Part Time Reference Librarian

Niagara University is a liberal arts university, steeped in the Vincentian and Catholic traditions, with a total enrollment of nearly 4,300 students. Located just a few miles away from one of the world's premier tourism destinations, Niagara Falls, the university occupies a lovely campus overlooking the Niagara River gorge. Its close proximity to major cultural and business centers in Niagara Falls, Buffalo, and Toronto as well as the award-winning Niagara Wine Trail and several nearby cultural destinations make Niagara University an ideal place to work and live. If you'd like to know more, be sure to check out all of the NU Facts.

JOB SUMMARY:

Under general supervision, the part-time Reference Librarian provides reference, circulation, and Library assistance to patrons and acts as the building and student staff supervisor during evening and weekend shifts.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

1. Provides exemplary customer service in-person at the primary building service point and online.


2. Provides reference assistance requiring significant knowledge of Library services, holdings, online databases, and equipment.


3. Meets with patrons for in-depth research consultations.


4. Performs Circulation Desk duties.


5. Provides oversight of the Library during evening and weekend hours. This can include opening and closing the building, reporting building maintenance and security issues, handling emergencies, and ensuring the orderliness of the building.


6. Helps patrons use printers and equipment. Troubleshoots equipment problems.


7. Supervises student aides and oversees their tasks.


8. Trains student aides.


9. Process interlibrary loan requests as needed.


10. Assists with collection maintenance projects


11. Participates in the User Education Program.


12. Performs other duties as assigned, including but not limited to assessment projects, creation of displays, outreach events, and creating research guides.

This is not necessarily an all-inclusive list of job duties. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current job, management reserves the right to revise the job or to require that other or different tasks be performed as assigned.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

% of Time

60%: Provides customer, reference, and circulation services.

30%: Completes projects and assignments.

10%: Supervises student aides and monitors building operations.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

1. Ability to work late nights and weekends.


2. Knowledge of print and electronic reference resources.


3. Must be able to communicate with others effectively.


4. Able to present a positive attitude, work cooperatively as a team member, and place top priority on customer service.


5. Comfortable in proactively seeking out patrons to help in all areas of the Library.


6. Experience in an automated library environment with strong database searching skills.


7. Demonstrated skill with the use of current Library and educational technologies, and experience with software and hardware used in academic libraries.


8. Strong organizational and supervisory skills.


9. Must be able to demonstrate a strong commitment to diversity and work with diverse students, faculty, staff, and community clientele.

ERGONOMIC REQUIREMENTS:

• Able to remain in a stationary position about 50% time about and able to move around the building the other 50% of the time.


• Able to operate a computer and other office productivity machinery, such as a phone, calculator, copy machine, and printer.


• Able to shelve books weighing up to 3 pounds and occasionally move a book cart weighing up to 50 pounds.

The ergonomic requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable people with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

QUALIFICATION STANDARDS

1. Master's Degree in Library Science accredited by the American Library Association.