User Services Assistant

Department: Library

Classification: GMU Worker

Job Category: Part-Time / Hourly Wage

Job Type: Part-Time

Work Schedule: 28 hours/week

Location: Fairfax, VA

Workplace Type: On Site Required

Hourly Rate: $20/hour

Criminal Background Check: Yes

About the Department:

The George Mason University Libraries’ Access Services Department is looking for an innovative and service-oriented individual to enhance and support user services and experience at the Fenwick Library, George Mason University's flagship library. George Mason University has a strong institutional commitment to the achievement of all-inclusive diversity among its students, faculty, and staff, and strongly encourages candidates to apply who will support this commitment.

About the Position:

This position is responsible for providing courteous assistance to patrons at the Fenwick Library service desk on the Fairfax Campus and aid in the opening procedures of the building at the beginning of the day.

The work schedule for this position is 28 hours/week, as follows:

Sunday: 11:45am - 4pm

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday: 7:30am - 2pm

Friday: 7:30am - 12pm

Please Note: This is a non-student wage position. Non-student wage employees may take courses, but are not in a degree-seeking program at George Mason University.

Responsibilities:

• Providing courteous assistance at the Information Desk in a professional, fair, and consistent manner for all patrons of University Libraries;
• Coordinating with Access Services staff and student assistants to properly open Fenwick Library on assigned days;
• Charging out library materials, discharging returned materials, accepting payments for fines and fees, answering informational and basic reference questions, working with student assistants who staff the Information Desk, and providing other customer service relevant to the library and university;
• Serving as senior person in charge to coordinate with facilities and services during days and weekend hours when staff in Access Services or library administration are not available; and
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications:

Applicants must have the following required qualifications, knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• Demonstrated knowledge using a library service platform/integrated library system, office productivity software, or computer equipment and software;
• Strong customer service skills;
• Aptitude for accurate and detail-oriented work;
• Solid organizational skills, including the ability to manage competing priorities for self and others, meet deadlines, and exercise good judgment;
• Effective interpersonal and communication skills (written and oral) for providing customer service in a diverse, academic environment, and for interacting with library staff, faculty, students, and members of the public;
• Well-developed analytical and problem-solving skills; and
• Ability to remain calm, negotiate fairly and rationally, and exercise sound judgment under time pressure or in emotionally charged situations.

Preferred Qualifications:

The following education and/or skill sets are preferred:

• Library experience providing circulation and reference services;
• Demonstrated knowledge of and experience with current library systems (such as Alma) and research resources (such as EBSCO, JSTOR, ProQuest, etc.); and
• Experience supervising staff or student assistants.

Instructions to Applicants: 

For full consideration, applicants must apply for the User 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:  March 24, 2025

Posting Close Date:  April 2, 2025