Reserves Associate, Amherst College, Amherst, MA

Posted October 13, 2023

About Amherst College

Amherst has taken a leadership role among highly selective liberal arts colleges and universities in successfully diversifying the racial, socio-economic, and geographic profile of its student body. The College is similarly committed to enriching its educational experience and its culture through the diversity of its faculty, administration and staff.

Job Description

Amherst College invites applications for the Reserves Associate position. The Reserves Associate is a full-time (40 hours per week) position, scheduled 1pm-10pm Monday-Friday, starting at $21.35 per hour. Given Amherst’s distinction as one of the most diverse liberal arts colleges in the country, the successful candidate will demonstrate the ways in which they bring value to and will work towards supporting a broadly diverse community.

The Reserves Associate processes course reserves each semester, ensuring equitable access to academic material to support student learning. Communicate with teaching faculty to solicit syllabi and solve reserve problems. Oversees library material billing and the hold shelf. Participates fully as a member of the Access Services department and assumes regularly scheduled hours at the front desk.

Responsibilities

Processes course reserves

Creates print reserve collection, maintaining accurate course and material listings in library database.
Communicates with faculty and Academic Department Coordinators to solicit reading lists and resolve issues.
Trains and supervises a diverse group of student assistants on retrieving reserve materials from the stacks and processing print reserves.
Shares monitoring of and responding to messages in the reserves email account with the reserves team.
Provides backup for electronic reserve processing.

Schedules hour at the Front Desk

Provides services and assistance to library users, including charging/discharging materials, maintaining borrower accounts, explaining policies and procedures, answering questions and referring patrons to other departments within the library or on campus as appropriate.
Answers telephone and directs calls as necessary.
Maintains working knowledge of library policies and procedures. Engages in departmental discussions about best practices and policy changes.
Provides backup and answers questions for student desk attendants.

Oversees library material billing

Oversees charges for late returns as well as lost or damaged items.
Corresponds with users to explain and resolve billing issues
Meets established deadlines for reporting all charges and credits to Amherst College Student Accounts.
Works with Five College colleagues to resolve billing issues.
Maintains accurate records of all billing transactions.
Monitors for and responds to billing-related messages in the library circulation email account.

Maintains hold shelf

Assumes responsibility for the hold shelf where requested items are shelved for patron pick-up.
Reviews holds regularly and ensures that library’s hold policies are observed.
Follows up on problem holds for Amherst College users and Five College colleagues.
Works with the Access Services Supervisor to identify training options for student assistants who process requested materials for the hold shelf.

Supports other library departmental initiatives

Outside of peak reserve processing season, provides support to other library departmental projects.

Performs other duties/functions as requested

Attends regular department, library, division, and collegewide meetings.
Contributes to documentation for areas of responsibility.

Qualifications

Required

Associate’s degree, or 3-5 years of experience in lieu of degree.
Demonstrated exceptional customer service, including creative problem-solving and a commitment to equitable access.
Demonstrated close attention to detail and organizational skills.
Proficient computer skills and demonstrated ability to learn and apply new technologies into existing operations.
Ability to work closely and problem-solve with colleagues from all library departments, students, faculty, and staff.
Ability to independently manage multiple priorities and tasks.
Strong verbal and written communication skills.
Demonstrated commitment to effectively supporting a broadly diverse and intentionally inclusive community.

Preferred

Bachelor’s degree.
1-3 years previous experience working in a library.

Benefits

Amherst College offers many opportunities for professional growth and development, continued learning, and career advancement.

Amherst College is pleased to provide a comprehensive, highly competitive benefits package that meets the needs of staff and faculty and their families. Benefits are an important part of our overall compensation, so it is critical that you review all of the options to ensure it meets your total compensation requirements. Click here for Benefits Information.

To Apply

Interested candidates are asked to submit a resume and cover letter online at https://amherst.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/Amherst_Jobs. Please be sure to upload all requested documents prior to clicking Submit. Applications cannot be revised once submitted. (Current employees and students should apply by clicking on the Career icon from their Workday home screen)Review of applications will begin October 30th and continue until the position is filled.

To find information about job group and level (JGL) follow this link.