Collections Services Technician (2 openings)

Description

Job Title

Collections Services Technician

Job Type

Permanent

Union

MRSA

Position Classification

SLB07 Library Assistant VII

Salary Grade

$55,982.00 - $70,841.00

FT or PT

Full-time

Hybrid Work

This position is eligible

Location

MRU Main Campus - Calgary, AB T3E 6K6 CA (Primary)

About the Library

Housed in the Riddell Library and Learning Centre, the University Library is an integral part of the MRU experience. The services, facilities, programming and expertise available in the Library support innovative teaching, learning, and scholarship across campus. 

The Library includes the Archives and Special Collections, and specialized and technology-enriched teaching and learning spaces, including information literacy classrooms, a Maker Studio, audio production rooms, and a range of visualization, simulation, and immersive spaces.  The Library team consists of approximately 60 employees. The Library values a healthy inclusive workplace, encourages a culture of innovation and teamwork, and provides support for professional development.  

About the Role

We are currently hiring two Collections Services Technicians reporting to the Manager, Collections. Collections Services Technicians are responsible for acquisitions, cataloguing, and metadata functions within the Collections Services unit. They play a vital role in the mission of the Library, helping to ensure that materials needed to support university programming are ordered and received in a timely manner and made findable and accessible for those who need them.  The successful candidate will have a collaborative, forward-thinking, and user focused approach to library collections work and will actively support and contribute to MRU Library’s ongoing efforts towards Indigenous reconciliation and diversity, equity, justice, inclusion, and accessibility.

This position is a  permanent full-time position(35 hours per week on-campus, working Monday to Friday).

Responsibilities

• Order Processing: Processes orders supporting various purchasing models (e.g., one-time, subscription, patron-driven) using ILS and acquisitions tools, and reconciles invoices and credit card statements to ensure accurate and timely payments.

• Resource Access & Coordination: Participates in all stages of the e-resource lifecycle (including batch record enrichment, import, and access maintenance), verifies entitlement lists, and coordinates with subject selectors and vendors.

• Workflow Optimization: Adopts new tools and methods and optimizes ALMA LSP functionality to improve acquisitions processes.

• Cataloguing: Catalogues and classifies a variety of materials, applying national, international, and local standards (including MARC and RDA) to ensure accurate and accessible records.

• Inclusive Practices: Applies critical and inclusive cataloguing principles to enhance user access and address representation in metadata.

• Metadata Management: Utilizes knowledge of bibliographic records, subject headings, and metadata management tools (including MarcEdit and Alma Metadata Editor) to manage local and shared records, enhancing resource discoverability.

• Communication and Collaboration: Works collaboratively with colleagues to identify and address collection issues; prioritizes clear and effective communication across all levels of the organization (including faculty, staff, students and vendors) to support smooth workflows and shared goals.

Qualifications

• Library Information Technology diploma required, in combination with 3 – 5 years of experience in academic libraries.

• Experience working in an academic library’s collection services is preferred.

• A Bachelor’s degree or a Masters in Library and Information Science, or equivalent, would be considered an asset.

• Knowledge of acquisitions and access models (e.g., approval plans, firm orders, subscriptions, open access).

• Familiarity with library ordering systems (e.g., GOBI) or online bookstores (e.g., Amazon).

• Familiarity working with order information, as well as handling and reconciling invoices and statements.

• Strong knowledge of cataloguing principles and standards for bibliographic records (eg MARC, RDA, LCC), inclusive cataloguing and metadata management practices,  as well as experience with original or copy cataloguing.

• Industry knowledge of current and emerging metadata standards (e.g., Dublin Core, OAI, MODS, BIBFRAME, linked data), integrated library systems, electronic acquisitions processes, and resource management processes.

• Strong organizational, analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills. 

• Self-motivated with the ability to work independently and collaboratively with high accuracy. 

• Comfortable with spreadsheet and office software for workflow management (eg. Google Workspace, Microsoft suite)

• Understanding of and familiarity with the post-secondary environment and the needs of academic Library users.

• Strong written and oral communication. 

Experience with Alma LSP, Primo discovery layer, GOBI, MARCEdit, OpenRefine, or Springshare products, and experience in managing electronic resources and/or an understanding of trends in electronic resource management are assets.

Salary:                               $55,982 - $70,841 per annum

Closing Date:                   August 4, 2025