Access Services Associate

Position Summary

Under general supervision, the Access Services Assistant performs duties necessary to the day-to-day functioning of the Access Services Department, which includes the Service Desk, assisting patrons, maintaining records, etc. The Access Services Assistant will have three afternoon and/or evening shifts per week, totaling 20 hours during the regular nine-month academic year.

Ideal candidates should have excellent customer service skills, be able to work both independently and collaboratively in a team environment, be able to work in a fast-paced environment, and be comfortable working with a diverse patron base.

Workplace Requirements

This position is exclusively on-site, necessitating all duties to be performed in person at Fondren Library. Per Rice policy 440, work arrangements may be subject to change.

Work Schedule

Flexible schedule; afternoons and evenings will vary.

Hiring Range

This is a part-time, non-benefits position with an hourly rate of $18.00. *Non-Exempt (hourly) positions under FLSA are eligible for overtime.

Special Instructions to Applicants

All interested applicants should attach a resume, at least three references, and a cover letter in the Supporting Documents section of the application, preferably in PDF format to avoid any formatting issues.

About Rice

Boasting a 300-acre, tree-lined campus in Houston, Texas, Rice University is ranked among the nation’s top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has a 6-to-1 undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio and a residential college system, which supports students intellectually, emotionally, and culturally through social events, intramural sports, student plays, lecture series, courses, and student government. Developing close-knit, diverse college communities is a strong campus tradition, which is why Rice is highly ranked for best quality of life and best value among private universities.

Rice is also a wonderful place to work. Rice faculty, staff, and students share values that are essential to our success as a healthy community. Those values guide our decisions and behaviors and shape Rice’s culture. They come through in the way we treat each other and the welcome we extend to our visitors. These values can be recalled simply by our name — RICE — Responsibility, Integrity, Community, and Excellence.

Minimum Requirements

• High School Diploma or equivalent
• 2+ years of related experience in customer service

Skills

• Excellent oral and written communication
• Excellent interpersonal communication, collaboration, and negotiating skills
• Exceptional problem-solving and analytical skills
• Ability to understand and communicate library policy
• Ability to develop a working knowledge of library services and practices
• Ability to use a variety of technical or business programs
• Demonstrated interpersonal, clerical, and basic organizational skills

Preferences

• Experience working in an institution of higher education
• 2+ years of experience working in a customer-service-related position
• Associate’s degree or higher

Essential Functions

• Checks in and out received materials using the online catalog system
• Acts as a backup to all other positions in the department
• Completes special projects, as assigned
• Supervises student assistants
• Performs all other duties as assigned
• Interprets and enforces library policies such as special borrowing status, blocked records, fines, lost books, etc. Operates laser readers, printers, book sensitizers, personal computers, and scanners
• Helps with book searches and inventory control
• Helps library patrons by answering questions and giving instructions or directions
• Collects money for fine accounts, monitors course reserve materials, and storage retrievals
• Enters bibliographic and patron information into the circulation database
• Reports building-related problems to the appropriate personnel

Rice Mission and Values

Rice University is committed to ensuring Equal Employment Opportunity and welcoming the fullness of diversity into our candidate pools. Rice considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status. Rice also provides reasonable accommodations to qualified persons with disabilities. If an applicant requires a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, please get in touch with Rice University’s Human Resources Office via email at facstaffada@rice.edu for support.

If you have any additional questions, please email us at jobs@rice.edu. Thank you for your interest in employment with Rice University.