User Services Specialist - Occidental Libraries

Occidental College Careers•Los Angeles, CA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Reporting to the Director, of Collections, Systems and Services, the User Services Specialist delivers responsive, user-centered public service to students, faculty, staff, and visitors through the Library’s Information Desk and related User Services operations. This position provides day-to-day work direction and support for student assistants, with significant responsibility for scheduling, training, mentoring, and coordinating routine service work. The User Services Specialist supports established and emerging approaches to access services, including circulation and Information Desk services, wayfinding, tours and orientations, stacks maintenance, physical collections access and maintenance, technology lending, selected maker services, and creative technology support. This role contributes to effective operations in the Academic Commons by coordinating with Facilities Management on building issues and supporting programs, events, and activities that enhance learning, research, and community engagement. The User Services Specialist also contributes to communications, assessment, documentation, and ongoing improvements to public-facing library services. This position is represented for purposes of collective bargaining by SEIU.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in related field to position duties or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Two years of experience in an academic library, higher education, or a similar public-facing service environment.
Strong user-centered public service orientation in supporting students, faculty, staff, and visitors
Working knowledge of discovery and integrated library systems, such as Ex Libris’ Alma/Primo and Leganto or equivalent.
Familiarity with academic library web sites, catalogs, circulation workflows, and online searching
Ability to schedule, train, mentor, and provide day-to-day work direction for student assistants in a busy service environment.
Ability to provide basic user and technical support for loanable library technology, maker services, and creative technology tools.
Ability to coordinate routine event logistics, building access needs, and communication with Facilities Management and other campus partners.
Ability to learn, document, assess, and improve access services workflows, data-collection practices, procedures, and best practices.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Google drives/folders/forms, Adobe Acrobat, Web Editing, and social media applications or any combination of productivity programs applicable to position responsibilities.
Demonstrated ability to be detail-oriented and thorough; skilled at anticipating and preventing potential problems and handling a wide variety of tasks with efficiency and accuracy.
Strong commitment to a quality work product.
Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate verbally, in writing and electronically.
Effective interpersonal skills as evidenced in the ability to collaborate with a variety of constituencies.
Demonstrated commitment to justice, equity, inclusion & diversity.
Demonstrated skill in adapting to and performing work effectively in high-volume, high accountability, confidential environment with multiple and changing priorities.
Effective organizational, logistical, time management and planning skills with the ability to manage and prioritize multiple tasks/projects simultaneously, prioritize and fulfill the functions of an office in a timely manner.
Ability to self-motivate and work independently.
Ability to provide effective leadership and training, and to work effectively and professionally across functions, disciplines, levels, and with diverse groups.

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with academic library access services, especially circulation, Information Desk operations, building operations, event support, technology lending, maker services, or creative technology support.

Responsibilities

Coordinates day-to-day Information Desk operations during assigned shifts, including regular opening or closing responsibilities, frontline public service, circulation support, basic troubleshooting, directional assistance, and referral to other library staff when needed.
Provides day-to-day work direction and support for student assistants assigned to Information Desk and User Services operations, including scheduling, onboarding, training, mentoring, assigning routine tasks, answering questions, monitoring service quality, and communicating staffing or performance concerns to the User Services supervisor.
Supports and coordinates circulation workflows for books, journals, media, technology, and other loanable items, including staff- supported and self-service check in and check-out, replacements, and patron account support.
Supports technology lending, selected maker services, and creative technology support as part of shared User Services operations, including circulation of loanable equipment, basic user assistance, routine troubleshooting, documentation, and inventory support.
Coordinates programs, events, and activities in the building by maintaining the Academic Commons shared calendar; processing and responding to space reservation requests; routing inquiries to appropriate staff or campus partners; coordinating building access and event readiness; communicating with Facilities Management regarding maintenance, setup, and public space issues; ordering supplies, food, beverages, and other event materials; supporting event setup, troubleshooting, and follow-up; and helping keep public spaces functional, welcoming, and ready for use.
Supports physical collections access and maintenance, including reshelving, shelf reading, inventory support, shifting projects, stacks maintenance, and physical wayfinding tools.
Contributes to assessment, reporting, and continuous improvement across User Services by developing, documenting, maintaining, and refining access services workflows, data-collection practices, procedures, and best practices.