Information Services Librarian - Aurora University
Aurora University (AU) is committed to the transformative power of learning by creating a student-centered environment and an equity of experience and opportunity, to ensure that students, faculty, and staff of all backgrounds feel welcome and included. Our culture of collaboration, generosity, and belonging make it a special place for students, faculty, and staff.
AU is grounded in the transformative opportunity it provides to a diverse student body. As a private university with a public mission and a commitment to making a difference in peoples’ lives, AU has a long history of resilience and of providing access to an education that values innovation, focuses on continuous improvement, and has a positive impact on the communities we serve. We are proud of our service to and economic impact on the state of Illinois, where over 80% of our students stay to live and work, where 90% of our students come from, and where we foster strong community partnerships to develop the workforce in areas such as nursing, education, business, technology, and social work.
We are looking for passionate and purposeful individuals who represent the full diversity of Aurora and who demonstrate a sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, ability, identity, and ethnic backgrounds present in our community. When you join the team at AU, you can expect to be part of an inclusive, innovative, and equity-focused community that approaches higher education as a matter of social justice requiring broad collaboration among faculty, staff, students, and community partners.
At AU we believe that continuous learning is a fundamental part of working life, and our goal is for all colleagues on our campus to feel supported and equipped to realize their full potential. We actively support our community by providing all employees with opportunities to engage in professional development activities, as well as a range of tuition and employee benefits that can be found here.
Position Purpose:
The Information Services Librarian supports learning by ensuring knowledgeable, friendly, responsible, and competent coverage of library services, mainly on weekends and sometimes other times of low staffing. The library is open over 90 hours per week during the fall and spring semesters and relies heavily on Information Services Librarians to ensure a stable and reliable presence in the library. We are also planning a move into a Learning Commons later this year: librarians in this position will then ensure a stable and reliable presence when library services move to that building.
Core Competencies:
- Represents Aurora University in the most positive manner with prospective, former and current students, clients, suppliers and the community we serve. Interacts effectively with a diverse group of faculty, staff, students and other customers of our service, learns and uses operating practices of the department and Aurora University.
- Upholds the Mission Statement: At Aurora University, our singular goal is to empower students to achieve lasting personal and professional success. We do this by being an inclusive community dedicated to the transformative power of learning. As a teaching-centered institution, we encourage undergraduate and graduate students to discover what it takes to build meaningful and purposeful lives.
- Handles all information with tact and discretion and recognizes the confidential nature of university business.
- Supports learning through performance of essential job functions and performing other duties and functions as necessary or as assigned, including voluntary participation in university committees, activities and events.
Essential Job Functions:
- Provides high-quality, student-centered reference and research support in-person, through online chat, and during research appointments.
- Opening and/or closing the library (and, later, Learning Commons) according to agreed-upon procedures.
- Ensures continuity of library services across shifts, including supervising student workers during shifts; ensures stable coverage for Learning Commons.
- Maintains oversight of Learning Commons operations during weekend and occasional other hours. Responds appropriately to emergencies and security concerns in the building.
- Supervises student workers during weekend shifts: assigns tasks and guarantees their satisfactory completion; communicates with Director and other librarians regarding any issues.
- Assists with circulation duties including checking in and out materials for patrons, assisting patrons with finding items on shelf, and others.
- Delivers excellent, empathetic customer service.
- Assures that regular daily tasks are completed promptly and efficiently.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Essential Job Requirements:
Education:
- Masters in Library and Information Science.
- Additional Bachelor’s degree.
Experience:
- Experience providing reference services to library users required, academic library setting preferred.
- Familiarity with online library resources, with an emphasis on Health Science and Social Work resources preferred.
Skills:
- Knowledge of face-to-face and online instruction strategies. Comfort in learning and using new technologies.
- A collaborative disposition and willingness to work with library colleagues in a rapidly changing information environment.
- Dedication to teamwork. We are a small department where each person contributes unique talents to the whole. Flexibility and acceptance of change are necessary.
- Solid understanding of Microsoft and Apple operating systems.
- Sound judgment and prioritization skills.
- Excellent written, oral, and presentation communication skills.
- Quick learner with great prioritization skills.
- Ability to work independently and be dependable.
- Ability to accept divergent views while maintaining a constructive working relationship with other team members.
Physical Requirements:
- Ability to work with a computer for long periods of the day.
- Office setting, standing, walking, sitting.
Work Hours:
- Up to 27 hours per week in the fall 2026 semester. In the spring 2027 semester, hours will mostly be on the weekends.
- The pay range referenced in the job posting is the budgeted amount the university reasonably expects to pay for this position. The final pay rate will not be below the lowest pay rate listed herein.
Benefit-eligible positions offer excellent benefits including health, dental, life, vision, long term disability, a 403(b) retirement plan through TIAA, and tuition remission.