Information Specialist at IIE MSA and IIE Varsity College

About the Job

The IIE's Varsity College, Waterfall Campus has a vacancy for an Information Specialist.
Duties and Responsibilities:

Management of the Information Centre (Information Centre Administration)

• Manage the day-day activities of the Information Centre in an academic environment.
• Manage the routine operations of the inter-Information Centre loans and request service.
• Manage and control facility, computer usage and ensure effective administration of periodicals.
• Liaises with departments within The IIE's Varsity College to ensure efficient support, i.e. assignment capacity.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with academic staff and students, as well as external bodies such as suppliers.
• Prepares reports related to Information Centre and information services.
• Develops and maintains a hybrid information collection.
• Edits, classifies, index information sources and distributes new materials for cataloguing to the information Centre Manager.
• Supervises the assistant staff and student assistants.
• Assists with the provision of information services in a digital environment.
• Assists with managing all auxiliary services such as copying, reproduction and digitization.
• Manages and controls good conduct in learning spaces.
• Monitors the performance of all functions of Information Centre systems.
• Liaises with the Capacity Management and Timetabling Centre to ensure that lectures have all the academic material they require for presenting lectures including sourcing teaching resources from publishers.
• Ensures that The Independent Institute of Education (The IIE) Policies and Procedures are adhered to.
• Provides feedback to the Information Centre Manager and Head: Academic on all Information Centre related issues.

Provision of Information Services and User Information

• Conducts class visits and live interactive training sessions for students and lecturers.
• Facilitating and supporting learning by teaching information literacy skills to students and staff, within classrooms and virtual learning environment.
• Assists students with Academic writing, referencing and search skills.
• Trains students and lectures on how to use the Information Centre database to enable them to do research and access the information required, e.g. Ebscohost, Juta Law and HeinOnline.
• Conducts presentations during Student Information sessions/ Digital Literacy Classes and Lecturer Information briefings.
• Provides guidance to students on academic writing and referencing styles.
• Support academic staff with literature searches using research databases, printed resources and the internet.
• Addresses user enquires.
• Keep up to date with new developments, innovations in the Information Centre sector and participate in professional groups and Professional Learning Networks.

Research Output and Academic Support

• Measuring research impact and develop best practices for use of information.
• Postgraduate research support to students by educating and providing academic support.
• Research support to academic staff.
• Assist students to find academic research material and provide support on research related queries.
• Play an active role in research by performing own research and produce research output and activities.

Information Centre Resources Marketing

• Designs posters and Information Centre packs to market Information Centre resources on the campus.
• Arranges monthly displays according to the calendar set out by the Information Centre Manager and the Student Relations Manager, so as to align themes.
• Innovative marketing and promotion of information Centre resources.
• Market, promote and co-ordinate awareness campaigns pertinent to the Information Centre.

General Administration

• Maintains records for payment of invoices.
• Monitor the performance of all functions of Information Centre automated Information Centre systems.
• Update new books on the Sirsi Dynix to ensure accurate record keeping.
• Collection development, maintenance and management of Information Centre resources.
• Recruit and train student assistants.
• Conduct bi-annual stocktaking project and compile a report.

Competencies required:

• Interpersonal and communications skills
• Coaching and mentoring skills
• Problem solving skills & Time management skills
• Best suited to a friendly, organised person who works accurately and is able to handle pressure
• Information & Digital Fluency Skills
• Digital literacy skills
• Working knowledge of MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
• Understanding of library related technology (e.g. Law online databases, Sirsi Dynix, Emerald, Ebscohost, Sabinet. etc.)
• Multi literacy Skills
• Innovative and Energetic
• Producing own Research

Minimum Qualification Requirements:

• Minimum of Bachelor's Degree in Library and Information Science or B.

Minimum Experience Requirements:

• Minimum of 3 years experience in an Academic library.

Working Hours:

• Monday to Friday 07:00 – 16:00, 08:00 - 17:00 or 10:00 – 19:00. This will be discussed further during the interview.
• The Information Specialist may also be required to work one Saturday shift a month from 08h00 to 13h00 (timing of this monthly Saturday shift will be determined by the Head: Academic). In the week where the IS works the Saturday shift the Friday working hours will change to 08h00-12h00 accordingly.

Working Conditions:

• Reliable transportation required.