Acquisitions Library Assistant

Department: Library Collections and Content
Position covered by the Collective Agreement with USW Local 4120

If you are a current employee of the University of Guelph you must apply on the internal Career Page in order to be considered as an internal applicant. 
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General Purpose

McLaughlin Library provides services and collections to the University of Guelph, the University of Guelph-Humber, and to the Regional Agricultural College at Ridgetown. As a member of the Canadian Research Network (CRKN), the Ontario Council of University Libraries (OCUL), and partner in the shared OMNI discovery system with other universities, the library also serves the broader Ontario university community and beyond. The Collections & Content (C & C) department manages the McLaughlin Library’s collection budget, its resources and collections. C & C encompasses the following units: Collection Development, Acquisitions & Resource Management, and Course Material & Reserve Services (CMRS).

Duties and Responsibilities

Reporting to the Manager, Acquisitions & Resource Management, the Acquisitions Library Assistants play a key role in the operation of the library’s procurement unit through which the library’s $8 million collection budget flows. The Acquisitions team is active in a wide range of activities that supports procurement and discovery of resources, financial management and reporting, data evaluation and analysis, troubleshooting, as well as policy, and government regulation compliance in a collaborative team environment. They purchase, license, facilitate payment, and enable access to both physical and digital resources that enhance and support the work of scholars and researchers across the University of Guelph, affiliated campuses, and its wider academic community.

Acquisitions Library Assistants provide essential line support to the Acquisitions Associate on a regularized basis acting as an understudy in one or more core activities such as consortia order and invoice reconciliations, continuing orders, jobber subscription management, implementation of continuing order decisions, license management, or other identified areas. Acquisitions Library Assistants participate in intermediate level metadata description and projects. They also provide backup support for related roles, including the provision of functional guidance to work-study students when needed.

This role requires strong attention to detail, numeracy, and problem-solving skills, especially in using Alma (the library services platform), and a solid understanding of identifiers (e.g., ISBN, ISSN, DOI), control numbers, metadata standards (e.g., MARC21, RDA, EOD, EDIFACT EOD), and vendor systems. Proficiency in Office 365, especially Excel, is important. An in-depth knowledge of resources available to the library, as well as an overall understanding of the financial management requirements and fiscal landscape of the university is key in the procurement of resources.

Library Assistants regularly evaluate and respond to vendor and stakeholder inquiries and updates, assess urgency, and ensure timely and accurate responses. In addition to ongoing training and skills upgrading, this position may contribute to ad-hoc or ongoing project teams in the Library. 

Requirements

• Library & Information Technician diploma or equivalent education and experience
• 18 months of work experience in any field or sector
• Strong attention to detail, analytical and problem-solving abilities, and excellent numeracy and organizational skills.
• Experience working with others in a collaborative environment
• Knowledge of how academic libraries work, what they aim to achieve, and how they use different library and vendor tools and systems
• Comfortable using common workplace technologies like email, word processing, spreadsheets, web browsers, and collaboration tools (e.g., OneDrive, SharePoint, Microsoft Teams)
• Quick to learn new technology, both hardware and software
• Experience with online content platforms that include e-books, e-journals, and streaming media
• Ability to build positive relationships with colleagues and stakeholders
• Strong written communication and active listening skills
• Curious and committed to continuous learning and professional growth
• Good understanding of the academic environment, including research, teaching, and the university’s educational goals.

Training or certification in finance, licensing, or records management is a plus. Preferred qualifications include related library experience in procurement, cataloguing, or metadata; intermediate skills in Microsoft Excel; and familiarity with the Alma Library Services platform. Experience in a shared or consortia library setting is also valuable.

Employee Type: Regular 
Position Number: 10922219 
Classification: USW, Local 4120 Salary: Band 4  
USW Local 4120 Wage Grid

*Tentative evaluation; subject to final review.

At the University of Guelph, fostering a culture of inclusion is an institutional imperative. The University invites and encourages applications from all qualified individuals, including from groups that are traditionally underrepresented in employment, who may contribute to further diversification of our Institution.

Posting Date: 06/02/2025  
Closing Date: 06/09/2025