Laboratory Schools: Library Assistant, Lim Library

Department

Lab School Lim Family Library

About the Department

At the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools, students in Nursery through Grade 12 experience a world-class educational journey. Founded in 1896 by John Dewey as a place for educators to develop and explore novel approaches to pedagogy and curriculum, Lab continues to provide excitement and imagination in learning to this day. Academic rigor, experiential learning, and intellectual discourse are hallmarks of a Lab education. Lab educators are recognized for excellence in teaching and pride themselves on innovation in the classroom. Students in every grade have access to unparalleled resources, and all members of the Lab community benefit by partnerships and connections with the University of Chicago. Families who choose Lab care deeply about curiosity, inquiry, and creativity.

No less than scholarship, Lab’s mission prioritizes honoring diversity and exhibiting kindness. We are committed to building and supporting a teaching and learning community where young people see aspects of their backgrounds and identities reflected around them, where they feel a deep sense of belonging, and where they discover and use their voices to full effect. Today, 53-59 percent of Lab’s student body are students of color. Families report speaking nearly 40 different languages in their homes. Approximately 60 percent of Lab families are also affiliated with the University of Chicago. Half of our families live in Hyde Park, and the rest come from across Chicago, the suburbs, and northwestern Indiana. Inclusion is a fundamental value at Lab, such that we celebrate every facet of community members’ identities, and even where we disagree, we emphasize respect, civility, and maintaining a spirit of community.

Lab seeks the finest employees to join our vibrant learning community. We employ people with a wide range of skills and training in many different disciplines, who have in common a love of learning and the wish to inspire that same love of learning in young people. We seek candidates for employment who thrive in an educational environment. We provide a great professional home for those committed to collaboration, ongoing personal and professional growth, and cultivating positive relationships. In turn, we strive to ensure that Lab is a joyful, welcoming, and inspiring place to work. Through our connection to the University, faculty, staff, and administrators enjoy benefits and opportunities that would be nearly impossible to match in any other environment.

Job Information

Job Summary:

The Library Assistant III provides advanced operational and technical support for the Lim Family Library within the Early Childhood Division of the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools. This position performs complex circulation, cataloging, acquisitions, collection maintenance, and financial processing functions while ensuring the efficient day-to-day operation of the library. The Library Assistant III serves as a primary point of contact for students, families, faculty, and staff, applying knowledge of library science, early childhood education, and child development to provide exceptional customer service and maintain a welcoming, student-centered learning environment. The position also collaborates with librarians on library programming, collection development, displays, special events, and the training of student employees and substitutes.

Responsibilities:

• 40% Performs advanced circulation and patron service functions including checking materials in and out, managing holds, reserves, overdues, replacements, patron records, and circulation policies. Assists students, teachers, staff, and families with library services, troubleshoots catalog issues, performs opening and closing procedures, and ensures a welcoming, developmentally appropriate library environment.

• 25% Performs advanced technical services including copy cataloging, bibliographic and patron record maintenance, processing new materials, applying barcodes, spine labels, stamps, protective coverings, maintaining accurate holdings in Follett Destiny, and ensuring collection organization through shelving, shelf reading, sorting, inventory management, and preservation of library materials.

• 15% Coordinates acquisitions and financial processing by researching vendor information, maintaining purchasing carts, processing orders, verifying shipments, tracking invoices, maintaining inventory records, using University purchasing systems, and managing library supplies.

• 10% Assists with library operations by training and providing day-to-day guidance to student employees and clerical substitutes; collaborates with librarians to improve workflows, library operations, and collection maintenance; assists with communication regarding overdue, lost, and damaged materials.

• 5% Collaborates with librarians on reader engagement initiatives, library displays, signage, passive programming, author visits, story times, book sales, and other special projects supporting the educational mission of the library.

• 5% Performs other duties as assigned.

Competencies:

• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively and professionally with students, families, faculty, staff, and community members.

• Ability to apply principles of early childhood development when interacting with young learners.

• Advanced knowledge of library circulation, technical services, acquisitions, and collection maintenance.

• Ability to perform copy cataloging and maintain accurate bibliographic and patron records.

• Demonstrated ability to prioritize multiple workflows while balancing public service responsibilities with technical services work.

• Strong organizational skills with exceptional attention to detail.

• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively within a team environment.

• Experience using or the ability to quickly learn Follett Destiny, Oracle, Ingram, Microsoft Office, and other library management systems.

• Commitment to intellectual freedom, equitable access, and student-centered library services.

Additional Responsibilities

Education, Experience, or Certifications:

Education:

• High school diploma from an accredited institution or a GED certificate required.

• Associate's degree or Bachelor's degree preferred.

Experience:

• Three or more years of progressively responsible library experience preferred.

• Previous experience in a K–12 educational environment preferred.

• Experience using Follett Destiny or comparable integrated library systems preferred.

• Experience with acquisitions, cataloging, and library technical services preferred.

• Experience working with young children and families preferred.

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements:

• Ability to lift and carry materials weighing up to 25 pounds.

• Ability to stand, bend, reach, shelve, and retrieve library materials throughout the workday.

• Ability to sit and use a computer for extended periods.

• Ability to work in a moderate dust environment.

• Ability to reach both high and low shelving throughout the library.

Pay Range:

• $20.14 - $29.48

Required Documents:

• Resume

• Cover Letter

• Professional References

The University of Chicago uses AI-assisted tools to streamline and augment some recruitment processes; however, AI is not used to make hiring decisions.

When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Yes

Pay Rate Type

Hourly

Pay Range

$20.14 - $29.48

The included pay rate or range represents the University’s good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.

Scheduled Weekly Hours

40

Union

024- Local 743, I.B.T. Clerical

Job is Exempt

No

Drug Test Required

No

Health Screen Required

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

No

Posting Date

2026-08-13

Posting Statement

The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

 

Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

 

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history.  A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment.  Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

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