Date posted
August 15, 2023
Schedule
Full-time
Information Specialist - Library
Key Role
The Information Specialist’s key role is to provide informational services to users, ensuring excellent service standards are delivered to the GUST Community, and to assist with the daily operations of the Library; maintaining facilities, resources, and environment. As well as to maintain the Library’s print and digital collections, including the Library website; ensuring they are accessible, relevant, balanced, and support the teaching, learning, and research needs of the GUST Community.
Digital Resource Management
- Process the renewal of all subscription services, and ensure prompt payment to vendors and publishers.
- Prepare and adhere to a payment schedule. Prepare memos, purchase, and payment orders to be sent to Finance dept, maintaining essential filing.
- Maintain, update, and curate the design, layout, and content of the Library website, based on usability principles (UX), information architecture best practices, GUST branding guidelines, and Library requirements. Ensure all content is accessible to users and links are regularly checked.
- Coordinate the functioning of proxy and IP services as well as Online Catalog maintenance. Perform Lib guides curation and maintenance.
- Gather data for and curate the digital repositories. Retrieve Counter 5 statistics from vendor admin accounts, and prepare database usage reports.
- Recommend new technologies and digital resources that enhance the Library collection, improve library processes, or support the needs of the GUST Community. Coordinate trials with vendors.
Service and Supervisory Role
- Source, retrieve and process journal article requests for faculty (document delivery service), liaising with vendors when necessary. Document and log the item requests received.
- Coordinate the import of patron data to library management system from CAS (admissions).
- Assist with training the Library Assistants, ensuring they successfully process or relay all user enquiries. Troubleshoot technical and information requests as needed. Ensure a high level of service satisfaction is delivered to users.
- Supervise patron management activities, including clearance, fine processing and circulation, ensuring they are successfully fulfilled by Library Assistants.
Print Resource Management
- Catalog and process Arabic and English print items according to LOC standards of classification. Supervise Library Assistants with cataloguing related tasks.
- Create and update bibliographic, authority and item records on the Library Management System.
- Perform the annual inventory scan and weeding activities.
- Make title recommendations for acquiring new print resources and collection development.
Textbooks
- Receive and process textbook orders from Faculty each semester. Liaise between the Campus Bookstore, publishers and Faculty. Successfully troubleshoot any issues that arise.
Information Literacy
- Research and prepare new content for information literacy instructional resources.
- Deliver workshops to students and faculty within classrooms or virtual learning environments as needed.
Marketing, PR, and Events
- Prepare materials for awareness campaigns to promote library services and resources to users. EG: digital flyers, handouts, email announcements, Instagram posts, brochures, notices, posters, banners, bulletin board designs.
- Prepare and assist with setting up Library events and activities in liaison with the other Library staff; EG: Book Fair, open access day, copyright day, vendor workshops, etc.
Facilities & Environment
- Monitor the upkeep and regular maintenance of the Library’s IT facilities and physical environment (PCs, printers, equipment, etc.), liaising with Campus IT and Facilities when necessary.
Scholarly Communication & Publishing
- Monitors trends and recommend developments in scholarly publishing standards and resources that benefit the GUST faculty and research community.
- Research and recommend open access and copyright policies.
Other Responsibilities
- Assist the Manager & Senior Information Specialist with preparing various reporting documentation.
- Attend meetings and training seminars as required.
- Identify professional development needs, pursue best practices, and keep up to date with trends in the library and information science industry.
- Attend local and international conferences and workshops when possible.
- Undertake other relevant duties as required by the Library Manager and GUST Management.
Qualifications
Education
Masters in library & Information Science (MLS, MLIS, or equivalent) from an American Libraries Association (ALA) accredited program.
Professional Certificates
N/A
Experience
- Minimum 3 years of library-related work experience.
- Experience may be substituted for degree.
- Experience with library management systems and cataloging technologies.
- Experience with research databases.
Job Specific Competencies
- Communication and interpersonal skills, with a strong customer focus.
- Ability to present ideas clearly and concisely in written and oral form.
- Ability to handle complaints and troubleshoot situations quickly and effectively.
- Have a personable and friendly demeanor toward a diverse population.
- Ability to collaborate - work as a team and work independently.
- Ability to perform routine and repetitive tasks accurately.
- Ability to prioritize workload, for efficient use of time.
- Ability to keep confidential records.
- Excellent organization and planning skills.
- Must be detail-oriented, results-driven, and use data to make evidence-based decisions.
- Possess good physical strength, stamina, mobility, and health.
- Must NOT have a pacemaker (to be around RFID readers & scanners).
- Should be able to lift and retrieve books max. 10 KG
- Must have a commitment to the core values of the library profession, and a desire to serve the Library’s user community.
- Computer Literacy (MS OFFICE skills):
- Word process and type with speed and accuracy; generate comprehensive reports.
- Quickly create professional PowerPoint presentations.
- Excel proficiency (data recording and organizing)
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