Open Access Systems and Services Librarian, Stonehill College, Easton, MA

Posted May 5, 2017

The Open Access Systems and Services Librarian will lead the re-envisioning of information access through the assessment and enhancement of services, spaces, and systems. They will be responsible for management of front-line library access services including circulation, reserves, copyright and course packs, and open access programs. This position works closely and collaboratively with faculty from across campus and with library colleagues to enhance access to support student learning. Opportunity to pilot creative and innovative solutions to increase access-related user-engagement.

The position is part of the Director’s management team and must work collaboratively to ensure the development and delivery of library resources and services and promote their incorporation into the fabric of academic life at the College. This position will work closely with liaison librarians in supporting faculty use of reserves, coursepacks, and open access programs; and work with the Archivist, and Faculty, Staff, and Students of the college to ingest materials into and provide access to the institutional repository. This position will also work closely with the library systems team to ensure the access services portions of our ILS and reserves systems are functioning optimally for our students and faculty needs.

This position will be in charge of building operations and events. This includes coordination of events for all departments housed in the library, liaising with all departments across the college hosting event at the library, and events contracted through conference and events. This position coordinates all physical plant maintenance and upgrades with the college’s facilities team, and coordination of any systems updates with the Assistant Director of Library Information Systems and Services. This position oversees the 2 full time and 6 part time access staff who are the sole staff during all open hour. This position is part of the collections response team.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities 

• Annual report and budget: Prepare an annual report for the Access Services Department by compiling statistical data on circulation activities including the number of items checked out, reserve check outs, items re-shelved, library patrons served, study rooms booked, etc. This data is included in Library Director’s annual report. Also prepare a narrative of specific tasks accomplished, unusual activities or problems solved. Prepare special budgetary needs for each year including expected student aide needs for the entire library.
• Goals: Set yearly goals for self and department. Meet with Director to evaluate goals.
• Building issues: Assists in responding to weather, fire and security emergencies by initiating security procedures, maintaining order, securing problem areas and contacting proper authorities. Serve as coordinator of many building related issues (keys, lights, toilets, icy steps, slippery floors, etc.).
• Administrative: Participate in weekly Department Heads meetings, interview applicants for administrative positions in library.
• Lead the Access Services Department by hiring, training, supervising, and evaluating the Access Services staff, implementing goals and objectives, developing procedures;
• Develop an effective, customer service oriented staff consisting of full-time and part-time support staff as well as student employees. Hire the best people possible, provide training in circulation procedures, schedule work shifts, assign duties based on qualifications, oversee work activities, evaluate performance, handle disciplinary action according to policy and terminate if appropriate.
• Coordinate student aides needs for MacPhaidin library. Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization’s policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.
• Overseeing the circulation functions of access tools such as Sierra and Ares; Act as functional system expert for all circulation-related workflows, ie check in/out, circulation rules (loan rules, item types, etc), hours tables, holds, materials booking, reserves (print and electronic), patron self service.
• Loan policies and procedures: Establish and implement loan policies and procedures for all library materials. Ensure that the online system, Innovative Sierra Circulation, has updated loan rules and tables to provide consistent and accurate loans and notices.
• Customer satisfaction: Answer questions and resolve complaints regarding circulation and reserve functions and overdue, fine or lost book replacement for all library patrons. Receive verbal and written complaints, investigate the facts of each complaint and resolve the complaint in a professional manner.
• Fines, lost books, damaged books: Settle appeal of library fines, damages or lost book charges. Determine validity of appeal, reduce or waive fines when appropriate. Place holds on students with outstanding accounts prior to registration or commencement Notify bursar when holds can be lifted.
• Assist patrons: Ensure that patron are directed to the appropriate department or resources, answer questions about general library and circulation policies and procedures; demonstrate use of on-line catalog and assist in locating materials for patrons.
• Collection growth, stack space: Plan and Implement shifts of collections for changing space needs in the main stacks, curriculum, video and music collections. Estimate the amount of shelving needed, receive and inventory shipments, oversee the installation of shelving and schedule, plan and direct staff in the relocation of the collections onto the new shelving.
• As library copyright expert, work with liaison librarians and faculty to enhance understanding of copyright and equality of access using tools such as ELearn and Ares; Develop Open Access Initiatives; Coordinate with Faculty and Information Technology and the Office of the General Counsel to ensure best practices are implemented
• Oversee use of several campus systems within the library such as 25Live (for room booking), card access (for student access to the library during off hours), and Office 365 tools (for maintaining student schedules, adding content to library intranet and adding open access content).
• Payroll: supervise the completion and submission of bi-weekly timesheets for student aides and weekly time cards for circulation assistants.
• Equipment and supplies: Provide for continual maintenance of all public copiers and network printers; fill with paper and toner, clear paper and coin jams, trouble shoot problems. Order supplies for equipment in a timely fashion. Maintain multi-media equipment and order replacements when needed. Anticipate need for extra or specialized equipment depending on new courses or reserve materials. Order all general office and library supplies.
• Exit gate alarm and security: Enforce college and library policies by advising patrons of those policies and contacting Campus Police when compliance is not forthcoming. Notify the VP of Student Affairs, in writing, if a student attempts theft or damages materials.
• Updating and maintaining assessment programs for services, spaces, and systems.
• Availability of items in collection: Ensure that every item in the main, curriculum, music and video collections has the proper status and location, i.e. an item listed as available is on the shelf and in its proper place.
• Responsible for 150,000 volumes, 3,000 videos and 3,000 music CD’s and cassettes. This is accomplished through continual straightening, shelf reading and inventory. Inform Technical Services of lost or missing items.
• Reserve collection: Send reminders to faculty and encourage them to send reserve lists in a timely manner. Oversee collection and processing of reserve materials each semester by supporting and assisting the full time circulation assistants; explaining copyright policies to faculty; promote use of Electronic reserves to faculty when appropriate for their needs. Apply for copyright permission and notify faculty of compliance problems.
• Damaged books: Facilitates the mending or re-binding of library materials which have either been returned in damaged condition or discovered during stack maintenance. Mend books in the department or consult with the Collection Development Librarian about rebinding or replacement.

Schedule:
The regular hours for this position are 2pm-10pm Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and 10am-6pm Thursday and Friday. Schedule subject to change during breaks, Summer schedule, departmental needs.

Supervisory Responsibilities:
This position oversees the 2 full time and 6 part time access staff who are the sole staff during all open hour. This position is part of the collections response team.

Minimum Qualifications
Master’s degree in library science (M.L.S.) Applications pending August 2017 graduation accepted. We seek an individual who is excited to learn, flexible in their thinking, able to communicate clearly in writing and presentations, initiative and ability to manage time, ability to creatively approach challenges.

Preferred Qualifications
Library access/public services experience in an academic library setting or equivalent preferred. Experience with Circulation, Reserves, Copyright, and Open Access initiatives or equivalent preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Candidates should possess excellent verbal and written communication skills, a high level of commitment to student learning and faculty engagement as well as being a knowledgeable resource of current trends and services in an academic library setting.

Physical Requirements
While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision and ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment
While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions and extreme cold. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Special Instructions to Applicants
Interested applicants should submit online a letter of application (cover letter) and resume.

Applicants should submit required documentation via the Stonehill Jobs website only. Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis until the position is filled. https://jobs.stonehill.edu/postings/14391

Applicants who will enrich the diversity of the campus community are strongly encouraged to apply.

Stonehill College is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity.