Library Specialist

Grade Level 42 | Full-Time Staff Position | Lexington, KY

About the Role

The University of Kentucky Libraries is seeking a Library Specialist to serve as the Second Shift Supervisor/Evenings & Weekends at William T. Young Library. This role provides operational oversight for evening library services, ensuring students, faculty, and visitors receive exceptional customer service and access to library resources. The successful candidate will supervise student employees, help manage building operations, support circulation services, and serve as a key point of contact during evening and weekend hours.

Responsibilities

• Provide operational oversight for circulation services and library activities during evening shifts
• Supervise, train, and support student employees while assigning and monitoring daily work
• Assist patrons with circulation transactions, account questions, and access to library resources using Alma/Primo
• Serve as a primary contact for building operations, security, and facilities-related concerns during second shift
• Coordinate circulation workflows, material transfers, collection maintenance, and Book Express services
• Manage study room reservations and support effective use of library spaces
• Monitor library conditions, address patron concerns, and respond appropriately to building or safety issues
• Assist with development and maintenance of circulation procedures, documentation, and training resources

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree
• 2 years of related experience
• Strong customer service and interpersonal skills
• Experience supervising, training, or coordinating the work of others
• Ability to make sound decisions and remain calm in dynamic situations
• Strong organizational and time-management skills
• Attention to detail and commitment to accurate recordkeeping
• Ability to work independently while supporting a collaborative team environment
• Experience with library systems, circulation operations, or customer-facing service environments is helpful

Physical Requirements

• Ability to push book trucks weighing up to 50 lbs
• Ability to sit for long periods of time
• Ability to use a kick stool to reach higher shelves and to squat down to reach lowest shelves in the book stacks

Schedule

Tuesday–Thursday from 3:00 pm–11:00 pm and Friday–Saturday 12:00 pm–8:00 pm during the Fall and Spring semester. Hours vary during the summer session and breaks depending on the operational hours of the library. Total hours per week: 37.5.

Pay

$17.76–28.43/hour

Benefits

• Meaningful impact: Support students and researchers by helping maintain access to vital library resources and services
• Leadership opportunity: Supervise student employees and contribute to daily library operations
• Dynamic environment: Engage in customer service, facilities support, circulation management, and project coordination
• Professional growth: Build expertise in academic library operations and public service management
• Collaborative environment: Work alongside library professionals committed to student and faculty success
• UK’s exceptional benefits package

Skills / Knowledge / Abilities

• MS Office, Excel, Teams
• Library Management System (Alma)

Preferred Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree plus two years of experience in an academic research library.