Library Technician

All Job Postings will close at 12:01 a.m. CT on the specified Closing Date (if designated).

Working Title:

Library Technician

Institution:

Bemidji State UniversityLibrary Technician

Bargaining Unit / Union:

207: AFSCME - Technical

City:

Bemidji

FLSA:

Non Job Exempt

Full Time / Part Time:

Full time

Employment Condition:

Classified - Unlimited

Salary Range:

$21.36 - $30.58

Job Description

Bemidji State University (BSU) invites applicants to join our team as a Library Technician. The Library Technician performs the tasks involved with the acquisition of resources for the library’s collections, the serials control of the library’s subscriptions and periodicals, and the copy cataloging and processing of library materials. They perform the technical work and tasks which support the day-to-day ordering, receiving, and paying for items purchased for the library’s collections, as well as the cataloging, processing and physical maintenance associated with the library’s collection.

Responsibilities of the Library Technician include:

• Assisting in the acquisition of resources for the library’s collections. Percent of Time: 37%

  • Using the library services platform (LSP) and standard library tools to perform bibliographic verification, placing orders with vendors, receiving items, and paying invoices for firm (one-time) and serial (on-going) orders and renewals.

  • Communicating with vendors and the business office as needed, regarding orders, payments, renewals, and claims.

  • Recordkeeping and reporting as necessary, within the LSP and spreadsheets.

  • Placing requests for replacement materials as deemed necessary.

  • Placing orders as requested for book purchases through foundation funding.

• Performing the serials control of the print serial collections. Percent of Time: 20%

  • Performing serials claiming and routine access control for the library’s print serial holdings.

  • Receiving and processing physical serial items.

  • Assisting in weeding the library’s print serial holdings, when prioritized by librarians.

  • Sorting mail and processing newspapers and serial publications.

• Performing copy cataloging and physical processing of new materials. Percent of Time: 20%

  • Performing the copy cataloging of books, serials, continuations and other library material so that they are available to library clientele, including rush copy cataloging of priority items determined by librarians.

  • Searching for missing / claimed returned / lost items. 

  • Updating serial local holding in ILS to ensure the library’s holdings are accurately represented for access and resource sharing.

• Scheduling, training and directing the work of student employees, in collaboration with the ILL/Circ Technician. Percent of time: 13%

  • Directing the work tasks to support day-to-day physical processing of materials, including preparing items for the shelf and/or physically de-accessioning materials.

  • Directing the work tasks to support day-to-day shelving, reshelving and maintenance of materials.

  • Developing training aids and training students in job responsibilities.

  • Supervising, and if necessary, participating in these duties.

• Other duties as assigned. Percent of Time: 10%

  • Responsible for opening the library building; coordinating with ILL/Circ Tech for back up when needed.

  • Assisting with collection and non-routine database maintenance projects.

  • Ordering and maintaining library supplies as needed.

Salary Range:

Depends on Qualifications; current pay range is $21.73 - $30.20 per hour

Minimum Qualifications

• Knowledge and experience with database management and standard computer software programs for word processing, spreadsheets, and databases sufficient to create, modify, protect, and manage them (e.g. Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Access).

• Customer service skills sufficient to provide prompt and accurate information to customers on the phone, in person, in writing, and online and to provide general and specialized office support (this requires common courtesy, tact, interest in positive problem solving, empathy, and the ability to organize ideas logically).

• Proficiency with productivity and task management software such as Microsoft Teams, Microsoft To Do, Microsoft Outlook, Teams, Zoom, Google Meets, various calendars, video conferencing platforms, etc.

• Skill in data entry sufficient to read, maintain, and enter source documents and enter data in specific databases or tracking systems.

Preferred Qualification 

• 64 semester hours (or equivalent) of post-secondary coursework.

• 4 semester hours of formal training or course work in computing applications including but not limited to word processors or spreadsheets OR 12 months continuous experience working in a position in which the applicant used a computer to perform a substantial portion of duties.

• Experience with library systems, preferably Aleph and/or Alma.

• Familiarity with the fundamentals of budget management.

• Knowledge of library acquisitions resources and vendors.

• Knowledge of print and electronic serials.

• Demonstrate flexibility in dealing with unexpected problems and changes in technology.

• Demonstrate attention to details.

• A demonstrated commitment to the principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism.

To facilitate the review, assessment, and evaluation process, please ensure that your application and/or resume clearly demonstrate fulfillment of the minimum and preferred qualifications of the position. The application materials submitted will be utilized for salary placement purposes.

Physical Factors:

Constant: Maintain a stationary position for long periods of time. 

Frequent: Communicate effectively with others and understand information; and observe, perceive, determine and assess safety hazards.

Occasional: Position oneself to move through building(s) to monitor employees, attend meetings, or to move and/or transport objects or items to another location.

Other Requirements

• All applicants must be able to lawfully accept employment in the United States at the time of an offer of employment. The University regrets that we are unable to offer H1-B sponsorship at this time.

• Employment for this position is covered by the collective bargaining agreement for the American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME) bargaining unit, which can be found at:  https://mn.gov/mmb/employee-relations/labor-relations/labor/afscme.jsp.

• In accordance with the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MinnState) Vehicle Fleet Safety Program, faculty and staff driving on college/university business, who use a rental or state vehicle, shall be required to complete a vehicle Use Agreement form and conform to MinnState’s vehicle use criteria and consent to motor vehicle records check annually.

• BSU and NTC are tobacco free workplaces (see policy).

Work Shift (Hours / Days of work)

Unlimited/ Full-time / Non-exempt

Telework (Yes/No)

No

Inquiries about the position:

About

UNIVERSITY / COMMUNITY

WHY BEMIDJI:

It’s more than a job. It’s an opportunity for the extraordinary.

On the idyllic shores of Lake Bemidji, cradled among the limitless natural beauty of the North Woods and neighbored by Minnesota’s three largest Indigenous nations, Bemidji State University offers opportunities for the extraordinary.

Bemidji State University has been ranked as one of the top 30 public institutions in the Midwest region by U.S. News & World Report each year since 2019. BSU offers its diverse student body a comprehensive spectrum of opportunities with nearly 120 undergraduate degrees and emphasis areas in more than 50 areas of study, 14 pre-professional programs, and 14 graduate programs and certificates.

As Bemidji State continues its second century of service, our vision is simple: we educate people to lead inspired lives. To achieve this, BSU centers diversity, equity and inclusion as a core value and strives to create a campus culture in which all members are free to be their authentic selves. BSU also proactively engages with Indigenous communities in northern Minnesota and nationwide toward its goal of becoming a destination university.

BSU is a member of the Minnesota State system of colleges and universities, the third-largest system of higher education institutions in the United States. It shares a unique alignment with Northwest Technical College, with administration and student services generally having dual responsibilities to serve both campuses. Through this alignment, NTC students can take advantage of services, support, activities, and opportunities at BSU that expand and enhance their college experience — such as full access to BSU’s library and the ability to live in BSU’s on-campus resident housing.

For the first time, a joint strategic planning process will guide the future directions for both institutions. The schools are pursuing four shared strategic priorities: student success, the Nisidotaading initiative, northern distinction, and telling our story. These priorities will serve as the foundations for master planning processes for facilities, academic programs, fundraising, information technology, intercollegiate athletics, and diversity, equity, and inclusion, among others.

The Nisidotaading initiative — named for an Ojibwe phrase meaning “building mutual understanding” — is creating a statewide center of excellence. It will develop communities of practice meant to help Minnesota State colleges and universities better educate their campus communities on historical trauma and lived experiences of their Indigenous populations, and how to most effectively guide Indigenous students toward their educational goals. In addition, BSU is the first university in the United States to expose all of its students to a course on Indigenous people before graduation.

Bemidji State University acknowledges that it is located on land and water that is the current and ancestral homeland of the Ojibwe and Dakota. We acknowledge the painful history of genocide, forced assimilation, and efforts to alienate the Indigenous inhabitants from their territory here. We honor and respect the many diverse Indigenous peoples still connected to this land, retained tribal sovereignty, treaty rights, and cultural resilience. Indigenous people are spiritual and physical caretakers of this land to which we all belong. Bemidji State University respects these sacred lands, stands with the community members from these Nations, and will fight injustice in all its forms.

At Minnesota State, the work we do is more than just a job. In their pursuit of purpose, connection, and growth, our employees play a critical role on our campuses. They develop policies, provide essential services, and work to improve the well-being and quality of life for our students and for all Minnesotans. Minnesota State is committed to equity and inclusion, and we invest in our employees by providing benefits, support resources, and training and development opportunities. Unlock your potential through possibility.

The City of Bemidji

Bemidji State University and Northwest Technical College lie amid the lakes and forests of northern Minnesota. Bemidji State occupies a wooded campus along the western shore of Lake Bemidji while Northwest Technical College lies just three miles east, near Bemidji’s robust industrial district. 

The city sits between Minnesota’s three largest American Indian tribal nations: the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, the Red Lake Nation and the White Earth Nation. When settling the Bemidji area in 1750, the Ojibwe people named the lake Bemidjigamaag, which means “a lake with crossing waters” as the Mississippi River flows in from the south and exits on the east. Today, a city proper with a population of around 15,000 serves as a regional economic and cultural hub for about 100,000 Minnesotans.

Located just minutes away from a thriving downtown Bemidji, both the BSU and NTC campus communities have convenient access to affordable restaurants, fine-dining experiences, cozy coffee shops, grocery stores — including a natural foods co-op — city parks, and nearly unlimited outdoor recreational opportunities. Small, locally-owned shops and art sculptures line Bemidji's downtown streets, while national chains are also found in and around the area. The historic Paul Bunyan Playhouse has a calendar of classic shows, restaurants offer weekly live music performances, the First Friday Art Walk provides a tour of new monthly art exhibits, and annual festivals bring the community together throughout the year. 

Additionally, the North Woods setting means students, staff, and faculty have a variety of activities available at their fingertips year-round. With more than 400 lakes — and a 240-acre research forest owned by BSU — within 25 miles of the city, there is easy access to kayaking, canoeing, swimming, boating, paddle boarding, hunting, hiking, biking, foraging, fishing, and more. An expansive network of multi-use trail systems is available for running, cross-country skiing, single-track or fat-tire biking, and skijoring. Further, downhill skiing, snowboarding, and tubing lie just north of Bemidji at the Buena Vista Ski Area.

Bemidji is also near two of Minnesota’s 66 state parks: Lake Bemidji State Park, which sits along Lake Bemidji’s northern shore, and Itasca State Park, home to the majestic Mississippi River Headwaters. Both parks are popular recreational and camping destinations where locals and tourists gather for sailing, swimming, and fishing during the summer months, and skating, hockey, curling, and—yes—more fishing in the winter. 

Of course, no tour of Bemidji is complete without a visit to — and a selfie with — its two most famous residents: the iconic statues of Paul Bunyan and his trusty companion, Babe the Blue Ox. The famed duo, which has greeted visitors to Bemidji since 1937, is on the National Register of Historic Places and was once ranked by Kodak as the second most-photographed statue in America.

For further information About BSU visit our website at: http://www.bemidjistate.edu

Review a "special report on how this former lumber town has rebuilt itself as a high-speed, regional center of enterprise" at Bemidji 2.0

Other Resources:

• Visit Bemidji – https://www.visitbemidji.com/

• 218 Relocate / Greater Bemidji – https://www.218relocate.com/

• Bemidji Area Chamber of Commerce – https://www.bemidji.org/ 

• Explore Minnesota – https://www.exploreminnesota.com/article/top-things-to-do-bemidji

Statement of Notice:

Bemidji State University prohibits discrimination and sexual violence of any kind. Contact the Title IX Coordinator if you have concerns regarding discrimination and/or sexual violence.Per Minnesota State System Procedure 1B.3.1, all universities and colleges must provide contact information of their Title IX Coordinator.

Megan Zothman, Campus Human Resources Officer & Title IX Coordinator

Email: TitleIX@bemidjistate.edu or Megan.Zothman@BemidjiState.edu

Phone: (218) 755-2502

1500 Birchmont Drive NE, Deputy Hall, Room 335, Bemidji, MN 56601

Bemidji State University is an Affirmative Action Equal Opportunity Employer and Educator.  This document is available in alternative formats to individuals with disabilities. Consumers with hearing or speech disabilities may contact us via their preferred Telecommunications Relay Service.

Benefits Information:

At Minnesota State, we take your well-being and work-life balance seriously. We offer a comprehensive benefits package that features low-cost medical and dental insurance with affordable deductibles, employer-paid life insurance, short- and long-term disability, and pre-tax healthcare and dependent care accounts with a roll-over option. To further support your holistic health, employees also have access to a confidential Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for mental health, legal, and financial counseling. Detailed plan details, rates, and coverage choices can be reviewed directly via the State Employee Group Insurance Program (SEGIP) website.

 

To support your life outside of work, our package includes 12 paid holidays, generous vacation and sick time, and six weeks of Paid Parental Leave. We also help you secure your financial future with a robust Pension Plan, 457(b) and 403(b) retirement accounts, and various investment options. Furthermore, we invest in your growth by providing dedicated professional development and tuition waivers for both you and your dependents. Please note that specific benefit eligibility and coverage levels may vary depending on the type of position, employee classification, and collective bargaining agreements.

Desired Start Date:

08-10-2026

Position End Date:

Open Date:

06-22-2026

Close Date:

07-29-2026

Posting Contact Name:

Teresa Kay Vincent Hanson

Posting Contact Email:

teresa.hanson@bemidjistate.edu