Interlibrary Loan Specialist
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia Library is seeking an Interlibrary Loan Specialist to perform a variety of duties related to interlibrary loan (ILL), including searching requests, preparing and delivering materials for access by UVA patrons and by outside institutions, and providing customer service to library patrons. Duties may also include: searching the library catalog and resource-sharing databases; placing holds on and retrieving materials; maintaining ILL and catalog records; addressing patron questions and concerns; communicating with other library units as needed; other duties as assigned. Work is performed independently and under the supervision of the ILL Supervisor.
About the University of Virginia Library:
The University of Virginia Library is here to ensure that the University community has the information it needs for teaching, research, and enrichment. Regularly ranked in the top quartile of ARL libraries, UVA Library has six locations, more than 220 staffers, and more than 100 student employees. Additionally, as a major research institution, the Library regularly collaborates with professional organizations such as the Virtual Library of Virginia (VIVA), Virginia Library Association, Association of College and Research Libraries, and others.
The University of Virginia Library is committed to a culture of mutual respect, civility, cooperation, mindfulness, accountability, and acceptance of individual differences. Departments and individuals are expected to work together, both in professional collaborations and in creating a culture where all can thrive.
Responsibilities
- Searching - Accurately search interlibrary loan Borrowing and Lending requests using ILLiad, Virgo, WorkFlows, etc.; resolve bibliographic and citation errors as needed; confirm availability, place holds and email branches as necessary; maintain near 24-hour turn-around time for request processing (outside of weekends and holidays); follow-up on unfilled Borrowing requests, resubmitting them as needed; maintain at least a 95% accuracy rate
- Retrieval/Receiving - Retrieve UVA Library materials or receive them in from branches; receive in borrowed materials from other institutions; update ILLiad requests promptly; check out UVA materials to appropriate account; prep Lending materials for mailing; process Borrowing materials for patron delivery and route appropriately for LEO or other delivery methods; download and deliver online materials for document delivery and Lending requests; scan Lending materials for electronic delivery; scan Borrowing materials as needed for electronic delivery; purchase any articles which cannot be obtained elsewhere (within our spending limits) from publishers and other vendors
- General ILL Upkeep - Follow-up on overdue materials, emailing and/or invoicing as necessary for extremely overdue materials and notifying circulation and business services as needed; process renewal requests; respond to Borrowing and Lending emails in a timely manner, answering patron questions and referring them to other staff as needed; follow-up on any ILLiad system errors, conditionalized requests, outstanding special requests (e.g. non-OCLC requests); answer phone calls from patrons and borrowing institutions; clear new ILLiad accounts and assist patrons with any issues creating accounts or placing requests
- PDF Remediation (as needed) - Assist Instructional Scanning (ISS) with PDF remediation for Canvas requests using ABBYY FineReader and Adobe; follow ISS guidelines and procedures for remediating and delivering PDFs
- Mail Room Assistance (as needed) - Prepare outgoing Borrowing and Lending materials for shipping (i.e. sort, wrap, label, etc.); assist with opening incoming ILL mail and routing for processing; help sort and deliver mail to other Library units; notify staff of any packages which have arrived and require pick-up
Minimum Qualifications
- Education: High School Diploma
- Experience: At least one year of customer service experience
Preferred Qualifications
- At least one year of experience working in a museum, archive, or academic or public library setting
- Interlibrary loan experience is highly preferred, but not required
- Familiarity with resource sharing platforms is highly preferred, but not required
- Experience with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, etc.)
- Aptitude to become proficient with specialized digitization processes, software and equipment essential to departmental operations, e.g., scanners, editing of digital images, creation of PDF files
The UVA Library is interested in reviewing candidates with a broad range of experiences, education, and qualifications. We are dedicated to building a dynamic workplace, so if you are excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every preferred qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway.
Physical Demands
This job may require the ability to lift up to 50 pounds and the use of a hand truck or book cart. This is primarily a sedentary job involving extensive use of desktop computers. The job does occasionally require traveling some distance to attend meetings and programs.
Anticipated hiring range: $20.00 - $24.00 per hour, commensurate with experience.
Position Type & Work Location
- This is a non-exempt-level, benefited position. Learn more about UVA benefits
- This position is based in Charlottesville, VA, and must be performed fully on-site
About UVA and the Community
To learn more about UVA and in the Charlottesville area, visit UVA Life and Embark CVA.
This position will remain open until filled.
Anticipated Start Date is early March 2026.
Additional Requirements
- Background checks will be conducted on all new hires prior to employment
- This position will not consider candidates who require immigration sponsorship now or in the future
How to Apply
Please apply online, by searching for requisition number R0080275. Complete an application with the following documents:
- Resume
- Cover Letter – must be included to be considered. Cover letter should include your interest in the position and how your relevant experience pertains to this position and the UVA Library
Upload all materials into the resume submission field. You can submit multiple documents into this one field or combine them into one PDF. Applications without all required documents will not receive full consideration.
Internal applicants may search and apply for jobs on the UVA Internal Careers website.
Reference checks will be completed by UVA’s third-party partner, SkillSurvey, during the final phase of the interview. Five references will be requested, with at least three responses required.
For questions about the application process, please contact Karon Harrington at fak3ph@virginia.edu.
The University of Virginia is an equal opportunity employer. All interested persons are encouraged to apply, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Learn more about UVA’s commitment to non-discrimination and equal opportunity employment.