Subject Librarian Recruitment Pack January 2014 Ref: R0679
Dear Applicant Thank you for your interest in this post and in the University. In this booklet you will find information about the University, Computing and Library Services and the post itself. Computing and Library Services (CLS) is a large and diverse department, as you will see from the accompanying organisation chart. Our activities range from IT infrastructure through to archives and special collections, from telecommunications through to information skills teaching. Uniting these diverse areas are the common aims of supporting the University in terms of learning, teaching, research and enterprise, providing excellent customer service and being at the forefront of service delivery. Our organisational structure and ethos encourage creativity and new ideas. In recent years we can boast many successes including: Holder of national Customer Service Excellence Award the first University department in the UK to achieve this, and receiving an outstanding assessment in 2013 which included 9 areas of compliance plus Shortlisted three times 2009-11 for the Times Higher Education Leadership and Management Awards in the categories Outstanding Library Team and Outstanding ICT initiative Many individuals successes including Library Information Professional of the Year (Dave Pattern, Library Systems Manager) National Teaching Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (Andrew Walsh) and representation on a number of national professional committees. Awards of several external grants, in the areas of library impact data, open access journal publishing and archive digitisation Winner of the IAML (International Association of Music Libraries) Excellence in Music Libraries award CLS is highly regarded within the University and we attach great importance to working in partnership with colleagues in Schools and Services. Equally important are the internal relationships within CLS and good team work. We are fortunate in having many talented and dedicated people working within CLS and I hope that having read through this booklet you will want to join us. I hope the information in this booklet proves useful and gives you sufficient guidance to pursue your application. Further information is also available on our website www.hud.ac.uk. If you would like to have an informal discussion about the post please do not hesitate to contact Eileen Hiller on 01484 472894 or email e.m.hiller@hud.ac.uk I look forward to receiving your application. Yours sincerely Sue White, Director of Computing and Library Services
1. The Role Job Function: To assist the Academic Librarian in the provision of library services to support teaching, learning and research. Job Duties: 1. To develop expert bibliographical knowledge in designated and wider subject areas, including access to print and electronic information sources, in order to satisfy in-depth enquiries and provide guidance on information resources. 2. To design, deliver and evaluate inductions and information skills training for students and staff, to ensure they have the necessary information literacy skills for independent learning and research. 3. To develop and evaluate teaching and learning materials in support of student learning in a variety of suitable formats, working in liaison with library and academic staff. 4. To provide an information service to library users, in person, by telephone, email or on-line. 5. To liaise with academic staff to ensure appropriate information resources and effective information skills are delivered 6. To attend student panels and other appropriate school committees in order to gain feedback from students and to explain services 7. To work wok with colleagues across CLS and the university to support the university mission 8. To undertake promotion and publicity of library services as appropriate, using a range of traditional and web based methods. 9. To undertake stock selection and stock maintenance; classification and cataloguing of materials where bibliographic records are unobtainable from outsourced suppliers 10. To instruct and supervise clerical staff 11. To undertake any other duties pertinent to the grade of the post which may be requested at any time
2. The Person Attributes Essential Desirable Evidenced Experience Experience of working in a Library or Information Service Experience of working in a further/higher education institution Experience of using electronic information sources Experience of supporting teaching and learning using a range of both paper based and technology resources Experience of undertaking Enquiry work Experience of planning, delivering and evaluating Information Literacy and training Experience of developing online learning objects for use in a VLE (Virtual Learning Environment) or equivalent Experience of web design, development and maintenance Application form, Interview and References Qualifications/training Degree/Post Graduate qualification in Librarianship or Information Science or equivalent Experience of staff supervision Subject Degree Teaching experience Application form and Certificates Special Knowledge Knowledge of electronic information sources Well-developed IT skills, including the ability to use standard office applications Interest in learning technologies Interview Knowledge of new developments in communications and ICT including social media Awareness of issues relating to teaching and learning in higher education Communication Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (both written and oral) for liaison with staff, students and members of the public Interview Personal Qualities A friendly, approachable manner Self-motivated, and enthusiastic Ability to prioritise tasks and work effectively in a busy environment Ability to work in a team and contribute to its success Application form, Interview and References Flexible attitude towards work Ability to use initiative and to think innovatively
3. Our Offer The post provides a wonderful opportunity to work in an innovative and forward thinking environment. In return we offer a generous remuneration and benefits package: Starting salary grade 6 ( 25,243 upwards) A final salary pension scheme (Local Government Superannuation Scheme) 30 days annual leave plus statutory holidays Significant opportunities for professional development A friendly and supportive work environment A range of voluntary benefits 4. How to Apply Applicants are asked to complete an application form. Attention is drawn to the person requirements listed above and applicants are asked to provide evidence of their match to these criteria in some detail in their supporting statements. This information will be used to shortlist candidates. The timetable is as follows: Advert closes: 17 February 2014 Interview date: 17 March 2014
5. The post Further details This post is located in a Subject team within Academic Services and reports to the Academic Librarian who supports the Business School and the School of Computing and Engineering. The focus of academic liaison and teaching for this Subject Librarian post is expected to be on supporting Law, Accountancy and Computing, though the focus may be subject to change. Subject Librarians are expected to have knowledge and understanding of the information sources in the subject area to which they are assigned, providing access to materials supporting teaching and research in their field through collection development. An understanding and knowledge of communication technologies, including resource discovery systems; information networks; web 2.0 and mobile technologies are required to drive forward the information agenda. Teaching and Learning Support The current version of the University Information Literacy Strategy was approved by the University Teaching and Learning Committee in 2010, to ensure students acquire a range of relevant information skills which are vital for their University career, future working life and lifelong learning. This strategy is being revised to take into account the new university Teaching and Learning strategy, which will be published shortly. Subject Librarians support Academic Librarians, who are responsible for leading the development and implementation of library services within each School. The role includes: Working with academic staff in the School to identify areas where current provision is in need of revision or improvement Designing appropriate information literacy training materials and delivering in a variety of settings including outreach to Schools through the Roving Librarian Project. Teaching academic staff individually or in small groups, how to source, access and retrieve information ensuring their skills are up to date Leading the development of the use of electronic resources in teaching, learning and research in the context of information literacy Engaging with learning technologies and using them in appropriate contexts to learning styles Research and Scholarship All professional librarians are encouraged to be innovative and proactive in developing services and skills. Support is provided from colleagues within the library to enable: Engagement in practitioner research and other scholarly activity at local, regional and/or national level Delivery of papers and workshops at conferences and seminars, locally, regionally and/or nationally Writing or contributing to publications to add to the professional body of knowledge
Communication, Teamwork, Liaison and Supervision The Subject Librarian also supports the Academic Librarian in attending School Teaching and Learning Committees, student panels and various other School committees as required, ensuring that the Library Service responds to the needs of the School and that the School is aware of as new services and developments in the library. Subject Librarians play an active role in cross service projects and/or membership of cross service working groups. Some supervision of library assistants may be required. The subject teams There are two subject teams, you will be in the Floor 5 team Floor 5 team: Liaises with the Schools of Business and Law; Computing and Engineering; Education & Professional Development; Music Humanities & Media Floor 3 team: Liaises with the Schools of Applied Sciences; Art, Design and Architecture; Human & Health On appointment, all Computing and Library Services staff undergo a thorough induction process, and they are provided with a detailed training programme in all aspects of their duties.
6. Organisation Chart R0679
6. The University R0679
The University s vision is, To be an inspiring, innovative university of international renown. The University s achievements were recognised by the award of the Times Higher Education University of the Year for 2013. This follows hot on the heels of its success at the awards last year where it collected the Entrepreneurial University of the Year award. The University of the Year is awarded to an institution that has demonstrated exceptional performance in the past academic year providing evidence of particular bold, imaginative and innovative initiatives that have advanced the institution s reputation. Just some of those initiatives are: A commitment to our students with nationwide top 10 ratings for student satisfaction and graduate employability as well as a top 10 rating for financial security. The opening of the 3M Buckley Innovation Centre, a collaboration with conglomerate 3M to foster business partnerships leading to new research, technology transfer and entrepreneurial ideas. The award of a Queen s Award for Enterprise International Trade as well as a top 10 position in the 2012 International Student Barometer. A commitment to excellence in teaching Huddersfield is the only University in the UK where 100 per cent of academic staff are fellows of the Higher Education Academy which provides professional recognition of their teaching abilities. These factors, combined with a continued commitment to being a university that is at the heart of its home town and a strong commitment to be a great employer makes the University an interesting and rewarding place to work. The University s staff are involved in scholarship, research and reach-out activities. We want to attract and retain the best staff, provide opportunities for them to remain professionally engaged and up-to-date. We were one of the first universities in the country to achieve institutional recognition under the Investors in People Award in 1999 and we have maintained this standard ever since. We are committed to the development and support of our staff. In the Quality of Working Life Survey, looking at the satisfaction and well-being of our staff, the University of Huddersfield has higher scores across all six factors than the Higher Education benchmark, showing lower levels of stress and greater satisfaction with working conditions than the benchmark data. Our striking town centre campus straddles the refurbished Huddersfield Narrow Canal and offers extensive views of the wooded Pennine foothills. The campus combines both new and historic buildings, and since 2008 73 million has been invested in new facilities and buildings for our students. The University has won Civic Trust Awards for the imaginative refurbishment of historic mill buildings for the teaching of Computing, Engineering and Architecture. However, we are also very proud of our contemporary architecture. Our 17 million Business School building opened in 2010 and a 22.5 million Student Central Building which opened in January 2014 providing new sports, leisure, learning and catering facilities.
7. Huddersfield The University is located close to the centre of the thriving West Yorkshire town of Huddersfield. Huddersfield has an extensive range of new retail and social developments with many new shops, cafes, bars and restaurants. Near to areas of outstanding natural beauty publicised in TV programmes such as Last of the Summer Wine and Where the Heart Is we are also in easy reach of Leeds and Manchester. Both are just 45 minutes by road and with quicker access via the regular cross Pennine rail service. Huddersfield is surrounded by a number of attractive villages in the Holme and Colne valleys and within easy reach of the Yorkshire Dales, the Peak District and the major urban centres of Leeds and Manchester. The cost of housing compares very favourably with other regions in Britain and the choice of where to live is outstanding. The town is well known for its musical traditions, including the world famous Huddersfield Choral Society and the internationally renowned Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival. The Lawrence Batley Theatre and a large sports stadium host various cultural and sporting events respectively.