Jobs at Western

Libraries & Archives Paraprofessional 2- Circulation and Reserve Services

Apply now Job no: 501905
Work type: Permanent Full Time
Department: Western Libraries (4910)
Location: Bellingham, WA
Categories: Academic Affairs

Position Title Libraries & Archives Paraprofessional 2- Circulation and Reserve Services
About the University

Western Washington University, with over 15,000 students in seven colleges and the graduate school, is nationally recognized for its educational programs, students and faculty. The campus is located in Bellingham, Washington, a coastal community of 90,000 overlooking Bellingham Bay, the San Juan Islands and the North Cascades Mountain range. The city lies 90 miles north of Seattle and 60 miles south of Vancouver, British Columbia. Western has additional sites in Anacortes, Bremerton, Everett, Port Angeles, and Poulsbo. Western is recognized nationally for its successes, such as being named one of the top public master's-granting institutions in the Pacific Northwest for 25 years in a row by U.S. News & World Report.

Western Washington University is committed to achieving excellence through advancing inclusive success, increasing our Washington impact, and focusing on transformational education grounded in the liberal arts and sciences and based on innovative scholarship, research, and creative activity. Western's greatest strength is the outstanding students, faculty, staff, and alumni/ae who make up its community. Western supports an inclusive governance structure for all and provides a learning and working environment in which everyone can thrive. In pursuit of this excellence, individual employees are expected to establish and maintain productive and effective inclusive working relationships amongst diverse populations including staff, faculty, administration, student, and external constituents. Further, individual employees are expected to have the ability to operationalize sustainability concepts (economic, societal, environmental) into all aspects of performing their job duties.

About the Department

The Collection Services division of the Western Libraries facilitates and coordinates the management of the Libraries’ collections. This collection management includes stewardship of the library resource access budget and active engagement at every stage of the lifecycle of library materials.

The division’s work encompasses but is not limited to the selection, acquisition, organization, delivery, and preservation of content, as well as efforts to make content discoverable and accessible; regular and ongoing collection assessment; careful monitoring of physical space; leveraging regional and national relationships to supplement local holdings; and one-on-one service to end users. In consultation with their supervisor, members of Collection Services are encouraged to seek professional growth opportunities beyond their immediate duties, such as participation in library committees, programs, or groups not directly tied to their role; trainings or other professional development; or service to the wider university. At least one hour each week is reserved for professional development related to accessibility, diversity, equity, and inclusion (ADEI) in order to inform day-to-day work and foster integration of ADEI practices into all other position duties. 


 

About the Position

The person in this position assists with a variety of Circulation and Reserves tasks. Typically serves as the only FTE staff and primary point of contact in the building on Sundays and evenings. Help open/close the library when needed and during Summer Quarter and Intersessions.

Duties include: 

  • Provide a professional level of customer service to patrons at a busy service counter, over the phone, through chat, and via email; explain library procedures, rules and service policies. 

  • Perform and oversee routine circulation desk tasks, including checking materials in/out, and processing of materials using Alma. 

  • Performs daily hold shelf maintenance. 

  • Routine stacks management tasks, including backdating, shifting, checking in and processing of materials from return bins and other library departments using Alma. 

  • Create and maintain a searching schedule for missing, lost, in-transit, etc. items. Support inventory projects by monitoring scanning, creating lists, and searching for missing items. Create and prepare carts for shelving. 

  • Assist with the processing of e-reserves. 

  • Professional development activities related to accessibility, diversity, equity, and inclusion in order to inform day-to-day work and foster integration of ADEI practices into all other position duties. 

Currently, this position will work Sunday through Thursday 12:15-9:15pm during the academic year (Sept-June), Monday through Friday 8am-5pm during intercessions, and Monday through Friday 8:15am-5:15pm during the summer. If hours are extended in the future, this position would receive at least two weeks' notice prior to the change of schedule. The successful applicant typically serves as the only FTE staff in the buildings on Sundays and evenings.

The search committee hopes to conduct first-round interviews in August with the tentative goal of extending an offer to the successful candidate sometime in late summer.  

Please direct any questions to Erin Bledsoe (she/her), Circulation and Reserves Manager, at bledsoe@wwu.edu or contact Western’s HR Office

Required Qualifications
  • High school graduation or equivalent and one year of full or part-time experience in the functional operations of a library or archives.
  • Demonstrated ability and commitment to cultivate learning environments and services that are equitable and inclusive of users with diverse social identities and backgrounds.
  • Record of providing excellent customer service while navigating a busy public-facing environment with frequent interruptions.
  • Demonstrated knowledge of library processes and procedures as they relate to circulation.
  • Experience directing the work of others, including student employees.
  • Must be able to push book trucks weighing up to 40lbs.
Preferred Qualifications
  • Experience in an academic library setting.
  • Experience successfully working in a team environment.
  • Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing.
  • Demonstrated ability to use and explain information tools and services.
  • Excellent organizational skills with an attention to detail; ability to solve problems.
  • Experience working with complex Library Information Systems, such as Alma.
  • Proficiency in MS office suite.
Conditions of Employment All employees must comply with our Immunization policies, including Proof of Rubeola Measles Immunity within 60-days of hire. Please reach out to HR@wwu.edu if you need information regarding medical or religious exemption and applicable accommodations.
Salary  $3,303 - $4,385/month depending on qualifications and experience. Successful candidates typically begin at/near the beginning of the salary range and receive scheduled salary increment increases.
Benefits Information Benefits Overview for Classified Positions
Bargaining Unit This position is part of bargaining unit A and is covered by the collective bargaining agreement with Washington Federation of State Employees.
Application Instructions

Application materials should address your experience related to the position responsibilities and the required and preferred qualifications.

Closing Date Notes

Application review begins September 3, 2024; the position is open until filled.

Western Washington University (WWU) is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer committed to assembling a diverse, broadly trained faculty and staff. Women, minorities, people with disabilities and veterans are strongly encouraged to apply. In compliance with applicable laws and in furtherance of its commitment to fostering an environment that welcomes and embraces diversity, WWU does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex (including pregnancy and parenting status), disability, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status or genetic information in its programs or activities, including employment, admissions, and educational programs. See WWU’s Policy on Ensuring Equal Opportunity and Prohibiting Discrimination and Retaliation. Inquiries may be directed to the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance, Title IX and ADA Coordinator, Western Washington University, Old Main 126 (MS 9021), 516 High Street, Bellingham, WA 98225; 360.650.3307 (voice) or 711 (Washington Relay); crtc@wwu.edu

WWU is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. To request this document in an alternate format or to request an accommodation, please contact Human Resources Disability Services, 360.650.3751 or 711 (Washington Relay).

Annual Security and Fire Safety Report: This report is provided pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act ("The Clery Act"). It includes statistics for the previous three calendar years concerning reported crimes that occurred on Western's campus; in certain off-campus buildings or property owned or controlled by Western; and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from, the campus. The report also includes institutional policies concerning campus security, such as policies concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. You can obtain a copy of this report in printed or alternate formats by contacting the Office of the Vice President for Enrollment and Student Services at vpsa.office@wwu.edu. The report can be found at: Annual Security and Fire Safety Report.

All new employees must comply with the immunization policy and show employment eligibility verification as required by the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Service before beginning work at WWU. A thorough background check will be conducted on all new hires which includes a sexual misconduct background check.

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