Access Services Librarian

The Access Services Librarian is part of the Peabody Library Team, primarily providing expertise on and responding to access services-related questions and operations. The Access Services Librarian is responsible for the daily operations of Peabody Library, including circulation desk services, stacks maintenance, reserves processing, resource sharing, library entry access, the physical space, and equipment oversight. The Access Services Librarian supervises a staff of approximately 20 part-time student employees, ensuring consistent and superior staff performance during all hours of operation. 

This position reports to the Director of Peabody Library. Professional staff are expected to support and participate in system-wide library committees or other strategic initiatives as an integral component of their responsibilities. This is an on-site role with occasional opportunities to work from home.
 

About the Work Unit:
The Jean and Alexander Heard Libraries at Vanderbilt University comprises nine libraries, as well as a service department in collections services, digital scholarship & scholarly communications, information technology and digital services, and teaching & learning. We seek to create a welcoming environment and serve as a partner in research and scholarship. The libraries are dynamic places for faculty, staff, students, and alumni to reflect and discover. We also strive to be a workplace in which staff at every level continuously grow in knowledge and skills, staying abreast of advances and trends in librarianship to power relevant, vibrant research libraries.
 

The Jean and Alexander Heard Libraries are fundamental to the university’s goal of advancing scholarship and learning. We collect, preserve and make accessible a wide variety of resources, we partner with faculty and students to shape research, and we encourage the development of informed scholars and engaged citizens.

The Peabody Library is the primary library for undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in the Peabody College of Education and Human Development, as well as students from a variety of other disciplines. The library’s staff is made up of a library director, subject librarians, and library staff that provide outreach and support for Vanderbilt faculty, students, and university staff in the areas of research and teaching. Peabody Library functions as a distinct operational facility, positioned within the
larger structure of the Jean and Alexander Heard Libraries system.

Key Functions and Expected Performance:

• Works closely with the Director of Peabody Library to establish and achieve goals for library services; makes recommendations for improvement to ensure outstanding service.
• Coordinates library building hours; responsible for verifying the accuracy of the library hours on the Peabody Library web page.
• Interviews, hires, trains, and supervises Peabody Library student workers.
  • Determines their priorities, assigns tasks, and determines their work schedules
  • Develops training modules and evaluation procedures for student workers.
• Sets the service desk staffing schedule, working at least one shift a week at the service desk, and providing back up staffing as needed.
• Creates training material for service desk procedures and policies.
• Communicates with campus units for building access issues, including the Libraries’ Director of Facilities and Services, the Card Office, VUPD, Allied Universal Security, and others.
• Serves as point of contact for circulation and access policy questions.
• Has frequent contact with students, faculty, staff, and library patrons to provide information and assistance.
• Handles patron complaints and problems dealing specifically with their patron record.
• Handles all Peabody Library patron billing and credit issues.
• Works closely with the Peabody Library Director and other staff to identify and provide programming for the Peabody Library and Peabody College community, in direct support of the Vanderbilt University Academic Strategic Plan.
• Participates in library planning; evaluates services and procedures and makes recommendations for improvement to ensure outstanding service.
• Participates in system-wide library initiatives and committees.
• Regularly present, publish, and/or otherwise contribute to the profession of library science.
• Compiles, summarizes, archives, and analyzes statistics for all access services operations for various internal and external reporting, and to recommend staffing and service improvements.
• Develops new assessments as needed.

Supervisory Relationships:
This position has supervisory responsibility over the Peabody Library student workers. This position reports administratively and functionally to the Director, Peabody Library.

Education and Certifications

• MLIS from an ALA-accredited institution or equivalent is required.

Experience and Skills:

• Excellent customer service skills, ability to handle difficult situations with courtesy, tact, discretion and patience, exercise good judgment consistent with Library procedures, and work in a fast-paced environment is necessary.
• Experience managing service desk operations, and an ability to envision and implement system- wide policies and procedures is necessary.
• Experience leading or managing a team is preferred.
• Ability to work in a highly collaborative setting, excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and a strong commitment to service is necessary.
• A wide range of computer and technology skills are necessary; facility with the technologies of integrated library systems and current trends in library technology is necessary.
• Ability to work with a variety of departments, across the university and with the broad patron base of the university library is necessary.
• Experience working within higher education or academic libraries is preferred.
• Project management experience is necessary.
• Demonstrated experience in employing technology to promote efficiency, and in analyzing and evaluating data to identify trends and improve services and operations, experience with the Microsoft Office Suite is necessary.
• Supervisory experience, including hiring, training, evaluation, and discipline