Duties

Summary

This position is located in the African Section, African and Middle East Division, General and International Collections Directorate, Library Services. The incumbent is principally responsible for implementing collections projects, studies, and surveys for the division, concentrating on the areas of security, preservation, inventory control and space management.

The position description number for this position is 382872.

This is a non-supervisory, bargaining unit position.

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Responsibilities

Uses standard methods, techniques, concepts, and principles to perform assignments related to African materials, collections management, preservation or security. Receives assignments and carries out projects to meet the needs of AMED, especially related to security, collections management and arrearage projects. Monitors the quality of preserved materials to ensure adherence to established standards and specifications. Receives and performs preliminary processing of library materials from all sources (gift, purchase, transfer, and copyright) in all formats. Opens packages and inspects receipts; sorts; and recommends redirection of misrouted materials to proper destinations.

Uses a knowledge of ILS and other Library applications to train and teach lower graded Library technicians to ensure materials are located more efficiently and effectively and patrons are better served in the reading room.

Analyses and organizes standard subject data that pertains to collections management, preservation, and Africa. Information is obtained, analyzed, and organized using standard rules, guidelines, and reference tools and established techniques and practices. May participate in formulating plans for changes and improvements in approaches to work. Carries out space management and security projects applying practices adopted from related fields; works as part of a team that may initiate, and complete studies and reports, analyses, and other documents related to materials management.

Maintains personal contacts and cooperative work relationships in order to provide or exchange information. Serves as a liaison and works with staff of the acquisitions and collections management and offsite storage divisions, especially the Gifts Coordinator, the loading dock staff, and off-site storage staff in carrying out these tasks. Attends workshops and meetings in librarianship and other relevant fields for the purpose of professional development. Services on division committees on issues related to preservation, collections management and security.

Responds to requests for information concerning the African Section's multi-lingual collections, and refers the specialized requests to country specialists. Provides reference and research services of limited technical complexity to researchers where user needs are determined easily from interviews or written requests. Relevant electronic database resources and the African Section's collection can be readily obtained through standard search strategies. Assists in search techniques and strategies for handling specific types of requests; carries out special searches for lost or misfiled materials from the division's collection. Develops knowledge of collections for use in performing research tasks. Assists in preparing finding aids and related written products describing research methodologies. Prepares basic and standard responses to in-person, written, telephone, or electronic media inquiries. Assists senior librarians in revising or updating research materials and completing claim and order forms.

Prepares complete preliminary inventories for the records of an agency having a limited variety of functions and a fairly stable organizational and administrative history. Has achieved basic knowledge of the division's collections; the ability to perform basic historical and technical research. Assists with the full range of curatorial processing, and preservation duties.

Coordinates procedures for routing materials requiring preservation; preparation of materials to be added to the collections. Recommends technical specifications for all supplies, materials, and equipment used in marking, repair, housing, or reformatting. Recommends and implements improved methods for marking, labeling, and library housing, based on changing technologies.

Monitors the appropriate transportation of library materials, internally and externally, to reduce excessive materials handling and ergonomic impact, ensure security, and protect library materials from unnecessary damage.

Travel Required

Not required

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
09

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.

Knowledge of history, politics, and literature of the African world.**

Ability to use integrated library systems, applications, or other information technologies.**

Knowledge of the principles, concepts, and techniques of library science.**

Ability to organize, analyze, and interpret data related to bibliographic control of library materials.

Ability to provide consultation or liaison duties.

Ability to communicate in writing.

Ability to communicate effectively other than in writing.

Education

Basic Requirement:

All librarians must meet the requirements for professional education in library science or possess equivalent experience and education.

A: Completion of 1 full academic year of graduate study in library science in an accredited college or university, in addition to completion of all work required for a bachelor's degree;

or

B: total of at least 5 years of a combination of college-level education, training, and experience. To qualify on this basis, the applicant must establish conclusively that the education, training, and experience provided knowledge and understanding of the theories, principles, and techniques of professional librarianship; a knowledge of literature resources; and the knowledge and abilities essential for providing effective library and information services.

In addition to meeting the basic entry qualification requirements, applicants must have directly related education and/or specialized experience.

GS- 9

Two full years of progressively higher level graduate education or master's in library science or equivalent graduate degree, e.g., LL.B. or J.D., related to the position.

You must submit a legible copy of your college/university transcripts to your online application. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable at the time of application. Official transcripts will be required if selected. Failure to submit the required legible documentation at the time of application will result in disqualification of your application.

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.

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.

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

You must submit a legible copy of your college/university transcripts to your online application. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable at the time of application. Official transcripts will be required if selected. Failure to submit the required legible documentation at the time of application will result in disqualification of your application.

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.

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.