UCL LIBRARY SERVICES
Information for applicants for the post of
Senior Library Assistant: Science Team (ref: 40/07/08) UCL – a university, a community, a world-class reputation… UCL is one of the UK’s leading universities; a world-class multidisciplinary research and teaching institution, whose staff and former students have included 19 Nobel Prize winners. Founded in 1826, UCL was the first university in England to admit students regardless of race, religion or gender. It continues to thrive on the creativity and diversity of its community which today comprises 8,000 staff, and 12,000 undergraduates and 7,000 graduate students from 130 countries across the globe. Constitutionally part of the federal University of London, UCL is in practice an independent university, with an annual turnover of over £450 million. Its 70 departments span arts and humanities, social and historical sciences, law, architecture and the built environment, engineering sciences, mathematical and physical sciences, life and clinical sciences, and medicine. UCL includes academic units as diverse as the UCL Slade School of Fine Art, the UCL School of Slavonic and East European Studies and the UCL Institute of Child Health, which is associated with Great Ormond Street Hospital. 75% of UCL’s departments received ratings of ‘excellent’ in national teaching quality reviews carried out between 1993 and 2001 and 60 departments achieved top (grade 5 and 5*) ratings in the 2001 Research Assessment Exercise. As a result of its track record, UCL receives substantial funding from government and charities, and more than £250 million is currently being invested in state-of-the-art facilities for cutting-edge research and teaching. Situated at the heart of one of the world’s greatest cities, UCL’s historic central campus in Bloomsbury is within easy reach of several rail and underground stations, the Eurostar terminal and Heathrow airport.
Paul Ayris, MA, PhD Director of UCL Library Services & Copyright Officer UCL Library Services University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT Tel: +44 (0)20 7679 7834 Fax: +44 (0)20 7679 7373 E-mail: p.ayris@ucl.ac.uk
UCL Library Services UCL Library Services has almost 2 million items and subscribes to over 12,000 journals in a combination of print and electronic format covering the sixty or so subjects which are taught in the College. UCL Library Services consists of: the UCL Main Library the UCL Science Library the UCL Cruciform Library the UCL Environmental Studies Library the UCL Human Communication Science Library UCL School of Slavonic and East European Studies Library and Information Services the UCL Institute of Archaeology Library the UCL Institute of Laryngology and Otology and RNID Library the UCL Institute of Orthopaedics Library the Joint Moorfields Eye Hospital and the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology Library the UCL Institute of Child Health Library the UCL Institute of Neurology, Rockefeller Medical Library Royal Free Hospital Medical Library, UCL Library Services the UCL Eastman Dental Institute Library UCL Special Collections UCL Library Services Store, Belnor House, Wickford
UCL Library Services is also a partner in the Archway Healthcare Library.
The role of UCL Library Services is to support learning, teaching and research in the global university that is UCL. Members of staff in UCL Library Services support this outreach through their professionalism and their dedication to offering information services of the highest quality. The combined staff in UCL Library Services totals around 250.
Conditions of service Holidays: Full time staff are entitled to 27 days paid annual leave and leave for part time staff is granted on a pro rata basis. UCL also closes for a period at Christmas and Easter, at which times staff benefit from a total of 6 ‘closure days’ in addition to Bank Holidays. Hours of work: Hours of work for full-time members of staff are 36.5 per week excluding lunch breaks. Increments: After passing probation members of staff will receive one increment on the appropriate scale on 1 August each year until the top point on the scale is reached. Pension: Staff on grades 1-6 are eligible to join SAUL, which is a final salary scheme with a current employee contribution rate of 6% and an employer rate of 13% of salary. Staff on grades 7 and above are eligible to join USS, which is a final salary scheme with a current employee contribution rate of 6.35% and an employer contribution rate of 14% of salary. Probation: Appointments are subject to the receipt of satisfactory references and a probationary period of 6 months (for staff on grades 1-6) and 9 months (for staff on grades 7 and above). Benefits Campus Facilities The main UCL campus has subsidised cafeterias/bars and shops, gym and a travel agent. UCL staff can also benefit from corporate membership at a Tottenham Court Road gym. Flexi-time: UCL Library Services operates a generous flexi-time scheme on some of its sites which is available to all full-time staff working on those sites and some part-time staff. Season Ticket Loans: A season ticket loan is available to staff who have successfully completed their probationary period with the facility to repay through a monthly deduction from salary. How to apply To apply, please submit a completed application form. Please note that only information contained in the application form will be considered by the shortlisting panel therefore covering letters and CVs are not required, and if included will be detached from the application before it is sent for shortlisting. Your application should provide details of at least two referees, one of whom must be your present or most recent employer or course tutor if currently a student. Your references should cover the past three years up to the present date and your referees should have direct experience of your work, education or training Applications should be addressed to: The Office Assistant (quoting ref: 40/07/08) UCL Library Services UCL (University College London) Gower Street London WC1E 6BT or emailed to: library-jobs@ucl.ac.uk or faxed to: +44(0) 20 7679 7373
The closing date for applications is 16 June 2008 Receipt of an application can only be confirmed if a candidate specifically requests such acknowledgement, and in the case of postal applications, encloses a stamped self-addressed envelope for this purpose. Candidates should note that interviews are expected to take place on 11 July 2008
Please note that applicants who have not been contacted within one month of the interview date should assume that their application has been unsuccessful.
UCL Library Services Job title: Grade: Salary: Senior Library Assistant: Science Team 6 £21,681 - £25,888 plus £2,649 London Allowance per annum (pro rata for part time) 12 months Academic Support Manager: Mathematical and Physical Sciences, Engineering and the Built Environment Day to day supervision of the work of the Science Team Assistant Science Library This is a part-time post working daytime weekday hours, 18.25 hours (0.5 Full time equivalent) per week. The exact work pattern will be negotiated with the successful candidate
Period of appointment: Reports to:
Responsible for: Location: Hours of work:
General description of post: The post provides day-to-day support and assistance to the work of the Science Team, particularly in the areas of information skills training, development of the print and electronic collections and evaluating, monitoring and promoting services in support of teaching, learning and research. The Science Team currently supports the work of three UCL Faculties: the Faculty of Built Environment, the Faculty of Engineering Sciences and the Faculty of Mathematics and Physical Sciences as well as the School of Library, Archive and Information Studies. The postholder provides day to day supervision of the work of the Science Team Assistant. Main responsibilities: Collection Development To assist with selection and ordering of print and electronic resources, including bibliographic checking and preparing acquisition lists To assist with the relegation and disposal of stock To assist with the co-ordination and updating of reading lists Information Skills Training To become familiar with the main print and electronic resources in the subject areas covered by the Team To prepare and maintain printed and online training materials To participate in the delivery of other information skills training carried out by the Team, including induction tours and classes To analyse student training feedback Information Services To assist with the development of subject-oriented web pages and other promotional materials, following documented procedures and standards To deal with user enquiries and participate in the Science Library’s Enquiry Desk rota and attending training in enquiry work Science Team Support To provide day to day supervision of the work of the Science Team Assistant To assist with administration of Team meetings including minute taking To contribute to project work undertaken by the Team
Other duties: The postholder is expected to follow UCL policies, including Equal Opportunities and Race Equality policies and to maintain an awareness and observation of Fire and Health & Safety regulations. To carry out any other duties as are within the scope, spirit and purpose of the job as requested by the Director or Deputy Director of UCL Library Services or the Academic Support Manager for the Science Team. Duties and responsibilities may need to change over time, so this job description will be reviewed and amended in consultation with the postholder.
Person Specification Where indicated below, candidates must provide clear evidence in their application forms (with examples), to show how they meet each element of the essential criteria (and desirable criteria if appropriate). Please note, candidates who do not demonstrate in their application that they meet the essential criteria for this post are unlikely to be shortlisted for interview. Criteria Test by application form Test by formal interview Test by presentation
Essential Educated to degree level or equivalent Up-to-date relevant experience of library/information work Experience of working with the public and delivering a high level of customer service Excellent oral communication skills, including the ability to give presentations Excellent written communication skills Good IT skills including knowledge of MS Word, MS Excel and MS PowerPoint Ability to manage time, to work under pressure and to deadlines. Excellent interpersonal skills including the ability to work effectively as part of a team as well as independently when required. Readiness to acquire new skills that are required for successful performance of the job A professional approach to work, including a record of consistent, reliable attendance and timekeeping Desirable A professional qualification in library or information science Experience of working in an academic or scientific environment Experience of supervising staff Experience of e-learning and editing web pages Experience of producing information sheets or user guides x x x
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May 2008