Inside Higher Ed
McCabe Library Access & User Services Specialist (LT)
Inside Higher Ed, Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, United States
McCabe Library Access & User Services Specialist (LT)
Job no:
495776
Work type:
Limited Term Full Time
Location:
Swarthmore
Categories:
Staff, Hourly (Non-Exempt), On Campus
Swarthmore College is a highly selective liberal arts college located in the suburbs of Philadelphia, whose mission combines academic rigor with social responsibility. Swarthmore has a strong institutional commitment to inclusive excellence and nondiscrimination in its educational program and employment practices and encourages candidates who will further advance the goal of fostering a diverse and inclusive community.
Who We Are The Swarthmore College Libraries cultivate scholarship and intellectual curiosity in our community through access to collections, expertise, and spaces. In collaboration with our academic partners, we teach the craft of research and foster a critical understanding of the contexts in which knowledge is developed and disseminated.
The Opportunity This limited‑term position will work at McCabe Library to assist in the day‑to‑day operations and customer support for the Libraries. It is required for 35 hours per week during the Spring 2026 semester and will be the sole staff member on duty Saturdays and Sundays during the day. The applicant will work five days per week, with the choice of having off either Tue/Wed or Wed/Thu for the entire semester.
Essential Responsibilities
Student Supervision (50%)
Assigns student employees tasks and supervises their work. Trains student employees in the use of the library’s catalog, software, call number systems, basic equipment (printers, computers, etc.), routine operations, and general library knowledge, stressing accuracy and courteous customer service.
Provides regular informal feedback on job performance and reports serious issues to the department head.
Patron Services, Service Points, & Policy (40%)
Provides a range of services to assist and support the library’s college community and external clientele, including facilitating access/lending of materials while maintaining consistent adherence to library policies.
Responsible for opening and/or closing the library with the assistance of student workers.
Assists patrons in their use of public technology, the wireless network, and other library equipment, including initial troubleshooting of patron requests.
Provides the highest level of customer service, exercising professional judgment to reconcile patron disputes to maintain a balance between the library’s needs/priorities/policies and patron satisfaction. Responds thoughtfully to patrons’ directional, informational, and basic reference queries.
Facilitates equal access to library services, equipment, and collections for patrons according to the Americans with Disabilities Act, including specialized software/hardware and material retrieval.
Updates and maintains patron data in Alma (Tripod), the integrated library system, to ensure records are accurate and current.
Stacks Maintenance (5%)
Coordinates under the guidance of senior staff various stacks maintenance processes to ensure collections are shelved according to the Library of Congress classification system or other schema used by the libraries.
Identifies materials in need of repair, replacement, or restricted access.
Ensures fulfillment of TriCollege daily requests; tracks and resolves a range of problems such as lost materials, recalls, and errors in paging.
Facility Management & Security (5%)
Assists with maintenance and support of specialized equipment including public computers, scanners, printers, and video equipment.
Places service requests with Facilities (or Public Safety after hours) regarding any malfunction in the building.
Ensures a safe and secure library environment for patrons, staff, and collections and immediately contacts Public Safety regarding behaviors, theft or unusual occurrences or emergencies that may pose a threat to safety and security.
Exercises good judgment in determining potential risks and mitigating those within own capacity.
Supervisory Responsibilities
Co‑supervises 40+ student employees (12 FTE)
Who You Are
Demonstrated familiarity with using a library.
Excellent communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
Strong problem‑solving and analytical skills.
Able to work independently with minimal supervision.
Required Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree.
1–2 years’ experience in a position that routinely interacts with clients.
Experience working in a library.
Excellent communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
Strong problem‑solving and analytical skills.
Good working knowledge of Macintosh and/or Windows environments and basic applications software including word processing, e‑mail, and web browsers.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience with using Alma integrated library systems and/or experience with other DBMS.
Experience working in an academic setting.
Supervisory experience.
What You Will Get You’ll work at one of the world’s most renowned liberal arts colleges, with incredible benefits, a stunning 420‑acre campus, and a collaborative work environment. Join a team of passionate, creative people who work hard and have fun supporting the college students, faculty, and staff.
Application Deadline Submit applications with an uploaded resume, including a cover letter by January 4, 2026. Applications received after this date may be reviewed on a rolling basis until the job has been filled. A cover letter indicating how your qualifications and experience have prepared you for this position is required. If you meet any preferred qualifications, please include a detailed explanation of such experience in your cover letter and how it meets the preferred qualification(s).
Salary Range The market range for this position is $25.00–$29.00 per hour, which represents the college’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the range at the time of posting. The salary offered is determined based on factors including, but not limited to, experience and education of the final selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information.
Requirements PA Criminal background check required for all staff positions prior to the start of employment. Education verification required because a college degree is a required qualification for this position.
Benefits Preview our benefits flyer. We offer benefit plans starting at zero cost! Upon benefit eligibility, the college contributes 10% of an employee’s salary to their retirement account. Employees are 100% vested in their accounts on the date participation begins.
Equal Opportunity Statement Swarthmore College is committed to creating a culture of respect and inclusion so that every member of our community feels a sense of belonging. We actively seek and welcome candidates with diverse perspectives and experiences, exceptional qualifications, and a demonstrable commitment to a more inclusive society and world. Swarthmore College is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate based on any identity or characteristic protected by law or college policy.
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495776
Work type:
Limited Term Full Time
Location:
Swarthmore
Categories:
Staff, Hourly (Non-Exempt), On Campus
Swarthmore College is a highly selective liberal arts college located in the suburbs of Philadelphia, whose mission combines academic rigor with social responsibility. Swarthmore has a strong institutional commitment to inclusive excellence and nondiscrimination in its educational program and employment practices and encourages candidates who will further advance the goal of fostering a diverse and inclusive community.
Who We Are The Swarthmore College Libraries cultivate scholarship and intellectual curiosity in our community through access to collections, expertise, and spaces. In collaboration with our academic partners, we teach the craft of research and foster a critical understanding of the contexts in which knowledge is developed and disseminated.
The Opportunity This limited‑term position will work at McCabe Library to assist in the day‑to‑day operations and customer support for the Libraries. It is required for 35 hours per week during the Spring 2026 semester and will be the sole staff member on duty Saturdays and Sundays during the day. The applicant will work five days per week, with the choice of having off either Tue/Wed or Wed/Thu for the entire semester.
Essential Responsibilities
Student Supervision (50%)
Assigns student employees tasks and supervises their work. Trains student employees in the use of the library’s catalog, software, call number systems, basic equipment (printers, computers, etc.), routine operations, and general library knowledge, stressing accuracy and courteous customer service.
Provides regular informal feedback on job performance and reports serious issues to the department head.
Patron Services, Service Points, & Policy (40%)
Provides a range of services to assist and support the library’s college community and external clientele, including facilitating access/lending of materials while maintaining consistent adherence to library policies.
Responsible for opening and/or closing the library with the assistance of student workers.
Assists patrons in their use of public technology, the wireless network, and other library equipment, including initial troubleshooting of patron requests.
Provides the highest level of customer service, exercising professional judgment to reconcile patron disputes to maintain a balance between the library’s needs/priorities/policies and patron satisfaction. Responds thoughtfully to patrons’ directional, informational, and basic reference queries.
Facilitates equal access to library services, equipment, and collections for patrons according to the Americans with Disabilities Act, including specialized software/hardware and material retrieval.
Updates and maintains patron data in Alma (Tripod), the integrated library system, to ensure records are accurate and current.
Stacks Maintenance (5%)
Coordinates under the guidance of senior staff various stacks maintenance processes to ensure collections are shelved according to the Library of Congress classification system or other schema used by the libraries.
Identifies materials in need of repair, replacement, or restricted access.
Ensures fulfillment of TriCollege daily requests; tracks and resolves a range of problems such as lost materials, recalls, and errors in paging.
Facility Management & Security (5%)
Assists with maintenance and support of specialized equipment including public computers, scanners, printers, and video equipment.
Places service requests with Facilities (or Public Safety after hours) regarding any malfunction in the building.
Ensures a safe and secure library environment for patrons, staff, and collections and immediately contacts Public Safety regarding behaviors, theft or unusual occurrences or emergencies that may pose a threat to safety and security.
Exercises good judgment in determining potential risks and mitigating those within own capacity.
Supervisory Responsibilities
Co‑supervises 40+ student employees (12 FTE)
Who You Are
Demonstrated familiarity with using a library.
Excellent communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
Strong problem‑solving and analytical skills.
Able to work independently with minimal supervision.
Required Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree.
1–2 years’ experience in a position that routinely interacts with clients.
Experience working in a library.
Excellent communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
Strong problem‑solving and analytical skills.
Good working knowledge of Macintosh and/or Windows environments and basic applications software including word processing, e‑mail, and web browsers.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience with using Alma integrated library systems and/or experience with other DBMS.
Experience working in an academic setting.
Supervisory experience.
What You Will Get You’ll work at one of the world’s most renowned liberal arts colleges, with incredible benefits, a stunning 420‑acre campus, and a collaborative work environment. Join a team of passionate, creative people who work hard and have fun supporting the college students, faculty, and staff.
Application Deadline Submit applications with an uploaded resume, including a cover letter by January 4, 2026. Applications received after this date may be reviewed on a rolling basis until the job has been filled. A cover letter indicating how your qualifications and experience have prepared you for this position is required. If you meet any preferred qualifications, please include a detailed explanation of such experience in your cover letter and how it meets the preferred qualification(s).
Salary Range The market range for this position is $25.00–$29.00 per hour, which represents the college’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the range at the time of posting. The salary offered is determined based on factors including, but not limited to, experience and education of the final selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information.
Requirements PA Criminal background check required for all staff positions prior to the start of employment. Education verification required because a college degree is a required qualification for this position.
Benefits Preview our benefits flyer. We offer benefit plans starting at zero cost! Upon benefit eligibility, the college contributes 10% of an employee’s salary to their retirement account. Employees are 100% vested in their accounts on the date participation begins.
Equal Opportunity Statement Swarthmore College is committed to creating a culture of respect and inclusion so that every member of our community feels a sense of belonging. We actively seek and welcome candidates with diverse perspectives and experiences, exceptional qualifications, and a demonstrable commitment to a more inclusive society and world. Swarthmore College is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate based on any identity or characteristic protected by law or college policy.
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