Access Services Assistant

Department: Law Library, Antonin Scalia Law School

Classification: Library Specialist 2

Job Category: Classified Staff

Job Type: Full-Time

Work Schedule: Full-time (1.0 FTE, 40 hrs/wk)

Location: Arlington, VA

Workplace Type: On Site Required

Pay Band: 04

Salary: Salary commensurate with education and experience

Criminal Background Check: Yes

About the Department:

The purpose of the George Mason University Law Library is to support the instructional, research, and service missions of the law school. Primarily a teaching and research center, the law library is the foremost means through which students and faculty gain access to organized information and knowledge. By fostering excellence in staff, development of the collection, and services offered to faculty and students, the law library performs a unique and indispensable function in the educational process. The law school has a student population over 500 and more than fifty full-time teaching faculty. The law school offers a daytime and evening JD program, an LLM program, and a JM program. In addition to serving the students, faculty, staff, and alumni of the law school, the law library is a valuable resource for the Northern Virginia legal community.

About the Position:

The Access Services Assistant assists the Head of Access Services with managing the daily operations of a busy circulation desk at a large law library and has primary responsibility for opening the library.

The circulation desk is the entryway to the library and a point of resources—books, equipment, information, and more. The circulation staff have an important role in maintaining the library's print collection. The circulation staff are responsible for processing and handling all interlibrary loan requests and materials on a daily basis, both incoming (from other libraries) and outgoing (from GMU law patrons). The Access Services Assistant maintains departmental statistics.

Responsibilities:

• Provides interlibrary loan services to faculty and students by borrowing materials from other libraries. Responds to and fulfills loan requests from other libraries. Periodically runs reports and provides statistics about interlibrary loan services. Learns and maintains knowledge of ILL systems and best practices;
• Responds to basic information needs at the circulation desk in a polite and professional manner. This includes answering directional and ready reference questions; maintaining knowledge of the reserve collection and answering questions about and providing reserve materials to patrons; providing other check-out materials including books, study room keys, and equipment; and effectively checking-in materials. Explains and enforces circulation and library policies, including checking identification of all incoming patrons. Maintains the online reservation system for study rooms. Collects fees and fines;
• Assists the Head of Access Services with managing all operations of the circulation desk during shift hours, especially during early morning hours. Assists with hiring, training, and scheduling student and wage employees. Assigns tasks and assesses performance of wage and student employees; monitors work levels and ensures appropriate coverage. Serves as the point of contact for, and manages any community volunteers in the circulation department. Manages department statistics and provides reports upon request. Learns and periodically runs reports using the analytics function of the library catalog;
• Performs collection maintenance in the library, which includes shelving new books and returned books and materials, straightening and shifting materials, shelf reading to find mis-shelved or lost items, and supervising wage and student employees to do the same. Re-prints faded book (spine) labels. Maintains accurate records of reserve materials, including interfacing with faculty and their liaison librarians regarding placement and return of course reserve materials; and
• Serves as a member and contributor to relevant university, library, and professional committees and working groups, as needed.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.  

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience;
• Knowledge of the general activities of library operations, and interest in libraries and information science;
• Strong oral and written communication skills;
• Demonstrated customer service capability;
• Demonstrated ability to follow, interpret, and apply organizational policies and procedures;
• Ability to exercise substantial attention detail, timeliness, and dependability; and
• Ability to effectively supervise, train, and review the work of wage and student employees.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Working knowledge of library-related technologies used in access services, including online catalogs and interlibrary loan systems; and
• Demonstrated ability to quickly learn new software and information systems.

Instructions to Applicants: 

For full consideration, applicants must apply for the Access Services Assistant at https://jobs.gmu.edu/. Complete and submit the online application to include three professional references with contact information, and provide a cover letter and resume.

Posting Open Date:  April 15, 2024

For Full Consideration, Apply by:  May 13, 2024

Open Until Filled?:  Yes