Library Specialist in Lexington, Kentucky

Library Specialist

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.

What You'll Do

• 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

What You'll Bring

• 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

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor's degree
• 2 years of related experience

What's In It for You

• 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

Skills / Knowledge / Abilities - MS Office, Excel, Teams, Library Management System (Alma)

Does this position have supervisory responsibilities? - No

Preferred Education/Experience
- Prefer bachelor's degree plus two years of experience in an academic research library.

Final date to receive applications - 08/25/2026

Our University Community
- We value the well-being of each of our employees and are dedicated to creating a healthy place for everyone to work, learn and live. In the interest of maintaining a safe and healthy environment for our students, employees, patients and visitors, the University of Kentucky is a Tobacco & Drug Free campus. The University follows both the federal and state Constitutions as well as all applicable federal and state laws on nondiscrimination.

The University provides equal opportunities for qualified persons in all aspects of institutional operations and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnic origin, religion, creed, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, uniformed service, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information or social or economic status. Any candidate offered a position may be required to pass pre-employment screenings as mandated by University of Kentucky Human Resources.

These screenings may include a national background check and/or drug screen.