.
  • Explain circulation policies and procedures to patrons, exercising good judgement to make exceptions when appropriate; suggest improvements to policies and procedures.
  • Handle patron complaints, referring the patron to a supervisor as needed.
  • Answer directional and general information questions and refer patrons who need professional assistance to librarians.
  • Record patron interactions using SpringShare’s LibInsight form. 
  • Using technically advanced knowledge of Alma, the integrated library system, assist with training and provide ongoing support  for staff at all library locations for circulation technical procedures and policy questions.
  • Open and close the library during specified hours and secure library equipment.
  • Alma releases updates and new versions, so this position must be able to adapt to changes, learn new processes, and quickly develop a thorough understanding of Fulfillment, the Alma module that controls the circulation of books/materials/technology.
  • Complete incident reports as needed to alert the Library director to security and safety issues.
  • Assist with service desk coverage for other employees’ planned and unplanned absences.
  • Perform clerical duties such as filing, answering phones, and making copies; maintain the supply of the various forms used at the circulation desk.

20% Interlibrary and Intercampus Loans: Coordinate interlibrary and intercampus loan services.

  • Oversee the borrowing of materials from other libraries for the library’s patrons and the lending of our materials to other libraries.
  • Use WorldCat to process and maintain records of requests.
  • Prepare items for shipment and receive returned items.
  • Ship materials via the Firefly courier and USPS mail avoiding ILL fees from other institutions.
  • Receive requests for books/materials/technology from other Pellissippi State campus locations and process them for loan to patrons at these locations; pack materials for shipment via the college courier service to other locations; and receive, unpack, and process these materials for return to the collection when they are returned.
  • Remain current with technology requirements and apply new knowledge and processes to the job.

10% Physical Materials Maintenance: Maintenance of the print-format collection.

  • Sort and shelve library materials.
  • Train student workers to regularly shelf read, straighten, and dust the collection.
  • Shift materials and adjust the number of materials on shelves to utilize the space available for the physical collection.
  • Assist with the annual physical materials inventory.
  • Search for items reported missing following the established procedures for searching and tracking.
  • Process materials for withdrawal from the collection.
  • Change location codes for materials being moved.

10% Library Equipment & Supplies:

  • Maintain the building security system, regularly inspecting and cleaning it; notify the appropriate personnel for repairs and service calls.
  • Maintain an inventory of office supplies, including batteries, cables, travel cases, and other items required for the technology lending program.
  • Withdraw obsolete or damaged technology items from the library catalog and follow departmental procedures for surplus.

5% Library Statistics: Maintain records and gather statistics.

  • Report interlibrary loan statistics to the Circulation Librarian. 
  • Prepare additional reports as needed.

10% Student Workers: Act as backup for the training of student workers. Assist in supervising student assistants.

5% Reserves Collection: Oversee management of the reserves collection.

  • Add materials to the Reserve  collection, including textbooks, models, kits, laptops, graphing calculators, and more, using Alma, the integrated library system.
  • Retrieve items from the physical collection as requested by faculty; create and delete brief catalog records for the items.
  • Withdraw materials from Alma when returning them to instructors.
  • Organize, shelve, and inventory reserves materials.

As needed: Provide backup for Circulation Libraria, the Circulation Specialist and Campus Library Assistants at all campuses.

Note: The College reserves the right to change or reassign job duties, or combine positions at any time.

Required Experience:

  • An Associate’s Degree required; Bachelor’s Degree preferred. 

Part-time work experience is calculated at 50% credit of full-time work experience.

Skills/Abilities:

  • Customer service experience
  • Proficiency with the Microsoft Office suite, specifically Word and Excel
  • Library experience, preferably in a public-facing position
  • An excellent grasp of the English language (both speaking and writing)
  • Specific knowledge of library circulation and inventory processes and the circulation modules of the integrated library system, the Library of Congress classification system, the OCLC interlibrary loan system, and a general understanding of library organization and practices.
  • Ability to read and to understand complex, multi-step written and oral instructions
  • Ability to work and communicate effectively with others, deal with frequent interruptions, and adaptability/flexibility
  • Ability to be detail oriented, organized, and to work well in a sometimes busy and changing environment
  • The ability to engage in the College’s mission, vision, and values
  • It usually takes 6 months to a year of on-the-job for an employee to have a really good grasp of technical skills, policies, and procedures necessary for competency in this job.

 

Physical Demands: Position requires bending and stretching to reach shelves, lifting of materials (1-15 lbs), pushing loaded book trucks (can be over 100 lbs), ability to use computer monitor and keyboard, ability to communicate with patrons at the circulation desk and over the phone, ability to read call numbers.

Hazards: Repetitive motion injuries from checking in/out and moving quantities of books. Books falling from shelves or book trucks can cause various injuries, most common are foot injuries. Book trucks that tip over can cause wrist, leg, and foot injuries. Injury from lifting stacks of books or boxes. Injury from office equipment with moving parts such as shredder, laminator, and paper cutter. Exposure is daily. Probability of minor cuts and abrasions is moderate. Probability of serious injury is very low when employee follows safe procedures for handling materials that are demonstrated and emphasized during training.

Full-time Employment Benefits:

 • Insurance Options Health, dental, vision, life, short/long-term disability, FSA/HSA Wellness Incentive Program, if enrolled in health plan

 • Educational Assistance Fee Waiver Spouse/Dependent discounts Audit/Non-Credit Reimbursement Program

 • Employee Assistance Program

• Retirement options Tennessee traditional pension plan option (TCRS) 401k with $50 company match/457/403b

• Employee Discount program with over 900+companies

• 13 Paid Holidays/Year Includes paid days off the last week of December

• Sick Leave Bank

 • Longevity Pay

• Many opportunities for professional development

Special Instructions to Applicants: To be considered for a position at Pellissippi State, you must create an on-line application. Your skills, abilities, qualifications, and years of experience will be evaluated using only what is recorded on your application. Work experience that is not listed on the application will not be considered towards compensation. Please note: attaching a resume does not substitute for completion of the application form. Part-time work experience is calculated at 50% of full-time experience. Please note: to scan, upload, or attach documents, a computer and scanner are available at the Hardin Valley Campus Educational Resources Center, if needed.

Pellissippi State Community College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, ethnicity or national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, pregnancy, disability, age (40+), status as a protected veteran, genetic information, or any other class protected by Federal or State laws and regulations and by Tennessee Board of Regents policies concerning all employment and education programs and activities. View the nondiscrimination policy. For questions or concerns, please contact George Underwood at gtunderwood@pstcc.edu or 865-539-7354.

If you have any problems or questions please contact Human Resources at Pellissippi State Community College’s Human Resource Office at 865-694-6607 or by email at recruiting@pstcc.edu.

If you are interested in this position, click on the link to the left to apply.

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