Why Work at BYU
As the flagship higher education institution of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Brigham Young University (BYU) strives to be among the exceptional universities in the world. At BYU, we are devoted to our faith and to our students. We take an active role in the University's Mission: "To assist individuals in their quest for perfection and eternal life.”
Our unique mission, deeply rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, provides countless ways to serve and make an impact. This, along with our remarkable culture of belonging, weekly devotionals, and endless opportunities for learning and growth—all situated within a beautiful and historic campus—make it hard to imagine a more inspiring place to work.
Brigham Young University strongly prefers to hire faithful members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Library Acquisitions Specialist
The Library Acquisitions Specialist for Serials is responsible for ordering, processing, maintaining, withdrawing, and troubleshooting for all serial material entering the library, a total of over 255,000 items. This includes journals, conference proceedings, magazines, newspapers, periodicals and others in both print and electronic formats.
What you will be doing in this position
Ordering & Processing
- Performs bibliographic searching to ensure that duplicate materials are not ordered.
- Places orders that require independent judgement to determine appropriate vendor out of a few established options.
- Creates serial control record to match order details, correctly entering the order type, location, vendor, and material format information.
- Works with Serials cataloger to update or create new bibliographic record.
- Corresponds with librarians and curators to discuss and confirm options for formats, perpetual access, and limitations.
- Contacts vendors for missing items as well as those that must be replaced.
- Adds predictions for newly licensed titles.
- Checks in new serials volumes and verifies information such as title and frequency matches what is expected. If it does not, corrects as needed.
Maintaining
- Adds new links and corrects broken links in both the catalog record as well as other library systems, including the OpenURL resolver.
- Updates date ranges for print and electronic access in both the catalog record as well as other library systems, including the OpenURL resolver.
- Corresponds with librarians and vendors concerning electronic journal access problems, digital publisher platform changes, digital content changes, or subscription changes.
- Adds notes to serials control record and bibliographic record in Workflows to document issues, resolutions, and other information.
- Changes frequency patterns and linking numbers in MARC.
- Corrects syntax problems in MARC holdings.
- Resolves most process issues within the department's control. Works with other areas in the library to resolve process problems relating to assigned responsibilities.
- Solves complex access problems that require critical thinking.
Withdrawing
- Collaborates with the requesting librarian to make sure that all ramifications relating to serial location changes and withdraw requests are fully understood.
- Determines the status and appropriate disposition of the physical item being withdrawn.
- Verifies all items included in the withdraw request are serials and reroutes any monograph material appropriately.
- Performs appropriate physical processing to withdraw print serials, including verifying holdings, barcodes, and title changes within the call number.
- Removes links for cancelled titles that do not have perpetual access.
Supervisory and Mentorship Responsibilities
- Provides leadership and training to student employees in the unit pool.
- Helps others learn from experience and development initiatives. Recommends readings, trainings, and other resources.
- Leads project teams of staff and students where the impact will be felt throughout the library.
- Provides detailed feedback regarding student performance when working with this individual on relevant projects.
Professional Development
- Participates in unit, department, library, and university meetings.
- Attends relevant conferences and workshops as funding is available.
- Participates in other position-related professional development activities such as professional reading and professional association committee participation.
What qualifies you for this role
Education/Experience
Minimum Required:
- 4 years general library experience OR equivalent combination of education and experience.
Preferred:
- Bachelor's degree + 2 year library acquisitions experience OR equivalent combination of education and experience.
Skills, abilities, knowledge, licenses, certifications
General Knowledge and Skills:
- Ability to communicate effectively using professional business protocols.
- Detail-oriented and organized.
- Ability to successfully work in a team-oriented environment as well as independently.
- Ability to prioritize workflow and manage projects.
- Skill in making independent and logical decisions.
- Ability to handle frequent interruptions and perform several tasks simultaneously.
- Technical knowledge of library standards, functions, and systems.
Demonstrated Technical Expertise (required):
- Experience with Microsoft Office suite.
- Ability to learn new programs quickly.
- Experience with integrated library systems (ILS) and OCLC database.
Interpersonal & Communication Skills (required):
- Is trustworthy and conscientious.
- Responds promptly and respectfully to queries.
- Possesses and exhibits change management skills to embrace positive change and become an energetic and innovative force for the future.
- Demonstrates the ability to understand and manage challenges or frustrations and has the patience and skill to cheerfully work through them.
- Great at setting personal and team goals and balancing progressive workloads to ensure assignment and project completion.
- Listens to differing points of view and promotes mutual understanding.
- Maintains objectivity when one’s own positions or opinions are challenged by peers or stakeholders.
Required Documents
- Cover Letter
- Resume
What we offer in return:
This position comes with fantastic benefits, including:
- 401k. BYU automatically contributes 8% at no cost to you. Additionally, if you contribute 5%, BYU adds an additional 4% (Rehires may qualify for different retirement plans)
- Generous vacation and sick time, plus 13 paid holidays
- Employee assistance program, available to the employee and all members of their household
- Tuition benefits for employees and eligible family members
- Access to athletic facilities
- Excellent medical/dental benefits
- Short/long term disability benefits
- Paid parental and maternity leave
- Wellness program
- Free on-campus parking
- Free UTA passes for employee, spouse, and qualified dependents
- Discounts at the BYU Store and for many events at BYU
Pay Grade: 48
Typical Starting Pay: $20.25-$26.50 ($42,500-$55,000)
The actual compensation offered will take into consideration internal equity and may vary based on the candidate’s job-related experience, knowledge, skills, and other relevant factors. Candidates with very significant work-related experience may receive an offer higher than the posted typical range.
Required Documents:
All Staff positions require a resume.
Refer to the Job Posting for any additional required documents.
Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints must hold and be worthy to hold a current temple recommend.
Brigham Young University is an equal opportunity employer, including disability and protected veteran status.
Brigham Young University (BYU) is widely recognized not just for its world-class education, but for its deep commitment to inspired religious values. Gathered together in a Christ-centered atmosphere, BYU employees are a vital part of a community of belonging, where we value the experiences, perspectives, and talents of each individual. If you share in our devotion to faith and to excellence, we have a place for you here at BYU!
If applying externally from outside BYU, please follow this link to apply:
https://byu.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/byu-careers/details/Library-Acquisitions-Specialist_JR-8810?timeType=b422a888bed2102cfe1ba0888a600001
If applying internally within BYU, please follow this link to apply: https://www.myworkday.com/byu/d/inst/15$158872/9925$11162.htmld