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.
Summary of Responsibilities:
Processes course reserves
- Provides backup for electronic reserve processing.
- Shares monitoring of and responding to messages in the reserves email account with the reserves team.
- Trains and supervises a diverse group of student assistants on retrieving reserve materials from the stacks and processing print reserves.
- Communicates with faculty and Academic Department Coordinators to solicit reading lists and resolve issues.
- Creates print reserve collection, maintaining accurate course and material listings in library database.
Scheduled hours at the Frost Front Desk
- Provides backup and answers questions for student desk attendants.
- Maintains working knowledge of library policies and procedures. Engages in departmental discussions about best practices and policy changes.
- Answers telephone and directs calls as necessary.
- 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.
Oversees library material billing
- Monitors for and responds to billing-related messages in the library circulation email account.
- Maintains accurate records of all billing transactions.
- Works with Five College colleagues to resolve billing issues.
- Meets established deadlines for reporting all charges and credits to Amherst College Student Accounts.
- Corresponds with users to explain and resolve billing issues
- Oversees charges for late returns as well as lost or damaged items.
Maintains hold shelf
- Works with the Access Services Supervisor to identify training options for student assistants who process requested materials for the hold shelf.
- Follows up on problem holds for Amherst College users and Five College colleagues.
- Reviews holds regularly and ensures that library’s hold policies are observed.
- Assumes responsibility for the hold shelf where requested items are shelved for patron pick-up.
Supports other library departmental initiatives
- Outside of peak reserve processing season, provides support to other library departmental projects.
Performs other duties/functions as requested
- Contributes to documentation for areas of responsibility.
- Attends regular department, library, division, and collegewide meetings.
Qualifications:
Required
- Associate’s degree, or 3-5 years of experience in lieu of degree.
- Demonstrated commitment to effectively supporting a broadly diverse and intentionally inclusive community.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills.
- Ability to independently manage multiple priorities and tasks.
- Ability to work closely and problem-solve with colleagues from all library departments, students, faculty, and staff.
- Proficient computer skills and demonstrated ability to learn and apply new technologies into existing operations.
- Demonstrated close attention to detail and organizational skills.
- Demonstrated exceptional customer service, including creative problem-solving and a commitment to equitable access.
Preferred
- 1-3 years previous experience working in a library.
- Bachelor’s degree.
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.
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.
Website
https://www.amherst.edu/library
Human Resources / Job Listings
https://www.amherst.edu/offices/human_resources/employmentopportunities
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.