Duties

Summary

This position is located in the Collection Development Office, Library Services.

The position description number for this position is 394566.

This is a non-supervisory, bargaining unit position.

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

Applies established practices and techniques to investigate and analyze a variety of frequently encountered collection development problems, questions, and situations.

Participates in assessments of program effectiveness of limited complex operational processes and systems encompassing standard and similar functions or issues affecting critical aspects of the major programs of the Collection Development Office or of those programs monitored by CDO such as the purchase acquisitions program.

Plans and carries out successive steps, handles deviations, and resolves conventional problems that arise with the work of the unit. Following approved protocols and with guidance, collaborates with other CDO staff in developing strategies for implementing and tracking the work of the unit and of the Library's collections acquisitions program.

Communicates to the Collection Development Officer and other Library Services managers when adjustments or changes in objectives or shifts in priorities have occurred. Receives assistance in unusual situations that do not have clear precedents.

Recommends changes or improvements to data-based assessment project plans that include guidance on the data to be collected and analyzed and the performance targets to be met. Expresses goals in quantitative or measurable form that will allow assessment of goal achievement. Collaborates with senior CDO staff in a limited range of standard data-based studies and detailed analysis of the functions and processes of the Collection Development Office and of those programs that are monitored by CDO.

Provides draft data analysis, data-based assessment and related reports for review by the Collection Development Officer and/or other senior CDO staff to support the collections development work performed by Library specialists, contractors, interns and others.

Assists in identifying and utilizing efficient methods, best practices, and tools to capture relevant data relating to the Library's historic and contemporary collection acquisition policies and practices and to research trends that include evolving industry publishing and dissemination standards. Researches and reports on alternative data collection approaches to ensure efficient and effective data capture and analysis.

Utilizing knowledge of collection development workflows and survey design protocols, assists in the development of survey instruments and participates in data collection efforts. Collects and interprets library data for the preparation of management reports. Presents results in written and/or oral form, which are well-organized, supportable and clearly expressed.

Utilizing library databases and other online systems, assists in efforts to identify and explain the impact of data anomalies on the Library of Congress collection development initiatives.

Participates on committees, task forces, etc., outside CDO which have been assigned responsibility for projects or tasks related to collections development work. The librarian plans or coordinates work efforts, solves problems or provides advice to clientele on noncontroversial collection development issues and concerns.

Maintains professional relationships with data librarians to maintain current awareness of developments in data capture, compilation, and analysis, as well as survey design techniques. Maintains professional relationships with acquisitions, preservation, and reference librarians to understand issues and trends in collection development.

Drafts for review by the Collection Development Officer and/or other senior CDO staff memos, correspondence, reports, presentation materials and other straightforward analytical documents that include narrative text, graphs, charts, tables, and other visual representations of data and analysis. Prepares draft data visualizations and dashboards within a Business Intelligence software environment.

Assists other CDO staff in the preparation of statistical/analytical reports about the Library's collections, publishing trends and the documenting/forecasting of current and anticipated needs of Library users. Presents information orally and in writing to diverse audiences. Collaborates with other CDO staff on the review of editing of documentation prepared by colleagues.

This position is not eligible for permanent remote telework.

Travel Required

Not required

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
12

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 the principles and techniques of collection development.**

Ability to extract, organize and analyze information, as well as interpret data, related to collections in a research library, museum or archive.**

Ability to use integrated library systems and/or collections management systems, and data analysis tools.

Ability to communicate effectively in writing.

Ability to develop and maintain relationships and provide consultation and liaison services.

Ability to communicate effectively other than in writing.

Education

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

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

A 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 in the amounts required for the grade level as shown below:

GS-9 - Two full years of progressively higher level graduate education or master's in library science or equivalent grade 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.