City, Urban, Building, Campus, Downtown, Metropolis, College, Person, Neighborhood, Grass

Library Assistant V

Library Assistant V

  • 560408
  • New York
  • Opening on: Oct 30 2026
  • Libraries Grade 5
  • Job Type: Support Staff - Union
  • Bargaining Unit: 1199 Clerical
  • Regular/Temporary: Regular
  • End Date if Temporary:
  • Hours Per Week: 35
  • Standard Work Schedule: Monday – Friday; 9 a.m- 5 p.m.
  • Building: Gabe M. Wiener Music & Arts Library
  • Salary Range: $26.90 - $26.90 per hour entry rate ($27.45 - $27.45 per hour minimum rate)
The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to departmental budgets, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, specialty, and training. The above hiring range represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.
 

Position Summary

Columbia University Libraries seeks applications for a Library Assistant V at the Music & Arts Library.

This position reports to the Music Librarian, and is responsible for all local technical services, collection/catalog maintenance, and delivery services, as well as all Reserves processing, and public access functions in the absence of other staff on evenings and weekends.

Schedule:

Fall + Spring semesters: Monday - Friday 9AM - 5PM; Summer semester: Monday - Friday 9AM - 5PM

Schedule subject to change based on library hours of operation. Schedule may change during intersession, summer session, and from semester to semester.


Responsibilities

Duties include but are not limited to:

  • Answering or triaging music reference, policy, procedural, and directional questions in person, by email, and over the phone.
  • All local technical services and materials processing, including processing incoming materials in multiple formats, serials check-in and claiming, monitoring and processing delivery services requests, scanning, CLIO database maintenance, labeling and binding prep, and assisting with various periodic collection maintenance projects.
  • Staffing the circulation desk when backup coverage is needed, and assisting in training and supervision of student workers.
  • Serving as primary liaison to faculty for Course Reserves; inputting and maintaining lists and processing all materials.
  • Representing the library on relevant working groups and committees.
  • Maintaining local documentation of workflows and procedures.
  • Other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

  • High School Diploma or equivalent.
  • Must read notated music with facility.
  • Good reading knowledge of at least one language commonly used in the Music & Arts Library’s collections (German, French, Italian, Spanish).
  • Attention to detail, ability to work independently, highly motivated and excellent organizational skills.
  • Strong customer-service orientation.
  • Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to successfully collaborate with colleagues and oversee student workers.
  • Experience using computers in a work environment and facility using Google apps, Microsoft Word and Excel.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to respond via email, telephone, and in-person in a fast-paced environment that deals with faculty, students, staff, administrators, and visiting library users.
  • Ability to handle a wide variety of materials including but not limited to moving full book trucks and bins, packaging materials for bindery and returns, and receiving and handling daily materials deliveries.
  • Ability to physically shift books for 1-2 hours at a time, stand for extended periods, ability to occasionally lift boxes up to 50 lbs.; stoop, squat, kneel and reach overhead.
  • Ability to work with dusty books and in dusty environments for extended periods.

Preferred Qualifications

  • B.A. degree in music preferred (or relevant knowledge and experience).
  • For language requirement, German is preferred.
  • Public service experience working in a library or research institution.
  • Knowledge of text-scanning software.

Other Requirements

Tests:  A music notation reading test and a language test will be given during the final interview.


Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.

Similar Jobs

We're still syncing jobs similar to this posting. We invite you to Search All Jobs to learn more about our other open roles.