Circulation Student Worker Application

Student Worker Job Description

The John J. Moakley Law Library continuously accepts applications for motivated, detail-oriented student workers. As a Circulation/Reserve Student Worker, you will regularly assist a diverse community of library patrons. We are looking for applicants with strong customer service skills – tell us all about your retail, food service, or other customer service experience! This job does not require library experience, but a familiarity with library settings may be beneficial. Hours may include nights and/or weekends.

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Job Responsibilities

• Understand, follow, and effectively communicate both public and internal library Moakley Law Library policies and procedures
• Answer patron queries at the Circulation/Reserve Desk both in-person and on the phone
• Occasionally staff the Circulation/Reserve Desk alone
• Be able to staff the Circulation/Reserve Desk with other students and without a professional staff member
• Respond to patron complaints at the Circulation/Reserve Desk, including but not limited to issues with study rooms and noise complaints
• Use Sierra, the library’s Integrated Library System, to complete tasks including but not limited to checking materials in and out and locating items within our collections
• Use the library’s catalog to locate items in our print and electronic collections
• Assist with the study room reservation system including but not limited to helping patrons locate empty study rooms, checking patrons into reserved rooms, enforcing study room policies, and occasionally unlocking rooms for patrons upon request
• Retrieve items from the collections upon request, including but not limited to reserve and course reserve items
• Shelve materials throughout the library’s collections using the Library of Congress’ call number system
• Depending on assigned shifts, student workers may be responsible for opening and closing the library without professional staff. Our academic year hours are listed below, but occasionally change for holidays and school breaks
  • Monday – Friday: 8 a.m. - 11 p.m.
  • Saturday – Sunday: 9 a.m. - 11 p.m.
• Assist patrons with copier and scanner issues
• Refer research questions to the Research Desk and other non-library questions to the appropriate departments
• Occasionally make judgement calls when no professional staff members are reachable
• Read and respond to all professional staff communications
• Notify the Circulation Supervisors of any problems or issues related to the daily operation of the Moakley Law Library including but not limited to missing items, technology issues, facilities issues, patron complaints, and other problems at the Circulation/Reserve Desk
• Conduct headcounts at pre-determined times to note the number of patrons in the space and check for facilities and security issues
• Be comfortable closing the library alone, including checking study rooms and spaces for patrons, abandoned belongings, and security issues
• Help library staff with miscellaneous tasks, special assignments, and longer-term projects as assigned

Requirements/Qualifications

• Strong customer service skills
• Reliable, punctual, and professional
• Comfortable asking questions of both library staff and colleagues
• Use existing documentation on policies and procedures to answer questions and make judgement calls when needed
• Keen attention to detail
• Strong listening and communication skills
• Must be able to support a diverse group of patrons and colleagues