St. Clare's, Oxford Academic Resources Centre
Assistant Librarian
Job description

Background

The Academic Resources Centre (ARC) opened informally in February 1995 and was officially opened in May that year by Baroness Brigstocke. The Centre is housed in a large Edwardian property previously used for teaching and was totally refurbished to a very high standard at a cost of £650K. The building, now named Anne Dreydel House after one of the College's co-founding principals, brings together all the main academic resources under one roof. These include a book collection of around 35,000 volumes, which cover general titles and specialised collections relating to the College's teaching subjects; many Humanities and Science periodicals and foreign and English language newspapers; audio and video cassettes; and an expanding collection of CD-ROMs. The Centre provides working space for over 80 readers, an audio-visual centre, satellite TV, video edit suite, bookshop, photocopier and a staff workroom. A self-access centre for language learners is in the process of development, facilitating independent use by students of the language laboratory and other resources.

The computer teaching room is also part of the Centre, and two rooms also double both as classrooms and reading rooms. Networked computers are provided for general student use in the Centre. Internet and email access are also provided. Such is the demand on IT resources, that casual Internet use and student email facilities will soon be relocated to another area of the College.

The Centre has a lift and disabled access to most parts. Student usage has almost doubled in comparison with the former library and generally feedback from all users of the new Centre is very favourable. However, even in the comparatively short time since the Centre was designed, usage has changed considerably, and will no doubt continue to do so. The most obvious and significant trend is towards making greater use of the Internet rather than printed sources, and general use of computers for working. We are committed to improving continuously our ICT facilities for student use. The needs of the developing self-access centre are also being addressed.

The ARC is open seven days a week during the academic year and on weekdays during summer courses. It is manned at all times it is open. The Academic Resources Centre Manager is currently assisted by one full-time assistant (who is also audio-visual technician) and four part-time staff. A staffing review has recently been undertaken, and we shall be attempting to implement the recommendations to increase the overall staffing level to ensure that two people are on duty during all times the Centre is open.

This post is to provide a deputy to the ARC Manager. ICT resources are the focus of the current phase of development, and likely to be so indefinitely. The ALICE library software system is used for the catalogue. As indicated above, provision of workstations, CD-ROMs and Internet use and access are all on the increase.

In making this appointment, we are therefore looking for someone with knowledge and experience of computerised library systems, particularly ALICE, and a lively, committed and developing interest in computers and ICT.

Principal duties

• Assisting at the issue desk (The issue desk is the hub of the ARC, from which all services are provided. Duties will include a wide range of library housekeeping tasks, many of which are automated, eg cataloguing, classifying, issues and returns)
• Shelving
• Issue of keys, remote controls, fax cards, floppy disks etc.
• Control of newspapers and magazines
• Assisting in the running of the student bookshop

2. Deputising for the ARC Manager

3. Oversight of the ARC computers (hard and software), IT and photocopiers. Essentially keeping computers and photocopiers up and running in conjunction with the ICT Co-ordinator, and other staff as appropriate.

• preventive maintenance
• basic repairs/problem solving/trouble shooting
• arranging maintenance to be undertaken by outside contractors, when necessary
• minimising downtime of all IT hard and software
• setting up machines and devising systems for appropriate use
• devising appropriate administrative procedures to ensure efficient IT operations.

4. Assisting staff and students in the use of the Centre's computers

• Promoting use of IT facilities
• Training staff and students in use of IT facilities
• Keeping up to date on IT developments relevant to the Resources Centre and making proposals for changes, improvement and development to College IT facilities in the Centre.

5. Assisting with supervision of cataloguing and classification projects.

6. Other duties as designated by the ARC Manager, including standing in for the audio- visual technician on occasions.

The job description will be subject to fine tuning within the first few months of appointment.

Terms and conditions

• Starting salary will be determined according to qualifications and previous experience within the range £12,000 - £14,000. On appointment the salary will be linked to an existing St Clare's scale, with annual increments (subject to satisfactory performance) and annual cost of living increases. The St. Clare's Scales are related to similar national scales.
• Contributory pension (Employer pays up to 10% of salary, employee up to 5%. Employer's contribution double that of employee).
• Although the post is permanent, the first year is probationary.
• Free lunches during the academic year and major summer courses.
• Hours of work. 35 hours per week. These will be by agreement, but will include some work after 5.30pm and at weekends, (regularly or by rota) to ensure staffing of the Centre throughout its opening hours.

Person specifications

• Experience in library work
• Interest and experience in information technology, and particularly computerised library systems
• Ability to demonstrate and teach technical and practical skills effectively and enthusiastically to a wide variety of new and existing users.

The following are desirable:

• Qualification in librarianship
• Experience of school/college libraries and the needs of student users in the 16-25 age group
• Languages other than English (always helpful in an international environment)

Please apply by letter, with cv to

Boyd Roberts

Vice-Principal

St. Clare's, Oxford

139 Banbury Road

Oxford

OX2 7AL

Fax: 01865 - 310002

Closing date for applications:30 May 1998

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