Chief Officer: Information/Research Librarian (post level 8) at University of the Free State

Duties and responsibilities:

Strategy & Planning 

• Research information services. 
• Deliver enhanced and focused Library research support to postgraduate students and researchers (in-depth knowledge of research topics, information searches, information and reference services, selective dissemination of information). 
• Contribute to quality research through embedded Librarianship and support throughout the research cycle by:
• Preparing for research studies (Background reading/looking for ideas/determining if previous studies have already been done on the topic).
• Gathering information (Literature review, search strategies).
• Creating research output (Referencing styles, reference management tools).
• Sharing research output (Publication in accredited journals, steering clear of predatory journals).
• Measuring research output (Journal impact factors, collaboration opportunities, bibliometrics, altmetrics).
• Bridge the communication gap between service beneficiaries and the library (LibGuides, liaison role, attend Faculty/departmental meetings, social media, KovsieFM, etc.). 
• Conduct quality assurance and assessment on teaching and learning services delivered. 

Training 

• Deliver structured library orientation for all postgraduate students and researchers. 
• Develop and offer general content and assessment for the multi-literacy online course (Information, digital and research literacy skills).
• Develop and offer customised content and assessment for specific and focused credit-bearing training interventions, such as research methodology, in collaboration with academics. 
• Equip graduates with attributes for academic success and life-long learning: research literacy. 
• Contribute to staging the annual Library Research Week.

Strategic relations 

• Develop effective strategic relations and stakeholder management internally and externally. 
• Increase the visibility of the UFS LIS in academic programmes of the various Faculties (Develop researcher-librarian collaborations, etc.). 
• Conduct general and focused roadshows to internal stakeholders. 
• Conduct customer satisfaction and information needs surveys to determine users’ perception of the LIS. 
• Participate in campus-wide events (career fairs, open days, public/inaugural/memorial lectures, etc.). 
• Market Library services and resources to support academic excellence (Library open days, e-resources, etc.). 

Collection development and management

• Build a comprehensive collection that meets the needs of the various Faculties.
• Assess the current collection and confirm its status to ensure relevancy, currency and usage, serve in Accreditation Boards, etc. 
• Manage the selection of balanced information resources to meet the teaching and learning information needs of users (Avoid unnecessary duplication). 
• Keep track of the UFS LIS information resources budget and report on under- and/or over-expenditure. 
• Conduct stocktaking of internal stakeholders' collections annually. 
• Create awareness and train stakeholders on the available information resources to improve usage. Conduct shelf readings of allocated shelves daily.

Inherent Job Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree on NQF level 7 in Library and Information Science or equivalent 
• Or any degree plus a postgraduate diploma on NQF level 8 in Library and Information Science.
• A minimum of three (3) years of relevant working experience related to the duties and responsibilities.
• 2023 LIASA Membership Certificate.

Recommendations:

• Honours degree /Postgraduate Diploma on NQF level 8.
• Experience within the higher education environment.
• Knowledge of university systems, policies, and procedures.
• Member of a or registration at a professional body.
• Extensive knowledge of research data metrics.
• Knowledge of the NRF ratings.
• Training and facilitation skills.