[Libs-Or] Job posting: Virtual Reference Coordinator (half-time)

[NIELSEN Buzzy * SLO]

* Please forgive cross-postings *

We're looking for someone great to be our new Virtual Reference Coordinator here in the Library Support division at the State Library of Oregon! The position is half-time and mostly remote, with some in-person outreach required to visit partner libraries around Oregon. Applications are due on February 29. Details are below my message signature. Please let me know if you have any questions!

https://oregon.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/SOR_External_Career_Site/job/Salem--OSL--State-Library/Virtual-Reference-Coordinator--Librarian-_REQ-146750

Cheers!

Buzzy Nielsen, MPP, MSI (he/him/his)
Program Manager for Library Support and Tribal Liaison
State Library of Oregon
buzzy.nielsen at slo.oregon.gov<mailto:buzzy.nielsen at slo.oregon.gov> | 971-375-3486
www.oregon.gov/library/libraries<https://www.oregon.gov/library/libraries>
Follow us: Facebook<http://fb.me/StateLibraryOR> | Twitter<https://twitter.com/StateLibraryOR> | Instagram<https://www.instagram.com/statelibraryor/> | Pinterest<https://pinterest.com/statelibraryor/> | YouTube<https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0-kU8Gu0jS_YcnXg-b_TRA/featured>

[Logo for the Library Support & Development Services division at the State Library of Oregon]<http://www.oregon.gov/library/libraries>




About the position
The Virtual Reference Coordinator oversees Answerland<https://answerland.org/>, the State Library of Oregon's online library chat and email reference service. Answerland is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, by volunteers and partner library staff from around the state and country. This position oversees the chat coverage schedule, coordinates with local and out-of-state volunteers and partner libraries, liaises with the chat software vendor, ensures quality, conducts in-person and virtual outreach to partners, represents the chat cooperative's interests, seeks continual improvement of the services based on feedback, and works on special projects related to the service as needed. This position is half-time and mostly remote, with some in-person outreach required to partner libraries in Oregon.


  *   Further information and application<https://oregon.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/SOR_External_Career_Site/job/Salem--OSL--State-Library/Virtual-Reference-Coordinator--Librarian-_REQ-146750>
  *   Position description<https://www.oregon.gov/jobs/Documents/PD-0022005.pdf>
  *   Applications due: 2/29/2024
  *   For further information contact:

Buzzy Nielsen

Program Manager for Library Support

buzzy.nielsen at slo.oregon.gov<mailto:buzzy.nielsen at slo.oregon.gov>

971-375-3486

About the State Library of Oregon
The State Library of Oregon<https://www.oregon.gov/library/>, headquartered in Salem, plays a vital role in state government. It is an independent state agency governed by a nine-member Library Board appointed by the Governor under ORS 357. The mission of the State Library is to cultivate, preserve, and deliver library and information services to foster lifelong learning and community engagement. The agency operates on a biennial budget of approximately $19 million, with about 40 FTE employees.
The State Library consists of four divisions. Government Information and Library Services provides quality information services to assist state employees in the efficient performance of their jobs and in more effective decision-making for state government. Library Support and Development Services provides leadership, grants, and other assistance to improve library service for all people in Oregon. Operations provides the agency's administrative management functions such as board support, financial management, facilities management, volunteer management, information technology management, communications, and other administrative support services. The Oregon Talking Book and Braille Library is a free library for any person in Oregon with a print disability, which includes visual, physical, and reading impairments.
The person in this position will work as part of the State Library's Library Support and Development Services division<https://www.oregon.gov/library/libraries/>, which provides grants, consulting, leadership, and services to Oregon's 1,600 academic, public, school, special, and tribal libraries. The Library Support team provides planning for statewide library development; consulting on a variety of library issues; continuing education services for local library staff, patrons, and government officials; and administers all state and federal library grant programs made available by the agency.
The division is primarily funded by the federal Library Services and Technology Act<https://www.imls.gov/grants/grants-state/purposes-and-priorities-lsta>, as is the position. Library Support's current priorities and objectives<https://www.oregon.gov/library/libraries/Documents/LSTA/2023-2027LSTAFiveYearPlanSummary.pdf> focus on helping Oregon libraries break down systemic barriers; close the digital divide; support students, youth, and lifelong learners; build relations to foster community; and have the training and resources they need.

Education and Experience
Required qualifications:

  *   An American Libarary Association (ALA) accredited Master of Library Science degree or equivalent. NOTE: Degree must be awarded by time of hire
Preferred qualifications:

  *   Knowledge of management of software programs providing direct service to customers, especially library chat reference software.
  *   Basic familiarity of reference principles and practices in a variety of library settings.
  *   Knowledge of effective practices in schedule management for multiple individuals.
  *   Demonstrated experience communicating and collaborating with a wide variety of people.
  *   3 years of experience providing reference or customer service, preferably in a library setting; OR an equivalent combination of education and experience.
  *   2 years of experience providing reference or referral services via online chat or email (may be concurrent with the experience above); OR an equivalent combination of education and experience.
  *   Proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing Spanish.

Compensation
This position is part-time (approximately 20 hours per week), and the successful candidate would be paid at an hourly rate of $27.43- $42.09, depending on experience, education, and training.

Additional benefits include:

  *   Work/life balance, 11 paid holidays a year, and a competitive benefits package<https://www.oregon.gov/jobs/Pages/Benefits.aspx>.*
  *   Advancement and learning opportunities that will help grow your career with the State of Oregon.
  *   This position is eligible for hybrid work, with most work performed remotely. The person in this position is expected to do some in-person outreach to partner libraries. Terms of hybrid work and the work schedule will be discussed and agreed upon with the successful candidate and hiring manager.
*Note- Part-time employees are eligible for benefits at a prorated rate. Part-time employees are paid on an hourly basis, so depending on the schedule worked, the benefits and the holidays will be pro-rated as well.


-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://omls.oregon.gov/pipermail/libs-or/attachments/20240131/c014def1/attachment.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image001.png
Type: image/png
Size: 19516 bytes
Desc: image001.png
URL: <https://omls.oregon.gov/pipermail/libs-or/attachments/20240131/c014def1/attachment.png>