FLORENCE COUNTY LIBRARY

JOB DESCRIPTION   JUNE 2003

 JOB TITLE:  JUNIOR REFERENCE LIBRARIAN I

 

GENERAL STATEMENT OF JOB

SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

 

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Provides information services, including answering research and reference questions, searching for and making judgements about best sources for providing the information needed by the patron from a multitude of resources in a variety of print and electronic formats and/or recommending effect search strategies for library patrons.

 

Provides reference services and readers advisory assistance to patrons in person or via the telephone or e-mail, guiding them to sources within the library and at other libraries.

 

Performs regularly scheduled public service reference desk duty, requiring evenings and weekends as needed.

Maintains high standards of quality and accuracy established for reference service.

 

Assists the public in a professional and courteous manner at all times, always maintaining a high level of customer service.

 

Utilizes the various computer programs in the library, on the Internet, and at other locations to answer patrons’ questions

 

Instructs reference and other library staff and patrons in the use of online reference sources.

 

Performs online searches to libraries outside the Florence system for interlibrary loan by those libraries to fill subject and title requests for titles or information which cannot be found in resources in the Florence County Library System.

 

May be called upon to conduct tours of the Reference Department for groups and organizations or school classes.

 

Assists with the instruction, training and monitoring of pages assigned to the reference and adult nonfiction circulating collections.

 

Participates in relevant continuing education and staff development activities to keep current with reference skills, knowledge, and technology; shares information learned with other appropriate staff.

 

Assists in clarifying for library patrons any library regulations, rules of conduct and service procedures and policies, especially as they relate to reference service.

 

Interacts and communicates with various groups and individuals such as colleagues in the Reference Department, the Director of the Department, pages, library patrons, branch librarians, vendors, professional peers, and the general public.

 

Refers any special issues or concerns related to the Reference Department to the Director of the Department.

 

Assists with the selection of new resources, both print and electronic, for the reference collection as well as any other specific areas of the adult collection assigned; recommends dated materials for withdrawal and replacement.

 

Reads wide range of magazines and newspapers and books and listens to a variety of TV and radio and other media in an effort to be generally well-informed and up-to-date about current events and to obtain general and specific knowledge about the latest issues and trends, in anticipation of being asked reference questions at any time about a topic of timely interest.

 

Reads and studies professional literature to keep abreast of developments and trends in library and information science in general and information and research service in particular.

 

Attends professional conferences, workshops, and meetings, as appropriate, and participates in professional organization activities

 

May maintain Directory of Clubs and Organizations as necessary.

 

Participates in any special library projects as assigned.

 

Represents the Library, both within and outside, in a professional manner at all times.

 

May occasionally be called upon to work in other public service areas as needed.

 

ADDITIONAL JOB FUNCTIONS

 

Performs other associated duties as required or assigned.

 

 

MINIMUM FORMAL EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND EXPERIENCE

 

Master’s Degree in Library Science (MLS) from a graduate library program accredited by the American Library Association, preferably with at least up to one year of library work in reference, either pre- or post MLS degree—or any equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the required knowledge, Must possess or qualify for a Professional Librarian’s Certificate from the South Carolina State Library.   Must possess a valid driver’s license.

 

 

PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

 

Knowledge of Job: Knowledge of security procedures, safety principles, and practices, Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions; to get along well with others; to display tact, courtesy, and good judgement; to communicate pleasantly and effectively with the general public and library staff.  Must enjoy working with the public.  Initiative, resourcefulness, orderliness, accuracy, adaptability, and ability to make decisions with minimal supervision are highly desirable qualities.  Functional knowledge of Microsoft Office software programs and basic keyboarding is required.  Position requires several hours of walking and standing per day.  Schedule requires working some evenings and weekends.  Requires travel to all branch libraries (with reimbursable mileage?).

 

Quality of work: Performs described “Specific Duties and Responsibilities” and related assignments efficiently and effectively in order to produce quantity of work which consistently meets standards and expectations of the County.

 

Dependability: Assumes responsibility for completing assigned work.  Completes assigned work within deadlines in accordance with directives, County policy, standards and prescribed procedures.  Remains accountable to assigned responsibilities in the technical, human and conceptual areas.

 

Attendance: Attends and remains at work regularly and adheres to County policies and procedures regarding absences and tardiness.   Provides adequate notice to higher management with respect to vacation time and time-off requests.

 

Initiative and Enthusiasm: Maintains and enthusiastic, self-reliant, and self-starting approach to meet job responsibilities and accountabilities.  Strives to anticipate work to be done and initiates proper and acceptable direction for the completion of work with a minimum of supervision and instruction.

 

Judgement: Exercises analytical judgement in areas of responsibility.  Identifies problems or situations as they occur and specifies decision objectives.  Identifies or assists in identifying alternative solutions to problems or situations.  Implements decisions in accordance with prescribe and effective politics and procedures and with a minimum of errors.  Seeks expert or experienced advice where appropriate and researches problems, situations, and alternatives before exercising judgement.

 

Cooperation:  Accepts supervisory instruction and direction and strives to meet the goal and objectives of same.  Questions such instruction and direction when clarification of results or consequences is justified, i.e. poor communications, variance with County policy or procedures, etc.  Offers suggestions and recommendations to encourage and improve cooperation between all staff persons and departments within the County.

 

 

 

Relationship with others: Shares knowledge with managers, supervisors and staff for mutual and County benefit.  Contributes to maintaining high morale among all County employees.   Develops and maintains cooperative, and courteous relationships with department employees, staffers, and managers in other departments, representatives from organizations, and the public so as to maintain good will toward the County and to project a good County image.  Tactfully and effectively handles requests, suggestions and complaints form other departments and persons in order to maintain good will within the County.  Emphasizes the importance of maintaining a positive image within the County.  Interacts effectively with higher management, professionals and the public.

 

Coordination of Work: Plans and organizes daily work routine. Establishes priorities for the completion of work in accordance with sound time-management methodology.  Avoids duplication of effort.  Estimates expected time of completion of elements of work and establishes a personal schedule accordingly.  Attends required meetings, planning sessions and discussions on time.  Implements work activity in accordance with priorities and estimates schedules.

 

Safety and Housekeeping: Adheres to all safety and housekeeping standards established by the County and various regulatory agencies. Sees that standards are not violated.  Maintains a clear and orderly workplace.

 

 

 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS OR STANDARDS REQUIRED

TO PERFORM ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

 

Physical requirements: Must be physically able to operate a variety of machines and equipment including a computer, general office equipment, telephone, etc.   Must be able to exert up to five pounds of force occasionally, and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects.  Physical demands are in excess of those for sedentary work; work involves stooping, kneeling, walking, standing, pushing, and climbing and climbing library ladder.  Must be able to lift and/or carry weights of up to twenty-five pounds.

 

Interpersonal Communications: Requires the ability of speaking and/or signaling people to convey or exchange information.  Requires the ability to prepare correspondence, special reports, forms, etc. with proper format, punctuation, spelling, and grammar, using all parts of speech.  Requires the ability to speak with and before others with poise, voice control and confidence.

 

Intelligence: Requires the ability to apply principles of rational systems to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists; to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagrammatic or schedule form.  Requires the ability to learn and understand relatively complex principles and techniques; to make routine independent judgements in absence of supervision; to acquire knowledge of topics related to primary occupation.  Must have the ability to comprehend and interpret received information.

 

Verbal aptitude: Requires the ability to record and deliver information, to explain procedures, to follow verbal and written instructions.  Must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently with persons of varying educational backgrounds and in a variety of technical and/or professional languages including library science, etc.

 

Numerical Aptitude: Requires the ability to add and subtract totals, to multiply and divide, to determine percentages and decimals and to determine time.  Must be able to use practical applications of fractions, percentages, ratio and proportion.

 

Form/Spatial/Aptitude: Requires the ability to inspect items for proper length, width and shape, and visually read various information.

 

Motor Coordination: Requires the ability to coordinate hands and eyes using office machinery.

 

Manual Dexterity: Requires the ability to handle a variety of items, keyboards, office equipment, control knobs, buttons, switches, catches, etc.  Must have minimal level of eye/hand/foot coordination.

 

Color Discrimination: Requires the ability to differentiate colors and shades of color

 

Interpersonal Temperament: Requires the ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions.  Must be adaptable to performing under stress when confronted with emergency situations or tight deadlines.  The worker may be subject to tension as a regular, consistent part of the job.

 

Physical Communications: Requires the ability to talk and/or hear: (talking: expressing or exchanging ideas by means of spoken words; hearing: perceiving nature of sounds by ear).

 

Applications will be accepted in the Florence county Human Resources, Room 103, City-County Complex, Florence, SC beginning Monday, July 31, 2006 until the position is filled. Applications are taken from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Phone: 1-800-523-3577; www.florenceco.org.

 

All job requirements are subject to consideration of reasonably accommodating individuals with disabilities.

 

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