GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF CLASS

The LIBRARY TECHNICIAN 2 uses thorough general knowledge of established library procedures to provide a wide variety of technical duties and/or customer assistance in support of library services in an operational unit or section of a university library. Employees in this class may oversee the work of lower level employees, students, and volunteers.

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES

This is the second level of a three-level series. It is distinguished from the Library Technician 1 by having public service experience and/or broad technical expertise in library procedures, and the routine exercise of independent judgement in the interpretation and application of rules, policies, and procedures. At this level employees determine methods and procedures used in completing assignments. This class is distinguished from the Library Technician 3 by the absence of broad independent decision-making and advanced/specialized technical and/or public service expertise in library procedures and services.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Positions in this class perform varying combinations of duties as exemplified by the typical tasks listed below.

• Technical Operations.. Typical tasks: searches various sources to identify books and materials for which purchase requests have been received, receives orders, verifies with invoice, and processes invoices for payment; resolves order identification discrepancies (e.g., title, author, publisher, edition, subject, description, etc.), makes or recommends corrections indicated; maintains routine correspondence with vendors regarding order status, billings, credits, replacement copies and claims; runs binding pull slips, creates check-in records for government documents, checks-in foreign language serials; reformats materials (e.g., scanning, microfilming, etc.); copy cataloging: search, match, review, check, correct, link bibliographic records, upgrade cataloging, perform authority work (name, series, uniform titles), provide additional access points (titles, corporate bodies, etc.), explain relationship between titles (serials); online catalog database maintenance and quality control, evaluating and correcting author and subject headings; selecting, editing, and deleting authority records; adding copies, volumes, locations; inventory withdrawal and reinstatement; refers unusual bibliographic problems and database maintenance questions to higher level technician or librarian; gift processing (e.g., sorting, checking on-line catalog, selecting, organizing by subject, interacting with donors); performs oversight of stack=s maintenance in branches and smaller work units (e.g., assigns shelf-reading, plans shifts);creates web page scripts, tables, and/or forms using established guidelines and templates.
• Patron Services.. Typical tasks: uses knowledge of library structure, organization, and staff services to: provide patrons and employees with information on the location or availability of material, resources, and services; refers complex patron problems and information/exception requests to higher level staff or librarians; staffs circulation desks; take requests for service (e.g., interlibrary loans, rush cataloging requests, recalls); determines patron eligibility for services, creates and updates patron records, patron billing and fining; Interlibrary Loan lending (OCLC updating, correspondence, billing); arranges for and authorizes circulation exceptions to meet special needs of patrons; accepts and processes requests from faculty for items to be placed on reserve and maintains an electronic database of reserve materials; initiates faculty book orders for reserve; reviews and corrects data in patron records; uses a scanner and specialized software to place materials into the library's Electronic Reserve system, reserve and exam collection maintenance; physically searches for materials, coordinates consortial (i.e. Orbis) lending and borrowing.
• Miscellaneous. Typical tasks: may provide training and oversee the work of lower-level employees, students and volunteers; operates personal computer systems, and on-line terminals to access local, regional or national data bases; codes or instructs others to encode information for entry into data bases (e.g., external/other vendor database); maintains knowledge of technical manuals governing the access to and manipulation of data base systems used in unit; maintains knowledge of current rules, regulations, and standards (e.g, Library of Congress and local, regional, and national cataloging rules) related to unit operations; may prepare and present statistical reports to supervisor or management. Provides weekend and evening building oversight and follows established guidelines during emergencies or unusual situations.

RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHERS

Employees in this class may have regular in-person or phone contact with library patrons to provide general information and assistance, and resolve processing/location problems, often through interaction with technical and professional staff of other units. Employees may also have regular contact with publishers or vendors and with staff of other libraries.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

Employees in this class receive periodic supervision from a higher level technician, librarian, or unit supervisor who assigns work orally and in writing, and reviews work upon occasion, as requested, or upon completion.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Positions are located in university libraries throughout the Oregon University System. Such positions require working with a diverse patron population and may also involve significant physical activity (e.g., standing, walking, bending, stooping, reaching, and lifting). Positions may require regular use of computer equipment and databases.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• One year of experience as a Library Technician which included filing and retrieval of library materials and contact with the public; OR
• An equivalent combination of training and experience.