Library Assistant

Job Summary

The Library Assistant will provide essential technical and operational support across the full spectrum of library operations, including Reader Services, Technical Services, and Electronic/Digital Library Services. This role balances physical space supervision and circulation logistics with advanced digital tasks, such as maintaining the Integrated Library System (ILS), optimizing metadata tags, and managing user access permissions for digital resource platforms.

Qualification

• Educational Foundation: A formal Bachelor’s degree in Library and Information Science, Information Management, or a closely related field.
• Advanced Academic Asset: A Master’s degree in Library and Information Science or Information Management is considered a distinct competitive advantage.
• Technical Knowledge Base: Core understanding of standard cataloging and classification methodologies—specifically the Library of Congress Classification (LCC) and Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC) systems.
• Digital & Coding Literacy: Fundamental familiarity with the application of information technology to modern librarianship, including MARC (Machine-Readable Cataloging) metadata encoding and basic scripting or programming logic for database troubleshooting.
• Core Behavioral Competencies: Uncompromising commitment to academic integrity and data privacy protocols, strong cultural awareness, high patience and customer-service empathy, and the flexibility to multitask in a fast-paced environment.

Experience

Candidates must demonstrate functional capability within an institutional or academic research framework:

Library Operations & Systems Exposure

• Field Tenure Alignment: A minimum of two (2) years / 24 months of professional experience working within an academic, university, or specialized research library. (High-quality internships or volunteer experience in formal library settings will be fully considered).
• ILS Software Competency: Direct hands-on experience navigating and managing an Integrated Library System software suite, such as KOHA, OPAC, or equivalent enterprise library databases.
• Digital Information Resource Management: Proven experience working with electronic resource platforms, e-library toolkits, and academic database navigation (e.g., managing digital journals, research repositories, and publisher metadata streams).

Reference Services & Information Literacy

• User Engagement Footprint: Track record of success assisting students, faculty, or researchers with complex bibliographic searches, reference collections, and academic source verification.
• Digital Workplace Literacy: Proficiency across modern Learning Management Systems (LMS), online collaboration platforms, and productivity suites (Microsoft Office / Google Suite).

Key Responsibilities

User Assistance, Reference Services & Outreach

• Guide Academic Research: Provide immediate, high-quality reference desk guidance to students and faculty, helping them isolate, navigate, and utilize complex physical and digital research assets.
• Deliver Information Literacy Training: Conduct onboarding orientation sessions and build workshops to teach users how to maximize their use of advanced academic search filters and citation trackers.
• Supervise Reading Rooms: Oversee campus reading rooms and study halls to ensure a quiet, highly organized, and productive learning environment that respects library conduct codes.

Technical Services, Cataloging & Inventory Control

• Engineer Bibliographic Metadata: Create, update, and maintain precise bibliographic entries using MARC metadata encoding, LCC, or DDC classification parameters to keep data records flawless.
• Govern Circulation Logistics: Manage the end-to-end borrowing lifecycle, including material check-ins, check-outs, holds, returns, and the resolution of overdue account flags.
• Process Assets & Track Inventory: Oversee the structural processing of new book acquisitions, accessioning entries, labeling, shelving, and continuous physical stock audits.

Systems, Digital Repository & Database Management

• Administer the Integrated Library System (ILS): Run day-to-day operations inside KOHA/OPAC platforms, ensuring data integrity across user and catalog registers.
• Manage Digital Vendor Interfaces: Troubleshoot connection paths with external digital database providers and e-journal networks, reporting system dropouts or license updates promptly.
• Enforce Academic Integrity Protocols: Monitor material usage habits to ensure full compliance with copyright laws, plagiarism boundaries, and institutional academic honesty frameworks.
• Collect Service Feedback: Gather and log student and faculty feedback to recommend ongoing improvements to the library's physical layout and digital collection subscriptions.

Expected Outputs & Deliverables

• Flawlessly maintained physical shelves and highly accurate inventory records matching the ILS database tracking nodes.
• Clean, compliant bibliographic entries utilizing standard MARC metadata encoding structures.
• High uptime and smooth user authentication pathways across all integrated library networks and digital resource platforms.
• Highly structured library orientation modules and reference assistance tracking metrics for institutional reporting.
• Consistent, active enforcement of academic integrity compliance rules across all physical and electronic lending nodes.

Skills Required:

• Computer / Software / It / Data
• Education / Teaching / Training