Library Assistant, Access Services

Job Title: Library Assistant, Services
Location: Central Campus
Job ID: 61233
Open Date: March 21, 2024
Close Date: April 10, 2024
Job Type: Continuous
Employee Group: Unifor Unit 1, Staff
Department: Library Services
Salary Grade/Band: Grade 7
Salary Range: $23.93 – $37.15 (hourly)
Hours per Week: 35

Posting Details

Schedule: Monday to Friday – 8:30am – 4:30pm. Some evenings/weekends on rotational basis
Education Level: Bachelor’s degree, 2-year Community College Diploma in Library and Information Technology
Career Level: Minimum 4 years relevant experience, including 2 years completion of Library and Information Technology Diploma

Job Description

JD#: JD00266

General Description:
Responsible for providing a variety of services to users including research help, circulation and reserve, interlibrary loans, collection maintenance, and the safe keeping of library resources. Requires a thorough knowledge of library policies, procedures, and systems.

Representative Duties & Responsibilities:
• Act as the first point of contact for users of all types. Answer or redirect general inquiries in person, by telephone and via email and responds independently to inquiries that are specific in nature and require a thorough knowledge of established policies and procedures.
• Apply an understanding of the broader context and philosophy of both the library and the University to serve patron needs.
• Provide circulation, reserve, and interlibrary loan services.
• Provide in-depth research help by interpreting patron requests for research materials and finding solutions to their research needs by constructing complex search queries of various online systems and networks.
• Refer requests to appropriate internal and external sources and offer alternatives as required.
• Extract, interpret, and integrate information from a wide variety of traditional and non-traditional resources.
• Search online databases to identify and determine the correct bibliographic entries for research materials.
• Interpret bibliographic references to determine if the library owns the specific materials.
• Update and maintain all files and databases required to provide access to and control over course material and circulating collections.
• Scrutinize reserve reading lists, call numbers and publication information for errors and omissions.
• Create and maintain the reserve database to make sure materials are available to students when required.
• Liaise with faculty and adjust library materials according to course demands.
• Locate and obtain requested materials and inform patrons of alternative sources of information, as required.
• Provide interlibrary loans service to students and faculty at the University and from libraries outside of the McMaster community which requires requesting, receiving, and distributing resources to and from other libraries.
• Respond to shipping and tracking inquiries of University library materials forwarded to other libraries.
• Maintain accurate financial, patron, and processing records for all incoming and outgoing interlibrary loans materials.
• Compose general and email correspondence when communicating with users, staff and faculty, as well as local, national and international institutions, to follow up on information requests.
• Calculate statistics for research help, interlibrary loan, circulation, and reserve transactions. Calculate fines and variations in currency exchange rates.
• Track overdue materials that have not been returned by patrons and contact them to request the return of materials.
• Determine eligibility for borrower cards for non-University users.
• Maintain accurate system records for patrons and materials circulating in the library system.
• Maintain the confidentiality of patron information.
• Collect payments for borrower cards, fines, and replacement charges.
• Review circumstances and determine if fines will be charged, reduced, or waived. Calculate charges, including administrative charges, and process journal entries related to reserve fines, recall fines, and replacement book costs.
• Investigate circumstances regarding fine disputes to determine if the fine should be reduced or waived.
• Use a point of sale machine to process financial transactions.
• Shelve library materials and maintain condition of library collections.
• Open and close the building and liaise with Security Services as required.
• Read, understand, and remain current with legislative and policy documents regarding copyright restrictions.
• Update and maintain knowledge of the operational and administrative processes relating to the functions of local departmental and library-wide policies and procedures.
• Exchange library system and procedure information with colleagues and users.
• Adapt to incremental changes to library technology and knowledge base.
• Track and report photocopying requests according to established access copyright requirements.
• Assist students who have encountered difficult situations such as lost or stolen personal items in the library.
• Assist library staff and patrons with campus fleet photocopier, printer and fax problems.
• Set up and maintain filing systems, both electronic and hard copy.
• Assist patrons with problems in accessing resources and report systems problems to the Library and Learning Technologies staff.
• Report building maintenance problems.
• Maintain First-Aid qualification.

Supervision:
• Ensure adherence to quality standards and procedures for short-term staff and volunteers.
• Provide orientation and show procedures to others.
• Supervise short-term staff, in the absence of supervisor, during minimal staffing times.

Qualifications:
• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field.
• 2-year Community College diploma in Library and Information Technology.
• Requires a minimum of 4 years of relevant experience, including two years for the completion of a diploma in Library and Information Technology.

What McMaster has to Offer:
Please visit our site https://hr.mcmaster.ca/employees/total-rewards/staff/  for information on our competitive total compensation package which includes but not limited to:
• Employer Paid benefits such as Extended Health, Dental, Emergency Out-of-Country Travel Coverage & Basic Life Insurance.
• Progressive paid annual vacation plan.
• Training, coaching and professional development opportunities.
• Employee tuition assistance for continuous development and education.
• Opportunity to be a part of an academic environment working alongside professionals who share a passion for learning.

How to Apply:

To apply for this job, please submit your application online.

Internal Applicant Link

External Applicant Link

Employment Equity Statement:
McMaster University is located on the traditional territories of the Haudenosaunee and Mississauga Nations and within the lands protected by the “Dish With One Spoon” wampum agreement.

The diversity of our workforce is at the core of our innovation and creativity and strengthens our research and teaching excellence. In keeping with its Statement on Building an Inclusive Community with a Shared Purpose, McMaster University strives to embody the values of respect, collaboration and diversity, and has a strong commitment to employment equity.

The University seeks qualified candidates who share our commitment to equity and inclusion, who will contribute to the diversification of ideas and perspectives, and especially welcomes applications from indigenous (First Nations, Métis or Inuit) peoples, members of racialized communities, persons with disabilities, women, and persons who identify as 2SLGBTQ+.

As part of McMaster’s commitment, all applicants are invited to complete a confidential Applicant Diversity Survey through the online application submission process. The Survey questionnaire requests voluntary self-identification in relation to equity-seeking groups that have historically faced and continue to face barriers in employment. Please refer to the Applicant Diversity Survey – Statement of Collection for additional information.

Job applicants requiring accommodation to participate in the hiring process should contact:

Human Resources Service Centre at 905-525-9140 ext. 222-HR (22247), or
Faculty of Health Sciences HR Office at ext. 22207, or School of Graduate Studies at ext. 23679 to communicate accommodation needs.

Hybrid Work:
To ensure an ongoing and vibrant University community that meets the needs of our students, staff and faculty and supports the University mission, ability to work on-site continues to be a requirement for most University positions. The University is supportive of exploring flexible work arrangements that effectively balance operational needs and employee interests.