Availability after 5 PM EST with ability to commit to a set evening and weekend schedule. The role must reliably work assigned shifts each week. The schedule is determined by patron use patterns during the academic term, and the coverage provided by this position is a requirement for VCCS' continuing Cooperative membership. Hours range from 10-15 per week.

Virginia's community colleges have a 50-year track record of educational excellence and innovation to serve the needs of our citizens and strengthen the Commonwealth's economy. When Virginia's General Assembly established the Virginia Community College System in 1966, the need for a comprehensive system was well known. Over the two decades after the end of World War II, leaders in government, business, professional sectors, and academia had called for a new approach to providing educational opportunity. A key concern was Virginia's ability to develop a skilled and knowledgeable workforce to expand the state's economy. Today our community colleges give every Virginian the opportunity to gain a quality education. With 23 colleges on 40 campuses located throughout the state, Virginia's Community Colleges are committed to serving Virginia families, helping them acquire the knowledge and skills to seize the opportunities of today and tomorrow.

The Reference Librarian is part of the VCCS System Office Student Experience and Strategic Initiatives' Library Services team. This position is responsible for providing prompt, professional online reference service to college and university students in a fast-paced online consortial environment. This position must be a positive, collegial team player with proven ability to successfully manage live chat reference inquiries and coordinate follow-up with staff at the patron's institution as needed. This position will need to be an independent problem-solver who can work with little supervision and reliably cover assigned hours each week. This role operates in an environment that requires a skilled online communicator with exemplary reference service skills to demonstrate initiative, flexibility, and sound professional judgment.

Availability after 5 p.m. EST with ability to commit to a set evening and weekend schedule. The role must reliably work assigned shifts each week. The schedule is determined by patron use patterns during the academic term, and the coverage provided by this position is a requirement for VCCS' continuing Cooperative membership.

You must have your own computer with a modern browser capable of live chat and email, as well as a secure, high-speed, reliable Internet connection that is available to you during scheduled shifts.

ALA-accredited Master's degree with significant work experience providing online reference service using a proprietary platform such as OCLC QuestionPoint, SpringShare LibAnswers, or similar.

Ability to quickly process and apply written policies and instructions from a variety of libraries, navigate their particular websites, and advise their patrons how to make effective use of the resources available to them.

Ability to effectively search and use academic databases and assist novice users in learning how to use them, with demonstrated expertise in discovering effective search terms for topics in all subject areas.

Knowledge of the complexities, capabilities, and limits of commercial research databases; a variety of research writing and citation formats; and academic uses of free Internet search tools.

Advanced emotional self-regulation and online communication skills

Proven ability to engage effectively with people from a variety of cultural and academic backgrounds

A minimum of 5 years community college library work experience with responsibility for general reference and library instruction.

Facility with live screensharing and creating brief video screen recordings for instructional purposes.

Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot remote (off-campus) connection and login issues for academic library research databases.

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In support of the Commonwealth's commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth's Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly called a Certificate of Disability) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans may also apply via the AHP if they also provide an AHP Letter. To request an AHP Letter, use this link: or call DARS at 800-552-5019, or DBVI at 800-622-2155

This is an hourly position and is not eligible for state benefits or leave. Hiring range for this position is $22.75 - $29.25 per hour, commensurate with education and work experience. Hours may vary per week depending on work. Estimated hours range between 10-15 hours per week.