Collections Facility Operations Assistant

This position is within the Collection Management & Preservation Department, which provides strategic stewardship of the University of Minnesota Libraries content to ensure continuing access for future generations of users. The department employs cost-effective strategies for managing the life cycle of content and collections, including stabilizing physical materials to ensure usability, reformatting materials to ensure long-term access to their content, implementing preventative preservation practices throughout the Libraries, and promoting preservation and providing educational opportunities for Libraries staff and users.

The University of Minnesota Libraries Collections Facility includes 32' high density shelving and has the capacity to house over 3 million volumes in a climate controlled environment. The facility offers rapid retrieval and delivery of collections.

Position Overview:

This position is based onsite in the Collections Facility and supports all aspects of the Phase 1 Ingest project. Work hours for the position will be finalized with the supervisor, but will include weekdays during core business hours; there are no evenings or weekends. The primary responsibility of this position is to assist with size sorting, processing materials, moving books through the facility to various staging locations, suggesting improvements to processing inefficiencies and folding trays. This position shelves materials using the Stock Picker. This position will travel to other campus locations to assist with loading trucks as needed under the direction of the Collections Facility Manager and work closely with the Collections Management Operations Specialist to complete job duties that are not on site at the Collections Facility.

Key Responsibilities/Duties and Percentage of time (must equal 100%):

Materials Sorting and Processing 35%

• Process incoming items according to established ingest procedures, ensuring highest level of attention to detail and accuracy.
• Fold, label and organize trays.
• Size sort material into the properly assigned trays.
• Perform validation scanning, troubleshooting issues that might arise.
• Identify process efficiencies and communicate them with supervisor.

Book Movement 35%

• Load items onto book trucks, following safe lifting practices.
• Push book trucks through the Collections Facility, delivering books to staging and processing spaces.
• Promote safe lifting and ergonomic safety practices in daily work and in interactions with students and colleagues.
• Follow all established safety rules to operate the stock picker in order to add items to the Stacks area in the Collections Facility.

Project Support 30%

• Organize trucks and prepare shipments. This includes loading items/trays onto the truck in collaboration with other Libraries staff and organizing trucks at the location by pushing them to a staging area, labeling them.
• Perform shelf clearance reviews, using the Inventory Management system to fix errors.
• Communicate with the Collections Management Operations Specialist on problem resolution and outcomes.
• Act as a resource for student workers.

Required:

• Two years of college coursework or relevant library experience.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a dynamic, highly collaborative organizational environment.
• This position requires:
  • Working at heights of up to 32 feet regularly.
  • Moving heavy loads by pushing heavy carts and, with the assistance of machines, lifting heavy trays (50 lbs regularly up to 80 lbs on occasion).
  • Becoming certified in the proper use of an automated lift within the first two months of hire.

Preferred:

• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple assignments and meet deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently.
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to provide a high level of service in a library setting.

Pay Range: $22-$23/hour; depending on education/qualifications/experience

Time Appointment: 100% (40 hours/week), Temporary 1-year position

Position Type: Non-Faculty Labor Represented Staff

Please visit the Office of Human Resources website for more information regarding benefit eligibility.

The University offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
• Continuous learning opportunities through professional training and degree-seeking programs supported by the Regents Tuition Benefit Program
• Low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• University HSA contributions
• Disability and employer-paid life insurance
• Employee wellbeing program
• Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) opportunity
• Financial counseling services
• Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost
• Employee Transit Pass with free or reduced rates in the Twin Cities metro area

Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will have the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume.

Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section.

Please attach the following documents in Word or PDF Format in order to be consider for this position (DO NOT copy and paste.)

1. Resume.
2. Cover Letter (identify cover letter with LR132).

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-8647.

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.

At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by the Star Tribune as a Top Workplace for 2021, as well as by Forbes as Best Employers for Women and one of America's Best Employers (2015, 2018, 2019, 2023), Best Employer for Diversity (2019, 2020), Best Employer for New Grads (2018, 2019), and Best Employer by State (2019, 2022).