PURPOSE OF THE POSITION:

The purpose of this position is to:

• Ensure continuous overall planning and organising of the operations, procedures and activities in the Branch Library.
• To monitor information needs, research focus areas and demands of users in order to continuously develop and expand services in accordance with the latest technological possibilities.
• To provide general and advanced information services to students, academics and researchers and to provide training to enable library patrons to become independent information users.
• To coordinate marketing services for the branch library and remain informed of the needs of students and academics in order to align services that support teaching and learning on campus.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

1.       Advanced and general information service

• The provision of a specialised information service and in-depth assistance to all students, researchers and lecturers and support staff of the appointed faculties and subject groups by making innovative use of the latest databases and subject related information source
• Monitoring of the latest developments in information technology.
• Advice with bibliographic or reference requests.
• Dealing with general information requests, the discerning handling of telephonic requests, diverse and day users and the use of printed and electronic sources for answering requests from all categories of users.
• Develop and maintain the subject specific LibGuides to ease communication with users and to make research information available in a creative and interactive way.
• Keeping daily statistics of information transactions on the Statistical platform.

2.       Information Literacy training and support

• Informal training of users to do information searches at workstations, at the circulation desk and on the floor.
• Formal training of individual users or groups in information literacy on relevant information sources to empower them to be skilled in information retrieval
• Organise and conduct information literacy programmes and training workshops for library users.
• Train, guide and support student assistants in the Branch Library.
• Participate in Library Orientation
• Updating Statistics on the Statistical platform.
• Scheduling Faculty Trainings on the relevant Springshare tool.

3.       Liaison, Marketing and Outreach

• Continuous liaison with the deans of the faculties, directors, lecturers, and postgraduate students to ensure proactive needs assessment and marketing of the library services and the branch library.
• Liaison with lecturers and researchers of different schools and focus groups regarding their information and training needs, collection development and trial databases.
• Proactive liaison with users regarding publications and articles relevant to their specific subjects or fields of research.
• Create awareness of information services in liaison with faculties, postgraduate and undergraduate students, researchers and external stakeholders
• Attendance at Faculty events and meetings including Faculty Boards, Faculty Teaching and Learning Meetings and others.
•  Attendance of general meetings at the campus library as necessary.
• Involvement in the CoP for Information and Learning Services
• Lead the marketing initiatives on the assigned campus
• Collaboration in the marketing activities and initiate them at the Branch Library.
• Liaison with the TSP, GKSA Church archive and the Administrative Buro of the GKSA.

4.       Collection development and Management

• Implement proactive measures to identify gaps in the collection and make recommendations for acquisition. Involvement with the identification and selection of subject related databases.
• Recommendation of new information material.
• Continuous needs assessment for the latest information material.
• Sending recommendations to Information Resources and continuous control of status of orders.
• Management of the available funds in the book budget of the appointed faculties and subject groups.
• Weeding and maintenance of the state and usability of sources and the withdrawal of unused material
• Supervision of the state of the bookshelves and the collection and recommendation for rearrangement or relocation for improved service delivery.
• Liaison with lecturers and researchers of different schools and focus groups regarding their information and training needs, collection development and trial databases.
• Donations: Check donations against the library’s holdings and identify books that must be included in the collection, keeping the reformed focus and history in mind. 

5.       Occupational Health and Safety

• Participate in Department and building OHS Meetings
• Be part of an OHS sub-committee (e.g., First Aid)
• Provide regular OHS reports as required
• Report any OHS matters to the relevant OHS Chair

6.       Planning, organisation, management and administration of the Branch Library

• Continuous overall planning and organising of the operation, procedures and activities in the Branch Library in consultation with the Director Information and Learning Services or Manager: information and learning Services.
• Continuous control and supervision of the operation in all sections of the Branch Library.
• Continuous needs assessment of the users and recommendations to the Manager: Information and Learning Services and for the improvement of services or facilities
• Management and supervision of users in the study areas to ensure orderly and disciplined use of the Branch Library facilities.

7.       General service delivery at circulation desk

• Checking material in and out at the Circulation Desk as well as at the Reserve Section.
• General catalogue assistance and help with the location of sources on the shelves.
• Renewal of books at the circulation desk, Telephonically and other renewal methods.
• Reservation of borrowed sources.
• Assist with ILL and document delivery requests.
• Training of users on ILL and document delivery service.
• Collecting of cash for fines. 
• Reconciling and safeguarding cash received before the end of the evening shift.
• Assistance to users with printing and photocopying services.
• Identifying and assisting patrons who fall in the category of theologians.

8.       Administrative and ad hoc tasks

• Report writing and supplying of necessary information on request of Director or Manager: Information and learning services on behalf of the Branch Library.
• Supervision and maintenance of ICT equipment within the Branch Library and reporting of faults to the relevant department.
• Control and supervision of shelf maintenance, shelf reading and locating of missing or misplaced books.

• B.Bibl., B.Inf. or a B.-degree plus a postgraduate qualification in Information Science
• Postgraduate qualification in library or information science or appropriate subject area

ADDED RECOMMENDATION

• Membership with the Library and Information Association of South Africa (LIASA).

EXPERIENCE

• 4 years of service in different sections of an academic library
• 4 years’ experience in advanced and generic information services in an academic library
• Knowledge of changing trends in the library environment

KEY FUNCTIONAL/ TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES:

• Knowledge of the functioning of an academic library
• Ability to assist users across different languages through digital tools, supporting inclusive access to information
• Knowledge of the usage of various library systems
• Extensive Knowledge of different print and electronic information sources
• Knowledge of Library management matters and quality enhancement
• Knowledge of the academic structure and research activities in faculties
• Computer literacy with sound knowledge of MS Office, MS Teams and web technology
• Knowledge of the latest developments regarding information technology
• The ability to liaise with assigned academic departments and related GKSA institutions on all library matters
• Extensive knowledge of various databases and information searching
• The ability to provide formal and informal training
• The ability to function as part of a team or independently
•  Strong Inclination towards client services
• Insight into the research needs of postgraduates
• The ability to interact with users on different levels and to assess users’ information literacy skills
• Research and analytical skills
• Knowledge of research data management
• Demonstration of language proficiency in order to function optimally in the various multilingual environments of the NW
• Time management

BEHAVIOURAL COMPETENCIES:

• Ability to manage, plan, organise and coordinate administration activities of the Branch Library, its staff and users
• Interpersonal skills for client service and problem-solving
• Great judgement and decision-making skills
• Ability to work with diverse users

REMUNERATION:

The annual total remuneration package will be commensurate with the level of appointment as advertised and in line with the NWU policy guidelines.

ENQUIRIES REGARDING JOB CONTENT MAY BE DIRECTED TO:                     Mr Kgasane  Seemela, Tel: 018 299 2826

ENQUIRIES REGARDING RECRUITMENT PROCESS MAY BE DIRECTED TO:    Dolly Lebepe, Tel: 018 299 4936

CLOSING DATE:                                                                                                 17 November 2024

PLANNED COMMENCEMENT OF DUTIES:                                                         As soon as possible

Kindly take note: applications must be submitted online through the official NWU vacancy website. Incomplete applications and those submitted through any other platform will not be considered.

The University subscribes to and applies the principles of Employment Equity (EE) Act and is committed to transformation. Preference will be given to candidates from the designated groups, in accordance with the principles of the EE Act and NWU Employment Equity Plan. 

The University reserves the right not to make an appointment. Communication will be limited to shortlisted candidates only.

If you are not contacted within two months from the closing date of this advertisement, please accept that your application was unsuccessful.