Jobs › Joliet Junior College

Specialist, Library Collection Management

Joliet Junior College · Joliet, IL · $20.70–$21.94 an hour · Full time

Posted Sep 11, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 4, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about your experience with library collections, like ordering, processing or cataloging materials.

What they are checking: Whether they have hands-on experience in the behind-the-scenes work of a library.

Tell me about a time you kept a detailed project organized over many weeks.

What they are checking: Whether they can handle long, careful work without losing track.

How do you stay accurate when doing repetitive tasks like labeling or data entry?

What they are checking: Whether they keep quality steady over routine work.

What would you do

You find a batch of items with wrong records in the catalog. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they fix records carefully, since bad data means students can't find materials.

How would you work with faculty to make sure the collection supports their courses?

What they are checking: Whether they see the collection as serving teaching and learning.

About the work

Walk me through how a new book goes from being ordered to being on the shelf.

What they are checking: Whether they understand the full workflow of acquisitions and processing.

How familiar are you with library systems and cataloging standards?

What they are checking: Whether they can work in the library's systems with little training.

How do you decide which materials should be removed from the collection?

What they are checking: Whether they understand weeding based on use, condition and relevance.

How do you manage e-books and databases along with print materials?

What they are checking: Whether they understand that digital resources need tracking, licensing and access checks too.

How do you keep track of a budget when ordering materials?

What they are checking: Whether they can spend carefully within limits.

Practice this interview out loud.

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The full job description

As published by Joliet Junior College.

Position Title: Specialist, Library Collection Management Job Description: POSITION TITLE: Specialist, Library Collection Management STATUS: Full time DEPARTMENT: Academic Affairs DIVISION: Library CLASSIFICATION: Non-exempt UNION: TOSSC-AFT Local 604 REPORTS TO: Department Chair PLACEMENT: Grade 105 HIRING RANGE: $20.70 - $21.94 hourly Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The student population at the college is diverse in ethnicity, gender, language, age and background. Joliet Junior College is an AA/EO employer and strongly encourages applications from candidates who would enhance the diversity of its staff. POSITION SUMMARY Reporting to the Department Chairperson and under the direction of the Technical Services Librarian, this position focuses on clerical library tasks within technical services, requiring expertise in copy cataloging, classification methods, acquisition of library materials, and familiarity with library operations. This position requires a detail-oriented, self-starter who takes initiative and enjoys relating to a diverse population of library users in a fast-paced work environment with multiple interruptions. ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES AND KEY RESPONSIBILITIES 1. Demonstrate exemplary customer service and assistance, excellent communication and interpersonal skills by understanding and applying the library and college’s policies and procedures. Able to assist library users in a professional manner in-person and online. 2. Uphold and interpret library procedures to library users. 3. Determine library user needs; check on the availability of library materials; assist library users in locating library materials and refer library users to librarians as needed; aid library users requiring technical assistance with library equipment. 4. Engage in institutional, library, and/or consortia committees, taskforces, and projects. 5. Maintain a high level of cooperation with all library employees working within a team environment to prepare and process materials, in all formats, in support of the college curriculum and library collection development. 6. Attentiveness to detail, excellent organizational skills, and initiative in performing data entry for all materials requested for purchase; verify accuracy of each order. 7. Orders both physical and online resources for the library collection. Monitors open orders. Communicates with internal and external contacts to clarify status of requests and orders. 8. Prepare reports on the status of ordered materials, including those received, backordered, and cancelled, etc. 9. Performs preliminary original cataloging, database maintenance and troubleshooting. 10. Create, enhance, upgrade, revise and maintain bibliographic, holding, and item records for library content. 11. Work with automated systems to facilitate the copy cataloging of content purchased by the library at the direction of the appropriate librarians. 12. Integrate electronic resources including e-books, e-audiobooks, and streaming video into the integrated library system (ILS) and manage the lifecycle of those resources. 13. Develop, implement, and manage quality assurance standards for library’s catalog in accordance with consortial policies and procedures. 14. Manage and maintain holdings in union catalog(s). 15. Prepare, repair, and conserve library materials in all formats. Train and oversee student employees and other relevant library staff in these techniques. 16. Participate in the inventory, retention, and declassification of purchased and donated items in the library collection. 17. Investigate and keep current with technological tools to assist in all automated phases of the technical services workflow by engaging in ongoing professional development opportunities, as funding allows. 18. Assist with library marketing initiatives, including creating displays. 19. Collect and compile relevant statistics and reports. 20. Create, enhance, upgrade, revise and maintain bibliographic, holding, and item records for library content. 21. Open/close the library as needed. 22. Perform other projects and duties as assigned. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS 1. Library Technical Assistant (LTA) certificate or 3 years library technical services or collection management experience. 2. Knowledge of current cataloging standards and general principles of cataloging print and non-print materials, including electronic resources. 3. Excellent verbal and written communication skills, and ability and willingness to work cooperatively with a diverse population in a team-based work environment. 4. Extensive personal computer skills and a thorough knowledge of several software applications including Microsoft Office Suite for Windows and/or Mac, E-mail, and Internet. 5. Ability to work under minimal supervision by being self-motivated/self-disciplined. 6. Ability to establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with other members of the college and community, displaying cultural competence as well as emotional intelligence. 7. Demonstrated commitment to the college’s core values of respect and inclusion, sustainability, integrity, collaboration, humor and well-being, innovation and quality. PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS 1. Academic library experience. 2. Experience in knowledge or collections management 3. Experience with automated library systems and additional computer applications. 4. Experience with library authentication systems. 5. English and Spanish verbal and written communication proficiency. 6. Demonstrated multicultural competence. PHYSICAL DEMANDS 1. Normal office physical demands. 2. Ability to lift and transport up to 50 pounds including moving book trucks, lifting and physical processing of materials. 3. Ability to access computer screens and electronic records in software packages currently used by the library and college with the ability to input data to the correct systems. WORKING CONDITIONS 1. Duties are performed indoors in the usual office environment. BENEFITS Click on the link for information about JJC's Benefits: Technical Office Support Staff Council (TOSSC)-AFT Local 604 Full Time/Part Time: Full time Union (If Applicable): TOSSC Scheduled Hours: 40

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