On-Call Reference Librarian

If you are considering a new job, work environment or career opportunities you should look at Mercer County Community College. MCCC is a publicly supported college that is open to all and dedicated to student success. In order to support that mission Mercer seeks to attract, retain, and support a skilled diverse workforce which is our most valuable resource. We thrive on and are proud of our diversity and open access. Our students and employees find the College large enough for a multitude of offerings yet small enough to keep the “Community” feel for all. The College consists of two campuses, the James Kerney Campus (JKC) in the capital city of Trenton, NJ and a larger 292 acre suburban campus just six miles north of Trenton.

As part of the comprehensive and valuable benefits package the College offers credit course tuition waivers for employees, spouses and dependents. This allows for employees and their families to take advantage of earning a higher education degree without the high cost. The College offers students 69 Degree Program Options and 35 Credit Certificates from which to choose.

This is an “on-call” position with no set hours.  We will train the candidate and then call them in to work when we need coverage.  This person helps assist patrons in locating and obtaining materials by performing the following duties:

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned: 

• Furnishes information on library activities, facilities, rules, and services.
• Explains and assists in use of reference resources, such as book and periodical indexes both in print and electronic format, to locate information.
• Describes or demonstrates procedures for navigating the public access catalog or electronic resources.
• Searches files, reference shelves, and computerized information systems to locate requested information.
• Answers queries on complicated reference subjects, including formulating and processing online search requests.
• Participates in library outreach programs and conducts library instruction/information literacy.
• Provides instruction and actively participates in the development and design of classes on use of the library and its resources.
• Assembles and arranges displays of books and other library materials.
• Helps organize and maintain reference materials.
• Compiles bibliographies and develops library user guides, both printed and electronic.
• Assists in reference collection development, including planning and promoting electronic information resources and services.

Master’s degree in library or information science from an ALA-accredited program or within 6 hours of completing such a program.

Information Literacy/Library Instruction skills desired

Adaptability: Maintaining effectiveness when experiencing major changes in work tasks or the work environment; adjusting effectively to work within new work structures, processes, requirements, or cultures. 

Building Trust: Interacting with others in a way that gives them confidence in one’s intentions and those of the organization. 

Customer Focus: Making customers and their needs a primary focus of one’s actions; developing and sustaining productive customer relationships. 

Decision Making: Identifying and understanding issues, problems, and opportunities; comparing data from different sources to draw conclusions; using effective approaches for choosing a course of action or developing appropriate solutions; taking action that is consistent with available facts, constraints, and probable consequences