Part-Time Evening and Weekend Circulation Assistant

About Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts:

At MCLA, we're here for all - and focused on each - of our students. As a 2019 Top Ten Public College, classes are taught by educators who care deeply about teaching, and about seeing their students thrive on every level of their lives. Nearly 93% of our graduates land competitive jobs or are accepted by some of the best grad schools in the country. We engage in the most nationally relevant conversations by hosting some of the most celebrated thinkers and speakers on our campus in the Berkshires of Massachusetts, an area known for its mountain ranges, hiking trails, and panoramic views. Our home town of North Adams is brimming with creative energy and the regional economy is booming as a result. In nearly every way possible, the experience at MCLA is designed to elevate you as an individual, a leader, and a communicator, fully empowered to make your impression on the world.


Job Description:

Freel Library at MCLA seeks an engaged and service-oriented Evening and Weekend Circulation Assistant who enjoys working with students and collaborating with others on varied projects. This part-time position provides general library assistance to students, faculty, and staff during evening and weekend hours, including circulation, reserves, and basic information services; creates a welcoming atmosphere for MCLA's diverse community of learners; offers responsive, high-quality service; helps oversee all evening library operations and secure the library at closing; walks through and staffs library stacks floors; shelves books and retrieves holds; operates library equipment; works on on-going and special projects such as displays, library events, book repair, shelf reading, and shifting in collaboration with staff; helps supervise student library assistants when needed; and provides substitute staffing to cover staff absences when possible.

Responsibilities include:

• Provides general library assistance to students, faculty, and staff during evening and weekend hours, including circulation, reserves, and basic information services.
• Works with library staff to create a welcoming and inclusive library experience for MCLA's diverse community of learners.
• Interacts with students and other library visitors in a friendly, professional manner; ensures library service is responsive to student needs and meets high standards of quality and consistency; resolves problems according to procedures and policies.
• Collaborates with the Evening Circulation Supervisor to determine workflow and make decisions about security and service; oversees all library operations and provides general security when serving as sole staff person in the library.
• Performs closing procedures, secures library equipment, and locks library doors at closing during assigned evenings.
• Walks through and staffs stacks floors to assist library visitors, check stacks conditions, and oversee library activities.
• Assists with on-going and special projects such as displays, library events, inventory, and book repair; participates in shelf reading, shifting, and other stacks maintenance activities.
• Works at the Circulation Desk to register users, check items in and out, maintain circulation and attendance records, answer telephone inquiries, and complete tasks such as shelving, holds retrieval, and van delivery processing.
• Operates and troubleshoots library equipment including printers, scanners, and microfilm readers; assists students and library visitors with use of the catalog, microfilm reader, and other library equipment.
• In absence of Reference Librarians or Reference Associates, helps visitors locate items and perform basic database searches to find information; refers students to the Reference staff for further assistance.
• Maintains knowledge of Freel Library circulation policies and resources, including the catalog and subscription databases along with other resources available to MCLA students.
• Helps supervise Student Library Assistants who work evening or weekend hours.
• Helps staff the library's extended hours during the two weeks leading up to finals each semester, working as late as 2:00 a.m.
• Helps staff the library during campus closures due to inclement weather.
• Provides substitute staffing for staff absences, when possible.
• Assists with other general library duties as requested by the Associate Dean of Library Services.

Requirements:

• BA or BS degree from accredited institution of higher learning preferred
• General knowledge of library operations and procedures
• Experience with library circulation software and basic knowledge of Library of Congress classification system preferred
• Familiarity with current technology and knowledge of Word and basic Excel
• Ability to work with detail accurately and learn new computer applications
• Strong interpersonal skills and experience interacting with library visitors or customers effectively
• Ability to work with a diverse population and help create a welcoming, inclusive library environment
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Ability to work independently and with others in a collaborative environment
• Willingness to work extended evening hours during finals
• Reliability, flexibility, and commitment to provide excellent customer service required
• Basic understanding of research principles, database searching, or experience in academic library a plus

Physical Requirements:

• Work involves constant light to moderate physical activity including walking and standing for extended periods of time
• Ability to bend, reach, climb stairs, push book trucks, and lift materials weighing up to 40 lbs. is necessary
• Sufficient vision is essential to read, sort, shelve, shelf-read library materials, create and maintain patron records, and use multiple computer programs
• Moderate to extensive computer work required

Additional Information:

Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination and affirmative action in its educational programs, activities and employment practices. The college complies with all federal, state, and local laws and regulations advancing equal employment. Applicants who will enrich the diversity of the campus community are strongly encouraged to apply. Visit www.mcla.edu.


Application Instructions:

Part-time position (12-16 hours per week.)

Review of applications will begin immediately.

Interested individuals must electronically submit a resume and letter of interest by clicking on the APPLY NOW button below. Applications will be reviewed immediately and will be accepted until the position is filled. MCLA is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer, with a longstanding commitment to increasing the diversity of the employee community. Visit www.mcla.edu.

Company

We’re the public liberal arts college in Massachusetts. In every way possible, the experience at MCLA is designed to elevate you as an individual, a leader, and a communicator, fully empowered to make your impression on the world.

Located in the Berkshires, our area is known for its mountain ranges, hiking trails, and panoramic views. Our home town of North Adams is brimming with young, creative energy and the regional economy is booming as a result.

Our classes are taught by educators who care deeply about teaching and about seeing their students thrive on every level; personally, academically, and professionally. We engage in the most relevant conversations of our time by bringing the most celebrated thinkers and speakers to campus through nationally known public lectures hosted by MCLA.

The Office of Human Resources and Payroll at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts recognizes our most important resources are our faculty, administrators, and staff.

In furthering this mission of the College as well as embracing the diversity and excellence of the Campus, we strive to provide our employees dedicated professional support encompassing job searches, benefits, professional development, and personal growth.