Library Specialist - Monographic and Media Acquisitions Job at University of Ill

Library Specialist – Monographic and Media Acquisitions

Apply for the Library Specialist – Monographic and Media Acquisitions role at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Function: The staff member in this position manages most print and e‑book orders placed through GOBI, which requires coordinating cross‑platform, high‑volume data transfers for importing items and purchase records between vendor systems and the integrated library system.

Duties and Responsibilities

Monographic Ordering and Receiving

• Orders the majority of GOBI approval and rush materials.
• Receives GOBI firm orders and other print and special collection materials from various vendors, both domestic and international.
• Provides notification of receipt of Big Ten Academic Alliance shipments for bibliographic record import.
• Works with selectors on purchase options, fund management, inquiries and problem resolution.
• Processes and routes invoices to responsible parties.
• Makes operational decisions in response to fund manager requests regarding ordering and receiving or refers to appropriate ACS employees.

Complex E‑Book and E‑Media Ordering and Receiving

• Processes GOBI e‑book order requests and e‑media orders as assigned.

Copy Cataloging

• Copy cataloging of GOBI approval materials as needed, following national standards and local policies.
• Copy cataloging of Big Ten Academic Alliance materials, following national standards and local policies.

Claiming and Cancellations of GOBI E‑Books Orders

• Monitors receipt of GOBI e‑books; resolves ordering issues; monitors funds; communicates with selectors regarding e‑book orders.

Manages General Acquisitions Inquiries; Provides Technical Expertise

• Responds to acquisitions related inquiries through the ACS general email.

Claiming and Cancellations of Monographic Orders

• Monitors orders for needed claims and cancellations.
• Communicates with selectors and vendors regarding canceled and claimed orders.

Minimum Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Any combination totaling two (2) years (24 months) from the following categories:
• Work experience in a library or equivalent setting.
• College course work in any field as measured by the following conversion table
• 30 semester hours equals one (1) year (12 months)
• Associate’s degree (60 semester hours) equals eighteen months (18 months)
• 90 semester hours equals two (2) years (24 months)
• Bachelor’s Degree (120 semester hours) equals three (3) years (36 months)

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience with academic library cataloging.
• Experience accurately processing purchases in a high‑volume acquisitions department.
• Willingness to learn about and work with non‑English language materials.
• Experience managing funds, identifying order discrepancies, and/or reconciling invoices.
• Experience communicating professionally with vendors and selectors.
• Evidence of prior experience exercising judgment, applying standards, and making independent decisions regarding complex ordering and cataloging tasks.
• Experience developing workflows/workflow enhancements and/or recommending policy revisions.
• Experience working with GOBI.
• Experience working in Microsoft Excel.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Ability to manage workflows and maintain quality control.
• Working knowledge of MS Office products, particularly Excel.
• Ability to engage with, understand, and critically apply bibliographic information using the following acquisition and cataloging tools and standards to perform this job:
• Library of Congress Classification Web
• Cataloger’s Desktop
• Library of Congress Subject Headings
• AACR2 and RDA Toolkit
• OCLC Bibliographic Formats and Standards
• Alma
• OCLC Connexion

Difficulty: The goals of the Technical Services Division are to ensure the timely access to materials added to the collection and to ensure quality bibliographic control for the Library’s online catalog, Primo. The skills the employee will use in this position directly affect library users’ ability to discover materials and understand their content, format, location, and availability. Excellent independent decision‑making skills are mandatory for this position. Attention to detail, accuracy, and completeness are also important. The ability to interpret information and apply concepts from standard acquisitions and bibliographic tools is necessary to receive and copy catalog (and/or enhance records for) a large volume of materials and maintain accurate bibliographic and holding records. The ability to manage a consistent volume of work while dealing with various vendors and to maintain quality controls is necessary.

Personal Relationships: The position requires excellent verbal and writing skills. The employee has daily contact with Acquisitions Unit members, departmental librarians and staff selectors, members of the library shipping facility, and members of other Technical Services Division Units. Staff interaction includes peer training and the sharing of information per established policies and workflows, including responding to questions about orders and ordering policies from other UIUC Library staff and working with staff to resolve discrepancies with orders. Beyond the UIUC Library, this position requires professional and nuanced communication with vendors and publishers to express the wishes of selectors while being mindful of fund balances.

Environmental Demands:

• Physical requirements: Work requires computer keyboarding skills and frequently moving boxes weighing more than 20 lbs. from a book cart to a processing table. There is a requirement to handle a high volume of books and move these books to different locations, per workflow demands.
• Work environment: Work is performed in an office setting with minimal risks or discomfort. The ability to work in a sometimes‑hectic environment with a medium level of noise in an efficient and quiet manner is required.

Appointment Information: This is a 100% full‑time Civil Service Traditional Non‑Exempt, Library Specialist position, appointed on a permanent basis. The expected start date is as soon as possible after the close of the search. The budgeted salary for the position is $46,858.50.

Sponsorship for Work Authorization Not Available.

For more information on Civil Service classifications, please visit SUCSS web site at https://www.sucss.illinois.gov/pages/classspec/default.aspx

Application Procedures & Deadline Information

Applications must be received by 6:00 pm (Central Time) on November 7, 2025, to ensure full consideration. Please create your candidate profile, upload a cover letter, your curriculum vitae or resume, and the names and email addresses of four professional references by the close date. If required by the position, transcripts or other documentation of credentials are to be provided no later than the first day of employment. In order to be considered as a transfer candidate, you must apply for this position. Applications not submitted through https://jobs.illinois.edu will not be considered. For further information about this specific position, please contact Amy Dannowitz at amydanno@illinois.edu. For questions regarding the application process, please contact 217‑333‑2137.

The University of Illinois offers a very competitive benefits portfolio, depending on the position. Click for a complete list of Employee Benefits.

The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non‑discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, and employment eligibility review through E‑Verify.

Applicants with disabilities are encouraged to apply and may request a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (2008) to complete the application and/or interview process. Accommodations may also be requested on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, and related conditions, or religion. Requests may be submitted through the reasonable accommodations portal, or by contacting the Accessibility & Accommodations Division of the Office for Access and Equity at 217‑333‑0885, or by emailing accessibility@illinois.edu.

Requisition ID: 1033178
Job Category: Administrative Support

Seniority level: Entry level
Employment type: Full‑time
Job function: Other
Industries: Higher Education

Apply at: https://jobs.illinois.edu