Collections Assistant

Porter County Public Library System•Valparaiso, IN

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Collections Assistant supports the life cycle of the library’s physical and digital materials, working under the direction of the Collections Coordinator. Duties include intake, record management, processing, and distribution of new items. Copy cataloging is currently part of the role, but the library is exploring streamlined cataloging partnerships, so the position is designed to adapt to evolving needs, including broader collection maintenance, weeding, inventory integrity, and visual merchandising. This is a full-time, non-exempt position that typically works Monday through Friday during daytime hours, with occasional evening or weekend flexibility as needed. Work is completed onsite at branch locations as needed.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
Ability to work with people of all ages.
Strong oral and written communication skills.
Strong attention to detail.
Willingness and ability to learn computer skills, applications, and devices relevant to the position.
Ability to lift and move up to 20 pounds and push or pull at least 100 pounds on wheels.
Ability to perform extensive bending, stooping, pulling, reaching, kneeling, and crouching, and to stand on a stool to shelve books overhead.
Ability to communicate effectively, operate technology equipment, and handle books, paper, and technology with manual dexterity.
Ability to perform repetitive tasks and tolerate exposure to dust, dirt, adhesives, toner, and chemicals.
Ability and willingness to work onsite at any branch location as needed and to work evenings and weekends.

Responsibilities

Greet patrons as they arrive and depart, assist them with general questions, and help maintain discipline, good order, and physical security of the library.
Perform basic custodial maintenance of facilities and grounds as necessary, and manage the inventory, stock, and organization of equipment and supplies.
Carry out administrative tasks such as filing, typing, copying, scanning, and sorting.
Learn and use software and technology to carry out position functions.
Perform collection maintenance, including shelving, shifting, shelf reading, and merchandising.
Use the integrated library system (ILS) for patron-facing and circulation functions.
Assist patrons with information requests, locating materials, and accessing library technology services.
Promote library services through appropriate assigned channels, including visual merchandising, displays, word-of-mouth promotion, and graphics, following brand and style guidelines.
Preserve the integrity and quality of records in the ILS.
Process and distribute local and external physical materials accurately and expediently.
Weed and discard materials; clean, maintain, reprocess, and mend library materials.
Receive purchase orders, update acquisition records, and handle related paperwork.
Perform basic maintenance and manipulation of patron and item records.
Order physical and electronic materials through established acquisition channels.
Process and respond to patron material requests.
Invoice and manipulate acquisition records.
Receive periodicals and perform basic maintenance on prediction and holdings records.
Maintain or manipulate bibliographic ILS records under supervision.
Resolve submitted or escalated support requests or information services queries.
Liaise with vendors, partners, and third parties as directed or assigned by a supervisor.
Perform basic administration, configuration, and troubleshooting of the ILS and connected technologies.
Set up and manage periodical prediction patterns.
Run basic or pre-configured reports in the ILS and other related library software.
Copy or original catalog popular book, audio, and video physical formats using current cataloging standards.
Perform other duties as assigned.