Library Assistant (Collections & Discovery)

Job Summary

Robert Gordon University is proud to be a leading, modern, university which offers an inclusive and innovative environment, where everyone contributes to delivering impactful education and research.

The Library Service provides a comprehensive range of services and resources to enhance learning, teaching and engagement activity across all university and wider communities. We also steward the University’s unique art and heritage collections and manage the institutional repository which showcases the innovative and globally recognised work created by RGU researchers.

Within the Library, the Collections & Discovery team is responsible for ensuring that all members of the university community have access to the information resources they need through the acquisition and management of resources and provision of the online reading list and digitisation services for the Library. The role of Library Assistant (Collections & Discovery) is an essential part of this team and key duties include book ordering, creating and updating reading lists, scanning items, processing resources, and updating online records.

We are seeking a detail-oriented individual with strong IT and communication skills, and experience in providing excellent customer service. You will be proactive and enthusiastic with a desire to learn new skills, be organised and accurate, have strong interpersonal skills, and be able to work as part of a team and independently.

This role is suitable for hybrid working in line with the University’s policy and guidance. Due to Library operational requirements, work from home will usually be limited to one day per week.

In keeping with RGU's commitment to work/life balance you will benefit from a generous pension scheme, 46 days annual leave (including statutory days) an onsite nursery and sports centre, as well as a range of voluntary health and travel benefits.

We are committed to attracting and engaging a diverse range of staff and fostering a culture where everyone feels welcome, comfortable to express their ideas, and can reach their full potential. For more information, please visit Our Diverse Workforce pages.

Job Description

RESPONSIBLE TO: Collections & Discovery Librarian

RESPONSIBLE FOR: N/A

PURPOSE OF POST: As part of the Library's Collections and Discovery team this role is fundamental to the effective acquisition and management of information resources and the operation of the reading list and digitisation services. You will provide excellent customer service and undertake a range of duties, including book ordering, creating, and updating reading lists, scanning items, processing resources, and updating online records, to ensure the library’s collections are comprehensive, up-to-date, discoverable, and accessible. You will enable the effective delivery of Library Services by working flexibly to support the work of other Library teams at times of high demand.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES

Resource Acquisition and Management

• Identify, investigate, and order print books and eBooks from designated suppliers.
• Undertake tasks to ensure print and online resources are accessible and discoverable including receiving and physically processing print books and journals and activating eBooks.
• Assist with the creation and maintenance of resource records including, but not limited to, checking bibliographic data, reviewing holdings information, testing access, and working with catalogue records.
• Participate in activities related to the management of the physical collection such as shelving, shelf tidying, stock checking, relocation, and disposal.
• Develop excellent knowledge of the appropriate modules on the Library Management System and keep that knowledge up to date.

Reading Lists and Digitisation Service

• Create and update online reading lists as per requests from Academic and Library staff.
• Undertake regular checking to ensure reading list content is up-to-date, accurate and accessible.
• Liaise with Academic and Library staff regarding list content.
• Assist with the provision of the Digitisation Service including, but not limited to, identifying digitised readings, liaising with staff, and scanning items in house.
• Assist with promotion and education activities relating to the Reading List and Digitisation Service.

Enquiry Handling

• Participate in the enquiry answering duties of the team, dealing with queries received by email, phone, MS Teams, and in person.

General

• Contributes to the development, implementation and review of the workflows and policies of the Collections and Discovery team.
• Undertake manual handling duties in line with health and safety protocols.
• Keep up to date with continuing professional and technical developments in relevant areas.
• Maintain an understanding of appropriate policies and regulations including GDPR, copyright and health and safety.
• Work flexibly to support other Library teams as required.
• Undertake the role in line with the university's core values: Our Values | RGU.
• Undertake other duties in functions cognate to the responsibilities of the post.

This job description is not exhaustive, and the role holder may be required to support other Library teams by undertaking relevant duties commensurate with the grading of the post. Activities may be subject to amendment over time as the role develops and/or Library priorities and requirements evolve.

Person Specification

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS

Qualifications and Professional Memberships

Minimum of 3 Scottish ‘Highers’ or equivalent qualification.

Knowledge and Skills

Excellent and demonstrable IT skills (including use of MS Word, Excel, Outlook and Teams) and ability to learn new systems

Organisational and time management skills

Ability to build and maintain good internal and external relationships

Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal

Capacity to be flexible and learn new skills in a changing environment

Experience

Experience of delivering high quality customer service

Experience of working in an environment that requires a high degree of accuracy

Experience of working in a team and independently

Experience of exercising initiative and problem solving

DESIRABLE REQUIREMENTS

Qualifications and Professional Memberships

N/A

Knowledge and Skills

Knowledge of library resources and their use e.g. databases, journals etc.

Knowledge of library acquisitions processes

Knowledge of the operation of reading lists and digitisations in a HE library

Experience

Experience of working in a higher education environment

Experience of working in a library, in particular an academic library

Experience of using a Library Management System

 

Behaviours

Behaviour 1: Communication - Ability to receive, understand and convey both straightforward information, and information requiring careful explanation, in a clear and accurate manner

Behaviour 2: Service Delivery - Experience of giving customers a positive and satisfactory service, by providing accurate and up to date knowledge of services available in own and related areas of work

Behaviour 3: Decision Making - Experience of using own judgement to make decisions, making collaborative decisions with others to reach conclusions and providing advice or information that will influence the decisions of others

Behaviour 4: Planning and Organising Resources - Experience of planning, prioritising and organising your own work or resources to achieve agreed objectives