Senior Librarian - Client Services at University of Limpopo

Qualification and Requirements:

• A minimum of an Honours degree in Librarianship or an Honours degree in any field plus Higher/Postgraduate diploma in Librarianship.
• A Master’s degree in Librarianship will be an added advantage.
• A minimum of eight years’ relevant experience working in an academic library, and three years’ experience in a middle management level, and experience in Client Services and supervision of operations and human resources.
• Demonstrated knowledge of circulation, electronic reserves, current trends, and new developments in Client Services, and research support.
• Commitment to innovative use of resources and emerging technologies and integration of Artificial Intelligence in Client Services.
• Ability to use creative ways to solve problems or facilitate workflow in a dynamic and changing environment.
• Proven experience in aspects of academic librarianship, including service evaluations and user experience assessment, monitoring social media and intercampus services.
• Proven experience in conducting user needs assessments.
• Willing to take instructions and to work under pressure.
• Experience of the Sierra/Alma Integrated Circulation module and WorldShare Interlibrary Loans.
• Team building and customer-focused service skills.
• Experience in project management and report writing.
• Excellent problem solving, analytical and organisational, time management, decision- making, interpersonal, written and oral communication skills and ability to prioritise tasks.
• Membership of a Professional Association, particularly LIASA is preferred.

Duties and Responsibilities:

The successful candidates will be expected to:

• Plan, coordinate and facilitate Client Services activities and provide leadership in formulating and setting Client Services goals and objectives.
• Provide professional support, mentoring and direction to staff.
• Provide leadership and guidance in staff training and development to ensure that staff skill levels evolve to meet new challenges, including innovative document delivery.
• Formulate and develop library policies and practices to advance the use of and access to the library’s collections, and support budgeting activities.
• Serves as an advocate for innovative tools and technologies to enhance user access and to ensure maximum service provision to users.
• Maintain liaison with other Turfloop Campus Library sections as well as satellite campuses and communicate and coordinate client services practices to library staff, and contribute to general operational effectiveness of the library.
• Participate in decision-making and other efforts related to the promotion and functioning of LIS.
• Formulate access delivery models of circulation, interlibrary loans and reserve services, and initiate and manage projects as needed.
• Act as a liaison with key stakeholders within and outside the University.
• Participate in the creation of the University of Limpopo Libraries’ digital initiatives.
• Set high user-oriented service standards and prepare statistical and other reports as needed.
• Participate in offering services at the Hospital Libraries.
• Actively participate, network, collaborate and represent the Library in professional organisations as appropriate.
• Ability to successfully negotiate issues relating to Copyright, Fair Use and Rights Management.