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Copyright Specialist (Documents)

Employer
USAJobs
Location
Washington, D.C
Closing date
May 14, 2021
Duties

Summary

Copyright is a form of legal protection provided by the laws of the United States (Title 17, U. S. Code) to authors of literary, dramatic, musical, artistic, and other works. The United States Copyright Office, located within the Library of Congress and under the direction of the Register of Copyrights, administers the Copyright Law; advises Congress and government agencies on legal and policy matters.

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

Within the United States Copyright Office (USCO), the Office of Public Records and Repositories (PRR) is responsible for preserving, maintaining, and servicing copyright-related records in physical and digital formats. Staff of the Office of Public Records and Repositories retrieve materials for court cases, perform searches and write search reports based on registered materials and other copyright records, provide certified and non-certified copies of copyright deposits, additional certificates and other copyright records, maintain the official records of the office, and respond to inspection requests from members of the public or Congress.

The Copyright Specialist (Documents) is located in the Recordation Section, Office of Public Records and Repositories, U.S. Copyright Office. The Copyright Specialist (Documents) reviews documents for recordability and catalogs documents.

Analyzes the nature of procedural copyright problems or questions. Performs various routine tasks at the developmental/trainee level that are assigned to increase the employee's knowledge and understanding of the functions of the document recordation process. Determines, in consultation with a senior documents specialist, whether the document meets all recordation criteria, whether the document is acceptable for recordation, and whether the legal and formal requirements of the copyright law pertaining to document recordation have been met.

Catalogs significant features of a work under the guidance of more experienced coworkers or the supervisor.

Assignments are varied in nature and complexity. They are structured to provide a means by which the incumbent can display and validate a working knowledge of regulations, policies, and analytical procedures and apply an increasingly full-range of the principles, concepts, and work processes common to the occupation.

Reviews and independently analyzes all types of routine copyright documents submitted to the section. Assists members of the public and staff of other Copyright Office divisions in determining whether documents submitted for copyright are recordable. Determines whether the legal and formal requirements of the copyright law have been met for document recordation. Ensures submitted documents are in the proper form. The material reviewed may include documents in English or foreign languages.

The incumbent determines and inputs in final form all index terms and necessary cross references for each document entry. Index terms are entered for titles and parties as appropriate. Guidance on technical problems is received from the supervisor or the Senior Documents Specialist.

Communicates with attorneys, authors agents, and representatives of copyright related industries as well as members of the public through various methods, including letters, telephone, and email, to answer routine copyright-related inquiries relating to document recordation.

Answers inquiries involving general advice concerning Copyright document recordation received through in-person meetings, telephone or correspondence. Such answers generally are considered to express the opinion of the office and therefore require extreme discretion. Signs and forwards outgoing correspondence on own authority. Forwards most complex inquiries to higher level staff.
Other duties as assigned.

This position is located in the Recordation Section, Office of Public Records of Repositories, Copyright Office.

The position description number for these positions is 250433.

The salary range indicated reflects the locality pay adjustments for the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan area.

The incumbent of this position will work a flextime work schedule.

This is a non-supervisory, bargaining unit position.

Relocation expenses will not be authorized for the person(s) selected under this vacancy announcement.

Travel Required

Not required

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
11

Requirements

Conditions of Employment


No additional requirements to those listed above.

Qualifications

Applicants must have had progressively responsible experience and training sufficient in scope and quality to furnish them with an acceptable level of the following knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the duties of the position without more than normal supervision.

Ability to plan, prioritize, organize and execute work.

Ability to communicate in writing.**

Ability to research, analyze and evaluate issues.**

Knowledge of copyright law, regulations, policies, procedures and practices.

Ability to Meet and Deal with Others.

Ability to utilize computer technology/software applications.

Ability to communicate effectively other than in writing.

Education

Additional information

Although it is the Library's policy to afford the maximum pay benefit to employees when setting rates of pay, a new appointee who has had no previous Federal service will generally be paid the minimum step of the grade.

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

Applicants must submit a complete application package that is received by the closing date of this announcement.

This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please email ADA@loc.gov. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be determined on a case-by-case basis.

Applicants with disabilities may be considered under special hiring procedures and must submit an appropriate certificate of eligibility when applying for this position. The proof or disability/certification may be issued by the State Vocational Rehabilitation Office, Disability Services or Career Services office of the applicant's college or university, or the Department of Veterans Affairs. The letter must verify that the applicant has a severe disability and must be dated within three years of the date of the application. Certification from health care providers are not accepted. For more information contact the Library's Office of EEO/Diversity Programs at 202-707-6024 or email spp@loc.gov. FAILURE TO SUBMIT YOUR CERTIFICATION WILL CAUSE YOUR APPLICATION TO NOT BE CONSIDERED UNDER THE SELECTIVE PLACEMENT PROGRAM.

The Library of Congress is the national library of the United States and is part of the Legislative Branch of the Federal government. As such, all positions are in the excepted service.

Appointment/retention is subject to a favorable evaluation of an appropriate personnel security/suitability investigation.

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

Initial appointments, permanent or indefinite, to the Library of Congress require completion of a one-year probationary period.

The Library of Congress may offer repayment for all or part of federally insured student loans. However, not all service units within the Library of Congress participates in the repayment of federally insured student loans. Therefore, determination to repay a federally insured student loan is subject to approval by the appropriate service unit.

A "Not to Exceed" (NTE) status is used to identify an appointment with a specific ending date. However, the Library has the right to separate a NTE employee at any time due to either performance issues or budget constraints.

Are you a veteran? Please indicate the type of veterans' preference you are claiming in your application materials and/or applicant profile and provide the appropriate supporting documentation to validate your claim. Those applying for 5-point preference must submit Member Copy 4 of your DD 214. Those applying for 10-point preference must fill out an SF-15 (click here for the form) and provide the required documentation listed on the back of the form. If required supporting documentation is not attached, Veterans' Preference will not be considered in the application process.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

The Library of Congress evaluates applicants through an applicant questionnaire and a structured interview. Applicants may also be screened for some jobs through licensing, certification, and/or education requirements, a narrative/application review, and/or a preliminary telephone interview. The knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) that are marked with a double asterisk (**) in the vacancy announcement and the applicant questionnaire are considered the most critical for a position. To be considered for final selection, applicants must demonstrate fully acceptable experience in these designated KSAs in the narrative/application review, preliminary telephone and/or full structured interview. The various assessment tools listed above are designed to verify or explore applicants' experience, knowledge, and training directly related to the job in order to identify the best qualified applicants for selection.

For more information regarding eligibility requirements, please see the Library of Congress Merit Selection Plan, Section X.D, at: http://www.loc.gov/hr/employment/msp010909.pdf .

To preview questions please click here .

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Not Required

Drug test required
No

Required Documents

Current or former federal employees must submit their most recent Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50 or equivalent).

Applicants with disabilities may be considered under special hiring procedures and must submit an appropriate certificate of eligibility when applying for this position. The proof or disability/certification may be issued by the State Vocational Rehabilitation Office, Disability Services or Career Services office of the applicant's college or university, or the Department of Veterans Affairs. The letter must verify that the applicant has a severe disability and must be dated within three years of the date of the application. The program does not accept certification from health care providers. For more information contact the Library's Office of Equal Employment Opportunity and Diversity Programs at 202-707-6024 or email spp@loc.gov. FAILURE TO SUBMIT YOUR CERTIFICATION WILL CAUSE YOUR APPLICATION TO NOT BE CONSIDERED UNDER THE SELECTIVE PLACEMENT PROGRAM.

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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