Librarian

JOB SUMMARY

Ottawa Public Library (OPL) provides accessible, innovative library and information services throughout the City of Ottawa, that meet the unique needs of diverse communities, delivered through a range of vehicles and reflecting a citizen-centred approach.

You provide professional library service in one or more of the following areas:  information, quick and in-depth reference and readers’ advisory, programs, collection development, bibliographic access and inventory control, systems support or development, maintenance of web based services and staff training and development.  You may be assigned duties in children, youth and/or adult services, and may be the senior person in charge or exercise responsibility for the day-to-day operation of the library branch.

Work is performed within the context of the policies and framework of the Library corporate culture as embodied in the Mission Statement, Core Values, Customer Experience Guidelines and the Canadian Federation of Library Association position statements on Intellectual Freedom and Diversity and Inclusion, with particular emphasis on providing customer service excellence.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Completion of Master's degree in library and/or information sciences from an accredited library school.

Minimum of 6 months of related experience

KNOWLEDGE

• General knowledge of Library policies and procedures.
• Theories and principles of library science as well as methods and techniques of library operations.
• Methods and techniques of responding to inquiries and resolving patron complaints.
• Methods and techniques of classification, cataloguing and authority control.
• Methods and techniques of systems analysis and applications.
• Principles of collections development and maintenance.
• Adult/children literature in a variety of formats, readers’ advisory services, trends in reading, literacy and ESL collections and adult/children’s programming.
• Knowledge of current automated library systems.
• Knowledge of microcomputer, hardware, software and peripherals.
• Knowledge of current web development tools and trends.
• Knowledge of intranet structures and development.
• Electronic database and other bibliographic searching techniques.
• Reference resources in print, microform and electronic formats and of current developments in reference services.
• Desktop applications, intranet and Internet and keyboarding procedures, to the extent where it may be required to demonstrate such usage to colleagues or library patrons.
• Methods, techniques and practices of adult training, including needs identification, curriculum design/adaptation, delivery and evaluation.
• Knowledge of customer service techniques and protocols
• Working knowledge of applicable occupational health and safety legislation.
• General knowledge of Ottawa Public Library policies and procedures related to health and safety.

COMPETENCIES, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• To deliver library programs to a range of users who may include early childhood, school age and adults.
• Use tact, discretion and confidentiality.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Perform multiple tasks concurrently.
• Well developed organizational skills.
• To establish and maintain effective liaisons and cooperation with agencies and departments.
• Exercise effective judgement and independent decision making.
• Data-entry, retrieval and keyboarding skills including use of standard office equipment, including operating an IBM compatible computer in Microsoft Windows.
• Minimum keyboard skills of 25 wpm.
• Customer service orientation, including the use of tact, discretion and confidentiality
• Attention to detail.
• Strong interpersonal skills, ability to deal with the public and handle problems as they arise.
• Flexibility, ability to adjust priorities.
• Ability to work effectively as a team member.
• Strongly committed to quality customer service.