Library Circulation Assistant Jobs in Chicago, IL

Title: Library Assistant

Exemption Status: Non-exempt

Department: Library

Reports to: Senior Director, Library

Year-Round Part-time (20 hours per week), on-site. Includes weekday and weekend shifts.

Supervises: Volunteers

Year-round Part-time employees scheduled to work at least 20 hours per week are eligible for the following Benefits:

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Retirement plan
• Vacation, Sick, Personal days, Holidays, Holiday Thank you pay
• Garden membership - free to employees at Household Plus level
• Discounts to Garden Shop, Cafe, Garden-sponsored educational classes
• Events such as Orchid show, Night of 1,000 Jack-o'-Lanterns, Lightscape employee & friends preview night

Compensation Philosophy:

At the Chicago Botanic Garden, our compensation philosophy is rooted in our core values: Growth, Understanding, Resilience, and Trust through Transparency. We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels respected, valued, and appreciated.

Our objective is to create compensation and growth opportunities for our employees that are highly competitive, internally equitable and transparent. The foundation of our efforts is a straightforward approach that can be easily communicated by managers with defined pay ranges for all positions. When posting job openings, we share the minimum salary up to the budgeted amount.

The starting salary for new staff members is determined by considering the salary range assigned to the position and by reviewing the candidate’s qualifications for the job as compared with job responsibilities. Prior work experience should be considered in determining the salary offer, provided that it is relevant to the job. Additional factors such as secondary language proficiency or advanced degrees that enhance performance may also be considered. A candidate’s salary may exceed the minimum amount based on factors such as experience, additional skills (e.g., secondary language proficiency), or pertinent degrees that enhance the individual’s contribution to the role but are not required. Opportunities for increased compensation are provided through referral bonuses, shift differentials, Thank You Pay, promotions, and periodic pay increases based on the Garden's overall performance and financial budgets.

Our total compensation and benefits package is people centric. We prioritize employee wellness across three pillars: physical, mental, and financial. Our goal is to offer innovative total rewards that support continuous professional growth, personal development, and provide the flexibility needed to balance personal and professional commitments.

Position Overview:

The Library Assistant at the Chicago Botanic Garden’s Lenhardt Library will coordinate the interlibrary loan program, patron overdue book processing, and book collection maintenance, and will provide exceptional customer service while staffing the circulation desk. This is a year-round, part-time position working on-site, for 20 hours per week on both weekdays and weekends.

Responsibilities

In this role you will be responsible for the following:

• Facilitate the interlibrary loan book lending and borrowing program via OCLC, CARLI/RAILS
• Coordinate patron overdue, lost, and damaged book processing
• Staff the circulation desk three afternoon shifts per week on Sunday, Wednesday, and Thursday
• Perform circulation services, including check-in/check-out of materials, placing holds on materials, renewing materials, library card registration, and updating library card expiration dates
• Provide exceptional customer service during each interaction with a guest
• Assist guests by replying to questions in-person, by phone, and by email in a professional and friendly manner
• Assist with locating materials and library technology
• Maintain Stacks and Storage locations by shelving books, shelf reading, and edging collection
• Track statistics and generate monthly reports
• Assist librarians with other projects as requested

Qualifications

Our ideal candidate will have the following:

• Bachelor’s degree
• Minimum two years of professional-level experience in a library
• Experience with OCLC interlibrary loan IFM system
• Experience with patron and access services
• Experience staffing a circulation/information/reference desk
• Excellent customer service skills with a friendly, professional, and patient demeanor
• Experience searching online catalogs, databases, and reputable reference sources
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office products and ability to learn new software quickly
• Knowledge of Library of Congress call number system
• Organized, detailed, efficient, quickly learns new skills, uses time productively
• Collaborative; works well both independently and with others
• Excellent written, oral, and listening skills
• Friendly and professional during each guest interaction; enjoys interacting with people
• Strong interest in and knowledge of plants, gardens, and nature

Physical Demands:

Office setting. Frequent sitting, standing, walking, bending, listening, speaking, and keyboarding. Use of office equipment including computers, telephones, copiers, and scanners. Ability to climb a ladder and lift, push, or pull items of 30 pounds.

To apply: To apply, submit an application and upload a resume/CV.

Please include a cover letter with statement of why you are interested in the position. Application review will begin in mid-May 2026 and will continue until the position is filled.

Why Apply?
Come work in a setting that is like no other as you support our mission: We cultivate the power of plants to sustain and enrich life. Take the first step toward being one of the employees who make the Garden one of the treasures of the Forest Preserves of Cook County. Apply today. Please note that applicants who do not meet the required qualifications will not be considered.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, or basis of disability, or any other federal, state, or local protected class.

Disclaimer: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and qualifications required of personnel so classified.

In accordance with Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, Chicago Botanic Garden does not discriminate on the basis of sex in its programs or activities, including in employment or admissions. Please call (847) 835-8264 to contact our Title IX coordinator should you have questions or concerns. Please do not call this number to inquire about job postings or the status of your application, or with solicitations from companies or third-party recruiters.