Position Overview
Victoria University Library is currently recruiting for two Graduate Reference
Assistant positions to work in the Reader Services Department in the E.J. Pratt
Library. This is an excellent opportunity for current Faculty of Information students
to gain relevant experience and mentorship opportunities in an academic library.
Under the direction of Reader Services and Instruction Librarians, the Graduate
Reference Assistant is responsible for providing reference service, in-person, via
email, and by telephone. The successful candidate delivers reference and research
services to students, faculty, staff, and other library patrons and provides support for
special collections research appointments. They may also be called upon to provide
basic circulation service as needed.
The Graduate Reference Assistants will be closely involved with other activities of the
reference team, such as assisting librarians with preparation for instruction sessions
and for research consultations. They can expect to work on special projects related
to collection development, deselection of items in the general collection, outreach
and promotion of library services, exhibitions, and other tasks. An ideal candidate for
this position would possess an interest in research, instruction, and other aspects of
academic librarianship.
The specific professional and academic interests of the successful candidate(s) will
also be taken into consideration in the assignment of tasks and responsibilities. The
successful candidate also performs other duties as required.
Graduate Reference Assistants must complete required training and adhere to all
Health & Safety policies, directives and guidelines as determined by Victoria
University. Health & Safety mandates may be updated at the University’s discretion
during the term of employment to include provincial health measures related to
communicable diseases and vaccination status.
Qualifications
● Must be currently enrolled as a graduate student in library and
information science or beginning the program in September at the
University of Toronto
● In-progress or completion of INF1323H — The Information Experience or
other coursework or experience in providing reference service or
research support in any type of a library, archives and other research
institution
● Current knowledge of print and electronic resources offered by the
University of Toronto Libraries (UTL) system
● Understanding of the Library of Congress (LOC) classification system.
● Excellent interpersonal and relationship building skills and the ability to work
in a team
● Ability to learn on the job and independently
● Superior oral and written communication and presentation skills
● Ability to maintain professionalism and cordiality when working with
library users and staff members.
Preferred Qualifications
● An undergraduate or graduate degree in the humanities and/or social
sciences is preferred
● Candidates with coursework or knowledge and experience with rare
books, special collection, archives and other heritage resources and
institutions will be prioritized for this position
● Experience providing reference services in a library.
Rate of Pay
$21.00 per hour.
Work Week
The schedule will be determined based on the library’s needs and the availability of
the successful candidates. The Graduate Reference Assistants will each work
between ten to twenty hours per week, Monday to Friday, within the hours of
9:30am and 5:00pm.
Application Process & Training
Interested students should submit a resumé and cover letter as a single file (PDF or
Word) by email addressed to the Hiring Committee at
rsapplications@vicu.utoronto.ca with the subject line “Graduate Reference
Assistant” before midnight on June 29th, 2023
In their cover letter, students must describe their anticipated scheduling availability
for both fall and winter semesters, and must state their preferred number of hours
per week.
We plan to provide training during the last week of August and/or the first week of
September. Please indicate if you are available then.
We thank all applicants for their interest in this position but only those selected for
an interview will be contacted.
Victoria University is committed to equity in access to employment and a diverse
and inclusive workplace. The University encourages applications from racialized
persons/persons of colour, women, Indigenous people, persons with disabilities,
LGBTQ persons, and others who may contribute to the further diversification of
ideas. If you require accessibility accommodation, please contact the Human
Resources Department vic.hr@utoronto.ca.
About Victoria University Library
Located on the Victoria University campus, the E.J. Pratt Library collection numbers
approximately 250,000 items and contains books, periodicals, documents,
pamphlets and specialized material, excluding theology, which support
undergraduate studies at Victoria University.
Academic programs at Victoria include interdisciplinary Vic One and Vic One
Hundred, Creative Expression and Society, Education and Society, Literature and
Critical Theory, Material Culture and Semiotics, Renaissance Studies and Science
and Society.
Our collections are also strong in the areas of Canadian Studies, History, Classics,
English, French, and German literature, Near Eastern Studies, Philosophy, Political
Science and Religious Studies. Special and book collections include works by and
about E.J. Pratt, Northrop Frye, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Virginia Woolf /
Bloomsbury, John Wesley, and many others.
Organization Web Site
http://library.vicu.utoronto.ca/.
