Learning and Information Services. Job Description

Transcription

1 Learning and Information Services Job Description Post Title: Subject Librarian Reference Number: S861 Salary Grade: Grade 6 Department: Base Location: Learning and Information Services Francis Close Hall Campus/Oxstalls Campus Hours per Week: 37 No of Weeks worked per annum: FTE: 1 Special Conditions: Occasional Bank Holiday, evening and weekend working may be required. The majority of annual leave should normally be taken in University vacation periods. Vacation hours may vary. Term-time leave will be allowed following discussion with the Line Manager. Although a base location may be indicated, the post holder could be instructed to work at any premises the University occupies and may be required to work at any University site or any other reasonable location where the University is undertaking its business. General 1. The Mission of the Department is to support learning, teaching and research in the University by leading, managing and developing a range of integrated information systems, resources and services that are focused on the needs of learners. 2. Learning Centres provide information, resources, learning environments, advice and user support for the learning, teaching, research and consultancy activities of the University. Services include academic liaison, reference and enquiry, information literacy, collection development, resource management and access, media services, and circulation of materials. 3. Purpose of Job: to undertake academic liaison and support; to develop and deliver services and manage collections to meet the needs of staff and students within a range of academic programmes in a designated Faculty; to contribute to planning and policy-making for LIS services; to participate in service development projects. Team working and a commitment to the provision of customer-focused services in a technology rich environment are important aspects of the post. There is an emphasis on collaboration with Faculties to promote and develop resource collections and access to information. 4. Key Contacts: internal University staff and students, visitors and external educational and commercial organisations at a local, regional, and national level. LIS/JD/Subject Librarian

2 Main Duties and Responsibilities Line Manager: Faculty Librarian Operational Manager: Faculty Librarian Responsible for: Library Information Technologists in absence of Faculty Librarian 1 Primary Functions 1.1 To identify and analyse the information needs of students and staff, and develop, deliver and monitor effective, value-added services appropriate to those needs. 1.2 To deliver and promote high quality customer care practice to students, members of staff, visitors and other users of the Learning Centre. 1.3 To be an active member of a cross-campus team of Librarians, contributing to the development and continuous improvement of resources and services for the designated Faculty, as well as generic information resources within the post holder s base location. 1.4 To maintain and develop specialist skills and knowledge that support the work of the Department as outlined above in General 2. In particular for this post to undertake the following: Academic liaison to provide a principal channel of communication between Learning Centres and academic staff in the designated Faculty to represent LIS on Course Boards to ensure effective liaison with teaching and research staff in establishing information needs and contribute to formulating policy and service development to enhance the responsiveness of Learning Centre services to the Faculty to provide professional knowledge and expertise on information resources and services for the Faculty to ensure that the needs of their teaching, learning and research strategies are met to maintain an up-to-date knowledge of the curriculum and the information and research resources needed to support it where appropriate to liaise with external agencies and partner institutions to ensure effective collaboration and provision of services Teaching and Learning User Education to develop, deliver and promote an effective enquiry and reference service and other user education activities for both campus-based and off-campus users to advise learners on the use of software and applications in Learning Centres, printed and electronic information sources, specialist IT, audio-visual and media facilities and assist them in exploiting resources both within the Learning Centres and elsewhere Information Literacy to develop, promote, deliver and assess information and research skills and learning support materials for students and staff to work with other LIS and University staff dealing with Quality Assurance to ensure the effectiveness and quality of programmes to exploit and promote information resources and services through seminars, workshops, publications, web pages, etc Collection Management to work with the Faculty Librarian in managing allocated materials budgets for designated subject areas to develop, manage and promote (including the design of user interfaces, and online support and guidance) an appropriately diverse range of print-based and electronic resources, maximising access and availability in consultation with academic staff and the Faculty Librarian to implement systems for the control and retrieval of resources, including cataloguing and classification according to international standards (e.g. AACR2, DDC22, Library of Congress, etc) LIS/JD/Subject Librarian

3 Quality Assurance to participate and take an active role in internal and external quality processes, and support course development; e.g. as a member of Course Boards; course development, validation and PRR processes Service Development to initiate and assist in the development and support of services and activities within Learning Centres Collaborative Partners where appropriate, to liase with external agencies and partner institutions to ensure effective collaboration and provision of services to advise on appropriate resource budgets with partner institutions to maintain a knowledge of and promote the collections of partner institutions, including the management of agreements for the assimilation of collections where required Professional Representation to represent the University in active membership of appropriate national professional bodies 1.5 To participate in enquiry desk rotas and other routines necessary for the maintenance of services. 1.6 To contribute to the development of the team, in activities such as: team meetings, working groups, assisting in the training and development of other members of staff; contributing to staff recruitment and selection; and identifying and promoting best practice. 1.7 To support the University s mission by working collaboratively to provide high quality learning, teaching and research services and by promoting services to the Gloucestershire community. 1.8 To contribute to the development of project proposals for external funding. 1.9 To undertake personal professional development related to the work of the Department and to participate in and take an active role in, Department development programmes, and assist in the development and delivery of in-house staff training To take responsibility for co-ordinating the activities of Library Information Technologists in the absence of the Faculty Librarian and supervise the work of Faculty teams during this time. 2 Secondary Functions 2.1 To analyse data and provide management information on the use, availability and value for money of University services and systems, to inform planning and development. 2.2 To represent the Department on University and external Committees as directed by the Line Manager. 2.3 To be responsible for ensuring compliance with the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998, and all University policies and procedures in relation to the handling of personal data, Equal Opportunities and Health and Safety. 2.4 To undertake any other duties and responsibilities commensurate with the grade of the post, properly directed by the Line Manager. These variations will not change the general character of the post or the level of responsibility entailed. This job description is a guide to the work the post holder will initially be required to undertake. It may be amended from time to time to meet changing circumstances by mutual agreement. It is expected the post holder and his/her manager will regularly review the job description. These discussions will normally take place during the Staff Development Review interview. Where appropriate, an agreed amended job description will be produced or explicitly authorised by the Personnel and Staff Development Department. LIS/JD/Subject Librarian

4 PERSON SPECIFICATION Job Title: Subject Librarian Faculty/Department: Learning and Information Services Grade: Grade 6 1 Attainments Qualifications 2 Previous Experience 3 Training and Specialist Skills Essential [E] Degree and / or Postgraduate LIS qualification (or equivalent) or relevant professional experience Good ICT skills evidenced by qualifications and / or experience Post-qualification LIS experience in HE library environment Experienced user of Microsoft Office applications, , internet and library management systems Experience of successful delivery of user education programmes Experience of collection development and management Excellent presentation, communication and organisational skills Ability to teach/train in large and small groups and one-toone Successful promotion of resources through user education, printed and webbased information High standard of professional skills: enquiry work, collection management, information retrieval Able to explain complex concepts clearly and to test they have been understood Desirable [D] PGCHE (or equivalent) Chartered membership of CILIP or equivalent Experience of successfully developing and promoting information services and resources Experience of working in a learning support environment Evidence of professional involvement, e.g. active participation in professional associations, publications, conferences etc Awareness of developments in the delivery of electronic materials in an HE environment Experience of developing Web pages Familiar with the application of information quality standards to online information retrieval Familiar with e-learning issues and web-based teaching 4 Disposition Excellent interpersonal skills Ability to communicate effectively at all levels with learners and colleagues from a diversity of backgrounds Positive approach to team work Flexible approach to work Able to set own priorities and work without supervision LIS/JD/Subject Librarian

5 5 Exceptional Physical Requirements Ability to work collaboratively on projects with good time management and organisational skills Commitment to the provision of high quality customer-focussed services High degree of motivation, commitment and enthusiasm Innovative and proactive attitude to service provision Ability to work calmly under pressure and meet deadlines. Show evidence of continuing professional development Quantities of books, other materials and media equipment need to be lifted and carried to shelves, involving stretching upwards and bending downwards Eyesight: must be able to work for periods using a VDU 6 Circumstances Must be able to work evenings, weekends, and Bank Holidays as required LIS/JD/Subject Librarian