CLASSIFICATION TITLE: Library Services Specialist III

UNION CODE: R09

TEMPORARY END DATE: This position is temporary and ends on or before June 30, 2026. Any continuation beyond June 30, 2026 is contingent upon satisfactory performance and available funding.

FT/PT: Full-time

PAY PLAN: 12-month

WORKPLACE TYPE: On-site (work in-person at business location).

ANTICIPATED HIRING RANGE: $4,162 - $4,600

• However, offer amount will be commensurate with candidate’s experience, education, skills, and training.

CSU CLASSIFICATION SALARY RANGE: $4,162 - $7,673

PAY BASIS: Monthly

BENEFITS: CSUB offers a best-in-class benefit package for eligible employees that includes an array of medical plans, choice of dental plans, vision coverage, retirement participation in CalPERS, CSU tuition waiver, up to 24 vacation days per year, sick leave with unlimited accrual, 14 paid holidays per year and more!  See our benefits website for additional information.

CANDIDATES ELIGIBLE TO APPLY: Open to all qualified applicants.

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLICANT: FOR PRIORITY CONSIDERATION, applications must be received by July 31, 2025; however, the position will remain open until filled.

POSITION PURPOSE:

As part of Academic Affairs, the mission of Library Services is to provide and promote a full range of supportive, high-quality services to CSUB students, faculty, staff, and the broader community. Our dedicated team is committed to meeting the diverse needs of our patrons at the main campus and in the Antelope Valley by ensuring timely access to materials and offering expert assistance with research and resource usage.

Under the general direction of the Dean of Libraries, the Library Services Specialist plays a key role in delivering frontline library services. The incumbent is responsible for performing a variety of circulation duties, including checking materials in and out, assisting patrons with access to library resources and study spaces, and addressing general inquiries. This position serves as a critical resource for students, faculty, staff, and the community, ensuring they receive timely and accurate support. The Library Services Specialist also leads Student Assistants during assigned shifts, ensuring high-quality service and operational efficiency. Additionally, the role includes responsibilities related to the opening and securely closing the library building, particularly during evening hours, Sunday to Thursday from 2pm to 10:30pm.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Check-out Desk Duties & Customer Service

• Understand library circulation operations with a comprehensive knowledge of policies and procedures and their relation to overall library functions and departments to perform service activities involved with checking in or out library materials and reserves using Alma/Primo Circulation software, updating statuses of library items as needed, and providing patron check out overrides in Alma/Primo as required.
• Assist patrons with inquiries and provide problem resolution. Respond to patron complaints about policy violations and conduct rounds as needed to ensure compliance.
• Aid and instruct patrons in the retrieval of Library materials and use of Library resources or equipment. Refer patrons to other Library or campus departments and resources for additional assistance when appropriate.
• Review, process, and communicate Runnercard ADM and or pay-to-print refunds and transactions misunderstandings to patrons and staff.
• Provide library cards for Community Borrowers by collecting and entering confidential patron information into computer and confirming patron library privilege eligibility.
• Monitor and contact patrons regarding items in the lost-and-found.
• Lead student assistants on duty by directing work and providing guidance as needed.

Course Reserves

• Coordinate course reserve service point and oversee daily reserve operations using in-depth knowledge and judgement to ensure efficient and effective service delivery. This includes providing lead direction to staff and student workers involved in reserve operations, monitoring workflows, and resolving complex issues related to reserve materials.
• Consult and collaborate with faculty about course materials to discuss and determine appropriate processes for reserves such as copyright compliance, availability of resources, and best practices for enhancing student access to materials.
• Provide guidance and assistance in organizing reserve materials and offering recommendations on how to structure course reserves for optimal student use.
• Process both physical and electronic materials into and out of reserves, ensuring accuracy and timeliness in handling items according to established library procedures and copyright guidelines. This involves cataloging, labeling, and tracking items as they are added to or removed from reserve collections.
• Maintain print reserve collection and e-reserves, ensuring materials are current, relevant, and accessible to students and faculty. This includes monitoring usage of statistics.
• Administer reserve module in the library system, maintaining accurate records of reserve items, updating information as needed and collaboratively troubleshooting technical issues to ensure seamless access for library users. This involves training staff on system functionalities and serving as a liaison between library systems support and end-users for troubleshooting and enhancements.

Resource Sharing

• Generate and print pull slips accurately and efficiently for requested material, ensuring completeness and clarity of information to facilitate smooth retrieval and processing of library items.
• Assist with locker system.
• Assist with patron inquiries regarding resource sharing requests and loans, offering information on library policies, status updates, and instructions for placing requests.
• Process paging and digitization requests, adhering to copyright guidelines and regulations. Verify permissions for digitization, scanning or copying of materials, and ensure compliance with fair use policies and licensing agreements.
• Collaborate with Resource Sharing coordinator to identify and resolve problem requests, including addressing issues related to availability, copyright restrictions, and delivery delays. Contribute insights and suggestions for improving workflow efficiency and customer satisfaction.
• Direct lending and borrowing tasks during evening and weekend hours, overseeing the fulfillment of resource sharing requests, coordinating pick-up and delivery services, and managing interlibrary loan transactions to meet patron needs outside of regular business hours.
• Monitor resource sharing requests including mediation, citation verification, and copyright queues. Prioritize and resolve outstanding requests promptly, ensuring accuracy and adherence to established protocols. Collaborate with team members to address complex issues and optimize resource allocation based on demand and availability.

Copy Cataloging

• Provide comprehensive support in copy cataloging of library materials across a diverse range, such as new books, media materials, donated material, and other print and non-print materials. Apply standardized cataloging practices and classification systems to accurately describe and classify materials for inclusion in the library cataloging.
• Assist with importing and updating bibliographic records from various vendors and external sources, ensuring data integrity and consistency in the library catalog.
• Conduct bibliographic searches using online databases, library catalogs, and other scholarly resources to identify and retrieve relevant bibliographic information for cataloging purposes. Employ search strategies and specialized tools to locate authoritative records and verify bibliographic details.
• Collaborate closely with main cataloging personnel for cataloging of library materials. Participate in cataloging projects.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE – High School diploma or equivalent certification and three (3) to four (4) years of related library and/or clerical experience or an equivalent combination of experience and education.

SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE & ABILITIES (SKA’s) –

• Regular and reliable attendance is required.
• Thorough knowledge of and ability to interpret library policies and procedures, including solid understanding of work functions and ability to adapt to work procedures.
• Working knowledge of library collection and its organization, as well as classification schemes.
• Ability to assist patrons with the ethical use of and access to library resources.
• Working knowledge of national standards pertaining to library operations, including a thorough knowledge of institutional standards pertaining to copyright and intellectual property protection and the ability to interpret and apply them, as well as explain them to patrons, to ensure compliance.
• Demonstrated expertise in using library automated system(s), especially subsystem(s) pertaining to the functional area, including database maintenance.
• Ability to investigate and research more complex problems, including analyzing and interpreting information.
• Ability to prepare internal library reports and written and visual presentations on library resources and present them to library patrons, including students.
• Ability to interview patrons regarding their information needs and guide them in the use of more complex library and on-line resources.
• Ability to provide effective daily lead direction to student assistants.
• Ability to assist staff assigned in other functional areas with projects as needed.
• Ability to work independently & productively.
• Demonstrated customer service experience requiring a very high level of diplomacy and professionalism.
• Ability to use tact and diplomacy to effectively handle a broad range of high level and sensitive interpersonal situations with diverse personalities, and to respond appropriately to conflicts and problems.
• Ability to initiate, establish, and foster communication and teamwork by maintaining a positive, cooperative, productive work atmosphere in the University with the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships within a diverse population and with those from various cultural backgrounds.
• Excellent communication skills; ability to effectively communicate information in a clear and understandable manner.
• Thorough knowledge of English grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
• Ability to interpret, communicate and apply policies and procedures.
• Ability to maintain a high degree of confidentiality.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills with the ability to set own priorities to coordinate multiple assignments with fluctuating and time-sensitive deadlines.
• Excellent computer skills and competence with a variety of computer applications including word-processing, spreadsheets, databases, on-line systems, Internet as well as online calendaring and email.
• Working knowledge of or ability to quickly learn University infrastructure.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Experience working with the public and circulation database systems.
• Familiarity with Primo user display of ALMA bibliographic records.
• Demonstrated skills in an institutional/educational environment possessing a customer-oriented and service-centered attitude.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

MEDIUM WORK – up to 40% of the activities involve sitting, standing, squatting, kneeling or walking; lifting heavy weight objects limited to 50 pounds; may involve pushing and pulling objects within the weight limits.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS

SCREENING: Only those applicants possessing experience most directly related to the immediate needs of the office will be invited to appear before a Qualifications Appraisal Board for the purpose of appraising training, experience, and interest in the position.

CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY EMPLOYEES UNION:  It shall be the policy of the CSU in filling vacant CSUEU bargaining Units 2, 5, 7 & 9 positions to fill such vacancies from among qualified individuals currently employed on-campus except when it is determined that it is necessary to appoint outside applicants to meet campus workforce diversity goals or to provide specialized skills and abilities that are not available from current employees.

BACKGROUND CHECK:  Satisfactory completion of a background check (including a criminal records check) is required for employment.  CSU will make a conditional offer of employment, which may be rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying information, and/or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the continued employment of a current CSU employee who was conditionally offered the position.

SENSITIVE POSITION:  Sensitive positions are designated by the CSU as requiring heightened scrutiny of individuals holding the position, based on potential for harm to children, concerns for the safety and security of the people, animals, or property, or heightened risk of financial loss to the CSU or individuals in the university community.

MANDATED REPORTER: Limited:  The person holding this position is considered a limited mandated reporter under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083, revised July 21, 2017.

GENERAL INFORMATION:  It is the policy of California State University, Bakersfield to hire only United States citizens and aliens lawfully authorized to work in the United States.  All new employees will be required to present documentation verifying their right to accept employment.  You will also be requested to present a social security card at the time of initial appointment in compliance with state payroll regulations.  State regulations require that every state employee sign the Oath of Allegiance prior to commencing the duties of his/her State employment, except legally employed non-citizens.  These individuals are required to sign the Declaration of Permission to Work.

All university programs and activities are open and available to all regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, the CSU Bakersfield provides equal opportunity in education and employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every student and employee has access to the resources and support they need to thrive and succeed in a university environment and in their communities. The CSU Bakersfield complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the California Equity in Higher Education Act, California’s Proposition 209 (Art. I, Section 31 of the California Constitution), other applicable state and federal anti-discrimination laws, and CSU’s Nondiscrimination Policy. We prohibit discriminatory preferential treatment, segregation based on race or any other protected status, and all forms of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all university programs, policies, and practices.

The CSU Bakersfield is a diverse community of individuals who represent many perspectives, beliefs and identities, committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful, and intellectually vibrant environment. We cultivate a culture of open dialogue, mutual respect, and belonging to support educational excellence and student success. Through academic programs, student organizations and activities, faculty initiatives, and community partnerships, we encourage meaningful engagement with diverse perspectives. As a higher education institution, we are dedicated to advancing knowledge and empowering individuals to reach their full potential by prioritizing inclusive curriculum development, faculty and staff training, student mentorship, and comprehensive support programs. At CSU Bakersfield, excellence is built on merit, talent, diversity, accessibility, and equal opportunity for all.