Library Specialist – Overnights

Grainger Engineering Library Information Center (GELIC)

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Library

FUNCTION: The incumbent provides critical overnight paraprofessional support for Grainger Engineering Library, working Monday through Friday from midnight to 8:00 a.m. The incumbent supervises building operations, assists patrons, staffs the circulation desk, coordinates with campus partners, and serves as a contact for safety and facility issues. The role also supports technical processing activities such as course reserves, catalog and database maintenance, electronic resources access, and bibliographic research. The position plays a key supervisory role in ensuring smooth overnight operations in a high volume, 24-hour academic library.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Responsible for serving as the contact person for all building functions during assigned duty officer shifts. Incumbent is one of four staff for all Grainger Library overnight activities - Monday through Friday, Midnight to 8:00AM. This includes working with graduate assistants and librarians on required activities as they arise, supervising student workers, consulting with staff, Graduate assistants, and librarians. Incumbent refers facilities, billing, and reference questions to appropriate staff. The incumbent informs the Grainger Library Head, other Librarians, the Main Library, and the supervising LOA on all incidents.

• Incumbent monitors building operations including printing, computer operations, and stacks supervision during assigned shift. The incumbent explains library records and interprets library regulations, monitors condition of the Grainger stacks, and works with student assistants to keep book-trucks empty, shelves in orderly condition, and insures timely shelving back library materials. Oversees course reserves activities and special collections housed at the circulation desk. Incumbent does periodic floor walks to monitor and identify any facility and security concerns to be referred to appropriate staff or campus police.

• Responsible for assisting with or having direct oversight of various projects related to Grainger Library operations and patron services. Projects include processing borrowing requests, reserves circulation activities, standards maintenance, performing data entry work, updating bibliographic and catalog records, participating in weeding activities, database maintenance, assisting in electronic materials access, and limited maintenance of web resources. Incumbent is responsible for collection maintenance, shelf reading, dusting, and shifting projects. Incumbent collects and processes data related to patron headcounts, security gate counts, wireless usage, and LibCal SPACES user statistics. Incumbent assists with IDEA Lab 3D printing.

• Responsible for other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

1. High school diploma or equivalent.
2. Any combination totaling two (2) years (24 months) from the following categories:
1. work experience in a library or equivalent setting.
2. college course work in any field as measured by the following conversion table
• 30 semester hours equals one (1) year (12 months)
• Associate’s degree (60 semester hours) equals eighteen months (18 months)
• 90 semester hours equals two (2) years (24 months)
• Bachelor’s Degree (120 semester hours) equals three (3) years (36 months)

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Familiarity with Library operations and policies. Understanding of public service.
• Skill in performing effective customer service.

Responsibility

Supervisory Controls: Incumbent is under supervision of shift supervisor but is expected to perform duties independently and in a timely manner. Work is prioritized by incumbent who may refer problems or request assistance from shift supervisor, LOA, or Librarian.

Guidelines: Incumbent follows periodic guidelines established by supervising LOA and Librarians. Staff meetings provide guidelines for changing priorities during the year. Processes vary widely and a great deal of independent judgment based on experience or guidelines is utilized.

Difficulty

Complexity: Procedures involving databases must be accurate, so diligence is critical. Incumbent must adapt to changing library policies and procedures. Work requires decision-making and initiative. The library computer systems are complex and constantly evolve requiring a level of expertise to provide quality, timely service. Other duties are supervising student assistants and assisting patrons with directional and informational questions.

Scope and Effect: Incumbent performs duties in timely, courteous, and efficient manner. The position affects other Grainger Library staff, student assistants, and instructors who use the services at Grainger and all patrons who use or inquire about the Engineering Library.

 Personal Relationships:

Personal Contacts: Job requires interactions with University faculty, staff, and students in person, by telephone, and via email. Occasional contact with University Police.

Purpose: In a 24-hour public service unit such as the Grainger Library communication among staff and with patrons is essential.

Environmental Demands:

Physical Requirements: Work includes moving loaded book trucks. There is minimal risk or discomfort associated with the position except contact with occasional irate or unruly patron.

Work Environment: The Grainger Library and the environment is pleasant.

Appointment Information

This is a 100% full-time Civil Service 4902 - Library Specialist position, appointed on a 12-month basis. The expected start date is as soon as possible after the close of the search. The negotiated salary for the position is $46,858.50.

This position is not eligible for any type of sponsorship for work authorization.

For more information on Civil Service classifications, please visit the SUCSS web site at https://www.sucss.illinois.gov/pages/classspec/default.aspx.