Librarians and Media Collections Specialists

Job purpose

To select, catalogue, circulate and maintain a library or media collection and to help patrons locate and use the information and equipment it holds, so that users have an organised, current body of resources and the instruction needed to use it independently.

Skills

• Professional command of standard classification and cataloguing systems across print, audio-visual and electronic material; collection development through reviews, catalogues, faculty recommendation and analysis of holdings; reference searching of standard and online sources; information literacy teaching; the hardware, software, databases and media equipment on which access depends; and the management knowledge to run daily operations. A master's degree is the usual qualification, with smaller numbers holding some college courses or a bachelor's degree; extensive prior skill and experience is assumed rather than acquired in post.
• Deals with patrons of every level of confidence, and with faculty, teachers, colleagues, community organisations and vendors. Analyses requests to establish what is actually wanted, explains the use of facilities, resources, equipment and services and the policies governing them, and teaches classes on information literacy, technology use and database searching. Responds to complaints and trains staff.
• Converts imprecise or unusual enquiries into workable search strategies and locates unique information for specific requests, corrects cataloguing errors, and troubleshoots audio-visual equipment and access aids. Much of the work follows established classification standards and reference method, while individual enquiries and technical faults have no ready precedent; exactness matters and decisions carry consequences for the service.
• Supervises daily library operations, including budgeting, planning and staff scheduling; plans and delivers classes and client-centred programmes such as storytelling for children and corporate services; develops library policies and procedures; and sets objectives for the service. Determines own tasks, priorities and goals under time pressure.
• Sets up, adjusts and operates audio-visual equipment — cameras, projectors and recording equipment — for meetings, classes and video conferences, maintains computers and printers, and arranges display materials. Requires practical facility with equipment and dexterity in handling stock.

Responsibilities

• Supervises daily library operations and the personnel activities that go with them — hiring, training, scheduling and performance evaluation — and directs staff in receiving, shelving, researching, cataloguing and equipment use. Also trains faculty and media staff, and represents the library on internal and external committees.
• Supervises the library budget and commits acquisition spend within it: selects and orders print, audio-visual and electronic resources, evaluates vendor products and performance, negotiates contracts and arranges interlibrary loans. Discretion runs to selection, ordering and negotiated contract terms.
• Custody of the collection and the equipment giving access to it: books, periodicals, films and audio-visual aids, with computers and printers maintained in use. Keeps inventory and circulation records current, withdraws outdated or unused items, and maintains the audio-visual equipment inventory.
• Owns the intellectual organisation of the collection: codes, classifies and catalogues material by subject or classification system, corrects errors in existing records, develops and maintains access aids such as databases, annotated bibliographies and web pages, and compiles subject lists of holdings. Findability of everything held rests on the accuracy of this work.

Effort required

• Exacting attention to classification, cataloguing and record accuracy, alongside the analytical work of interpreting a request and pursuing it through several sources until answered. Decisions are frequent and largely self-directed, taken under time pressure and affecting colleagues and the service.
• Serves the public directly and at close quarters, responding to complaints, handling conflict situations and at times dealing with people who are unpleasant, angry or discourteous, which calls for patience and self-control. Teaching and presenting to groups recurs throughout.
• Predominantly seated work at a desk and computer. No lifting or exertion.

Working conditions

• Indoors in environmentally controlled surroundings, without physical hazard, in close proximity to patrons and colleagues and with a large volume of contact by e-mail, telephone and face-to-face discussion. Psychosocial demand comes from public contact, complaints and conflict situations.
• Hours follow a regular established schedule for almost all incumbents, a standard week being usual with small minorities longer or shorter. Determines own tasks, priorities and goals with freedom to decide within library policy, coordinates and leads others, and decides frequently on matters affecting co-workers and results.