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Reference and Digital Services Librarian

Employer
USAJobs
Location
Washington, D.C
Closing date
Sep 24, 2019
Duties

Summary

The Congressional Research Service (CRS) Knowledge Services Group is accepting applications under its 2019 Graduate Recruit Program for a Reference and Digital Services Librarian. This position will be filled at the GS-09 level (see "Duties" below).

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

ABOUT THE GRADUATE RECRUIT PROGRAM:

Initial appointments under the Graduate Recruit Program will be made for a period up to 120 days. Initial appointments are expected to convert to permanent, contingent upon participants' performance and completion of all degree requirements, and availability of funding. Those students who return to school to complete their advanced degree program may be eligible for a permanent position once they obtain their degree.

ABOUT CRS:

CRS works exclusively for the United States Congress, providing policy and legal analysis to committees and Members of both the House and Senate, regardless of party affiliation. As shared staff to congressional committees and Members of Congress, CRS experts assist at every stage of the legislative process-from the early considerations that precede bill drafting, through committee hearings and floor debate, to the oversight of enacted laws and various agency activities.

CRS is well known for analysis that is authoritative, confidential, objective, and nonpartisan. Its highest priority is to ensure that Congress has immediate access to the nation's best thinking on public policy issues of interest to its Members and Committees.

DUTIES FOR THIS POSITION INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:
  • Performs reference and instructional services, and will maintain and develop web-based information tools and services.
  • Contributes to the development or enhancement of information tools to support CRS's research activities. Identifies project-related issues or problems, helps gather requirements for tools and systems to address these needs, and liaises with information technology specialists regarding incorporation of these requirements into new or enhanced information systems.
  • Participates in digital content and data projects. Assists with ongoing assessment of CRS's information services through data gathering and analysis, and exploratory research on standard storage and access options and preservation strategies. Participates in research and evaluation, and in the planning, design, development, testing, and implementation of new digital services.
  • Keeps abreast of developments affecting knowledge management, metadata, and information retrieval.

This candidate should have solid computer skills, including skills needed to work with databases, spreadsheets, and web applications in a network environment. The ideal candidate will be enrolled in or graduating from a Library Science (MLS) or equivalent degree program or have experience; knowledge of current and emerging practices of librarianship or other fields and disciplines related to the organization of information; and an understanding of the principles of information management, metadata, and information retrieval.

Travel Required

Not required

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
12

Requirements

Conditions of Employment



Graduates students and Library of Congress employees who meet all of the following eligibility requirements:

1. U.S. Citizenship

2. Current enrollment in or anticipated graduation from an appropriate, accredited advanced degree program. (Library employees may already possess a graduate degree). At the time of appointment, Library employees must maintain employment status without a break in service.

3. General education requirements for a GS-9 appointment (see table below).

GS-9 Grade Level: Two years of progressively higher level appropriate graduate education leading to a Master's degree, OR

Master's or equivalent graduate degree, OR

One year of specialized experience at the GS-07 grade level in the federal service or at a comparable level of difficulty outside the federal service.

Qualifications

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL, AND ABILITY REQUIREMENTS:

The critical knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs), gained through education, experience and/or training, needed to successfully perform the duties of the position:

GS-9 Grade Level:

Ability to apply knowledge of current and emerging technologies and techniques in library and information services

The ability to apply knowledge of the theories, concepts, principles, best practices, techniques, and technologies of library and information services, including digitization, virtual reference, digital repositories, data management, expert systems (e.g., question-and-answer knowledgebase), website creation and/or management, and content curation (e.g., wikis, LibGuides or SharePoint sites) to develop new products and enhance current products and services. This includes skill in utilizing technology to improve access to information and data and to increase the efficiency of the work.

Ability to provide reference and research services

The ability to provide reference and research services by conducting reference interviews; evaluating clients' requirements and developing search strategies; identifying and evaluating authoritative data, statistics, and information; evaluating publications and electronic resources for content coverage and trends; and monitoring current events.

Ability to organize, integrate and present content

The ability to organize, integrate and present content for a variety of audiences. This includes, for example, creating subject guides (e.g., LibGuides, SharePoint pages, pathfinders); (2) aggregating and presenting information to respond to user needs; (3) tagging content to improve information access; (4) creating and maintaining information alerts; (5) testing usability of web products; and (6) integrating disparate information sources (e.g., library catalogs, RSS feeds) into web portals.

Education

ADDITIONAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS FOR LIBRARIAN POSITIONS

GS-09 Grade Level:

Two full years of progressively higher level graduate education in library or information science, OR master's degree in library or information science or equivalent graduate degree related to the position, OR enrollment in a master of library or information science degree program or equivalent graduate degree program with one year of relevant work experience equivalent to the GS-07 level.

Additional information

The Congressional Research Service, within the Library of Congress, is part of the Legislative Branch of the federal government. As such, all positions are in the excepted service.

The salary range indicated reflects the locality pay adjustment for the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. This is a non-supervisory, bargaining unit position.

The appointment tenure for this position is full-time temporary with the expectation of subsequent conversion to permanent; flexible work schedules may be available. The position description number for this vacancy announcement is 317722. Relocation expenses are not authorized for the person(s) selected under this vacancy announcement.

The Library reserves the right to fill a lesser or greater number of vacancies indicated during the life of this vacancy announcement.

Appointment/retention is subject to a favorable evaluation of an appropriate personnel security/suitability investigation. Applicants who are referred for an interview will be required to submit a completed Form 1862 Library of Congress Applicant Data Form/Reference Form.

Those Graduate Recruit Program participants who are converted from a temporary appointment to a permanent position, and who have not yet completed the one-year probationary period required of all new Library employees, will be required to do so. Time served in the temporary appointment will not count toward completion of this one-year probationary period requirement.

CRS staff not placed in a permanent position under the Graduate Recruit Program will return to the position occupied before entering the program or a position of similar grade and duties without loss of federal service tenure or seniority. Before applying, other Library of Congress employees should consult their supervisor or service unit management regarding the status of their position should they be selected for the program but not placed in a permanent position.

The Library of Congress is an equal opportunity employer. Women, men, minorities, and persons with disabilities who meet eligibility requirements are strongly encouraged to apply.

This agency provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify Eliamelisa Gonzalez at CRSGraduateRecruit@crs.loc.gov or (202) 707-6399. The decision on granting reasonable accommodations will be made on a case-by-case basis.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Completed application packages will be forwarded to a panel of CRS staff that will first assess applicants against basic eligibility and general education requirements of the position. An evaluation panel will then assess the degree to which candidates meet the critical knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) required to perform the duties of the position and offer the better qualified candidates an opportunity for an interview in person, by telephone or by other telecommunications means. In addition to the critical KSAs listed above, the following competencies will also be addressed during the interview:
  • Ability to provide instructional services
  • Ability to plan and organize
  • Ability to communicate effectively other than in writing

Finalists may be required to submit a writing sample related to their academic discipline

A complete applicant package will require applicants to provide responses to a vacancy questionnaire, which includes mandatory submission of a Candidate Statement of Interest.

To preview questions please click here .

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Other

Drug test required
No

Required Documents

It is recommended that you review your application to ensure it contains the following items:
  • Resume (uploaded through USAJobs.gov)
  • Completed vacancy questionnaire
  • Graduate transcripts or a self-prepared course list (attachment to application)

Note: the "Documents" section of the application may request that you attach Form 1862 Library of Congress Applicant Data Form/Reference Form. You may choose to upload this form as part of your application or submit it at the time of interview. Incomplete applications will not be referred to interview officials and will be disqualified from further consideration.

Foreign Education - Education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed equivalent to conventional/accredited U.S. education programs to be acceptable for Federal employment. If your college/university is outside the U.S., your transcripts must be accompanied by a report from a credential evaluation service that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or the Association of International Credentials Evaluators (AICE) . Failure to submit a foreign education evaluation report will result in disqualification of your application.

Failure to submit the required legible documentation at the time of application will result in disqualification of your application.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education .

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

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