• Job Type: Support Staff - Union
• Bargaining Unit: 1199 Clerical
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• Hours Per Week: 35 hours
• Building: Arthur W. Diamond Law Library
• Salary Range: $28.32 - $28.32 per hour entry rate ($29.19-$29.19 per hour minimum rate)

Position Summary

The Arthur W. Diamond Law Library at Columbia Law School welcomes applicants to submit their interest in the Bibliographic Assistant VII position available in the Finance, Acquisitions, and Resource Management (FARM) unit. The second-largest academic law library in the country, the Diamond Law Library features more than 400,000 titles, 1 million paper volumes, and 275,000 microform volume-equivalents. Users also have access to a wealth of online information from sources the Law Library maintains and the myriad of materials offered through Columbia University’s libraries.

The Bibliographic Assistant VII reports to the Acquisitions and Resource Management Librarian and is responsible for a variety of duties involved in the day-to-day operations of the FARM department, including, but not limited to, monograph and subscription ordering; invoice entry and payments; serials management; claiming; liaising with other library units, Accounts Payable and Vendor Management; and working with the University’s Enterprise Financial System, ARC.

Tests: A foreign language test and bibliographic knowledge/terminology test will be given during the interview.

Responsibilities

• Verify and process payments and credits for library materials, electronic resources, and operations invoices and credits by keying or downloading invoice information into local database then uploading files of invoice data into the University’s Enterprise Financial System, ARC (Accounting & Reporting at Columbia).
• Troubleshoot payment problems with publishers, vendors, University Accounting and Vendor Management offices, and Law Library staff. Communicate with vendors to claim missing materials.
• Participate in the acquisitions process for library collection, electronic resources, and supply/operational orders which includes but is not limited to, reviewing order and trial requests, communicating & placing orders with vendors, obtaining license agreements for review, monitoring order status, and monitoring fund balances and encumbrances.
• Collaborate with the Acquisitions and Resource Management Librarian to reconcile bi-weekly financial reports and gather supporting documentation for purchase and vendor records.
• Manage the subscription renewal process while monitoring for price increases, publisher and/or title changes and reporting those to the selector committee.
• Maintain various records in the ILS which includes bibliographic, order, vendor, inventory, and e-resource records.
• Develop and foster excellent working relationships with vendors, sales representatives, Library selectors, and other University divisions.
• Assigns, revises, and trains General Assistants in FARM unit related tasks which may include one or more of the following; photocopying, scanning, filing, document creation and data entry.
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• 2-3 years of library technical services experience, specifically, acquisitions and/or electronic resources work in an automated environment using national bibliographic networks and local library systems, knowledge of standard bibliographic sources and the book trade.
• Working knowledge of bibliographic terminology and/or reading knowledge of one foreign language. [Foreign language need will be determined at the time of vacancy based on languages possessed by current staff members at the time of posting.]
• Adaptability to changes in electronic tools; excellent working knowledge of spreadsheet software; experience and strong facility with desktop computing and standard software applications such as Word, Excel, and Internet browsers.
• Strong interpersonal, English-language, written, and oral communication skills.
• Accuracy and attention to detail, especially with numbers; well-developed problem-solving skills; dependability; and resourcefulness.
• Ability to transliterate non-Roman alphabets as needed.
• Superior organizational and analytical skills; flexibility in dealing with multiple daily tasks and interruptions
• Ability to exercise independent judgment.
• Ability to identify, communicate with, and evaluate vendors.
• Ability to lift and move boxes of books up to 50 pounds.

Preferred Qualifications

• College degree.
• Knowledge of additional languages.
• Previous law library experience.
• Experience with job-related software, including Google Docs, Google Sheets, Google Forms, TIND, and ARC.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

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