Senior Library Assistant

Qualifications

Character Each candidate will be of good character.

Health Each candidate must be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service.

Education, Training, Experience Each candidate must, on the latest date for receipt of completed application forms: (i) Have a good level of education (ii) Have at least two years satisfactory experience of library work

Citizenship Candidates must, by the date of any job offer, be: a) A citizen of the European Economic Area (EEA). The EEA consists of the Member States of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway; or b) A citizen of the United Kingdom (UK); or c) A citizen of Switzerland pursuant to the agreement between the EU and Switzerland on the free movement of persons; or d) A non-EEA citizen who is a spouse or child of an EEA or UK or Swiss citizen and has a stamp 4 visa: or e) A person awarded international protection under the International Protection Act 2015, or any family member entitled to remain in the State as a result of family reunification and has a stamp 4 visa or f) A non-EEA citizen who is a parent of a dependent child who is a citizen of, and resident in, an EEA member state or the UK or Switzerland and has a stamp 4 visa

Driving Licence: The holder of the post MUST hold a full driving licence for Class B vehicles free from endorsement or disqualification. When required to do so, holders of office shall drive a motor car in the course of their duties and for this purpose provide and maintain a car to the satisfaction of the local authority. If you are required to travel as part of your official duties, Carlow County Council as your employer must be indemnified on your insurance policy. Travelling expenses and subsistence expenses necessarily incurred in the course of official duties will be refunded in accordance with appropriate rates in line with the relevant Department Circulars and Carlow County Council’s Travel and Subsistence Policy. If during your employment, your licence is revoked, even temporarily, or if you receive endorsements on your licence, which may affect your duties, you are obliged to notify the Council immediately.

THE ROLE OF THE SENIOR LIBRARY ASSISTANT The Role The Senior Library Assistant is a frontline supervisory position in Carlow County Council and is assigned responsibility for the supervision of a public library branch or section within County Carlow Libraries. The successful candidate will be responsible for the supervision and development of library services, staff, resources and buildings and will report to the County Librarian and/or Library Management Team.

Skills required for this role include: ➢ Supervisory and administrative skills to allow the day-to-day management and development of a designated Branch Library ➢ Communication and interpersonal skills, with a positive and professional attitude ➢ Dedication and ability to provide excellent customer service ➢ Experience of working as part of a team ➢ Ability to plan and prioritise workload ➢ Ability to work on own initiative ➢ Relevant administrative experience ➢ Stock management and collection development skills ➢ ICT skills including problem solving, troubleshooting and knowledge of AI and emerging technologies ➢ Commitment to self-development and be enthusiastic about acquiring new skills and embracing new technologies ➢ Flexibility regarding working hours and regular unsociable hoursincluding weekends

The main duties and responsibilities of the role of Senior Library Assistant include, but are not limited to the following: ➢ General branch duties ➢ Staff supervision and development ➢ To ensure high levels of customer service, responding to queries and requests for information in a professional and courteous and timely manner ➢ To support the line manager to communicate, implement and manage all change management initiatives within the relevant area of responsibility ➢ Customer care and quality service delivery ➢ Use all technology including IT and financial systems, Library Management System (LMS) and any equipment assigned and ICT management and development ➢ To participate in corporate activities and responsibilities appropriate to the grade. ➢ Running and promotion of events including use of social media; health and safety; data collation; attendance at meetings; administration ➢ To provide assistance and support in the delivery of projects as required ➢ Dealing efficiently and communicating effectively and professionally at all times with members or the public, colleagues, elected members, schools and communities ➢ Complete all essential training successfully ➢ To be in compliance with Health and Safety legislative requirements, policies and procedures and safe systems of work. ➢ To deputise for line manager or equivalent when required. ➢ To undertake any other duties of a similar level and responsibilities as may be required from time to time. Holders of the office may be assigned to work in all appropriate areas if required to do so in the course of their employment.

Essential Requirements for the Post Candidates are required to demonstrate a clear knowledge and understanding of: • Local authority services, its key stakeholders and relationships • Local government structures and its democratic role and mandate • Current local government issues • Key policies guiding the local government sector • Public service values • The changing library environment • Key policies and strategies guiding Irish public libraries

The ideal candidate must be able to demonstrate that they have sufficient competence in the following key skills which are essential for the role: • Communications and interpersonal • People management • Organisational and time management • Problem solving • Administration and report writing • Operation of ICT systems and standard office software packages

Candidates must also demonstrate a proven track record in the following: • Customer service • Working effectively as part of a team • Planning and prioritisation of workloads • Dealing effectively with conflicting demands • Working under pressure to tight deadlines • Adapting to change • Project management • Budget management • Acting on own initiative • Ability to communicate effectively across different levels within an organisation • Maintaining confidentiality Competencies for the Post Key Competencies for the post include the following and candidates will be expected to demonstrate sufficient evidence within their application form of competence under each of these. Please take note of these when completing the application form as any short-listing or interview processes will be based on the information provided by candidates:

Candidates Thinking Style and approach to: ✓ Problem solving ✓ Decision making ✓ Analytical skills

Candidates approach to Delivering Results: ✓ Organising and planning workloads ✓ Business planning & reporting ✓ Goal setting ✓ Budget management ✓ Achieving efficiencies ✓ Quality customer service

Candidates Interpersonal & People Orientation Skills: ✓ Written and oral communications ✓ Persuading and influencing others ✓ Team-working ✓ Establishing and maintaining key internal and stakeholder relationships ✓ Dealing with conflict

Candidates Personal Effectiveness: ✓ Resilience and Personal Well-Being ✓ Commitment to integrity & Public Service Values ✓ Personal Motivation ✓ Initiative and creativity ✓ Understanding the structures and environment within which the local authority sector operates ✓ Political awareness

PARTICULARS OF OFFICE The Post: The post is whole time, permanent and pensionable. The post holder shall not engage in any gainful occupation, other than as an employee of a local authority, to such an extent as to impair the performance of his or her duties as an employee of a local authority or in any occupation which might conflict with the interests of the local authority or which might be inconsistent with the discharge of his/her duties as a local authority employee.

Duties: The duties of a Senior Library Assistant is to give to the local authority and a) such other local authorities or bodies for which the Chief Executive, for the purposes of the Local Government Act 2001 and Local Government Reform Act 2014, is Chief Executive, and b) to any other local authority or body with which an agreement has been made by the local authority or by any of the authorities or bodies mentioned in sub-paragraph (a) of this paragraph, under the direction and supervision of the appropriate professional employee, such fire or ancillary services of an advisory, supervisory or executive nature as may be required by any local authority or body hereinbefore mentioned. These duties shall be the exercise or performance of any of the local authority’s powers, functions and duties, including the duty of assisting the appropriate Senior Fire Officers, in the supervision of the engineering, fire or cognate services of any of the foregoing local authorities or bodies. In addition, when required to do so, the successful candidate will be required to perform the duty of acting for appropriate professional employees of higher rank during the absence of such employees of higher rank. You shall, if required, act for an employee of a higher level. You may be required to work outside your normal job description from time to time.

Salary: The current salary scale applicable to the post is €35,260 - €54,367 (LSI2) per annum Entry point to this scale will be determined in accordance with Circulars issued by the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government. New Entrants will be placed on the minimum of salary scale. The salary shall be fully inclusive and shall be as determined from time to time. The rate of remuneration may be adjusted from time to time in line with Government pay.

Work Base: Carlow County Council reserves the right to assign you to any department or premises in use by the Council, now or in the future. Changes in location of employment will not result in payment of disturbance money or other compensation. The person appointed will be required to provide him/herself at his/her own expense with the necessary mode of travel to and from work.

Working Hours: The working hours at present provide for a six day, thirty-five hour working week. Overtime does not apply to this post. All hours of work will be subject to and recorded in accordance with the provisions of the Organisation of Working Time Act, 1997 and the Organisation of Working Time Act (Regulations) 2001. The working hours may be reviewed at any time by the Council and hours may vary from time to time in line with operational requirements. The post may require flexibility in working outside of normal hours, including at weekends, as necessary. No additional remunertation will be paid in respect of such activities.

Residence: The holder of the post shall reside in the district in which his/her duties are to be performed or within a reasonable distance thereof as determined by Carlow County Council.

References: Each candidate may be required to submit as references, the names and addresses of two responsible persons to whom he/she is well known but not related, at least one of whom must be a former/current employer. Candidates may be required to submit documentary evidence to the local authority in support of their application.

Probation: Where a person who is not already a permanent employee of a Local Authority is employed, the following provisions shall apply: (a) there shall be a period after such employment takes effect during which such person shall hold such position on probation; (b) such period shall be one year, but the Chief Executive may at his or her discretion extend such period; (c) such person will cease to hold such position at the end of the period of probation unless during such period the Chief Executive has certified that the service of such person is satisfactory. (d) the period at (a) above may be terminated on giving one weeks’ notice as per the Minimum

Notice and Terms of Employment Acts; (e) there may be assessment(s) during the probationary period.

Health: For the purposes of satisfying the requirement as to health it will be necessary for each successful candidate, before he/she is appointed, to undergo a medical examination by a qualified medical practitioner to be nominated by the local authority. Annual Leave: The current annual leave entitlement is 30 days. Granting of annual leave, payment for annual leave and arrangement for public holidays will be governed by the provisions of the Organisation of Working Time Act, 1997 (as amended)

Sick Leave: The terms of the Public Service Sick Pay Scheme will prevail.

Training: It is a condition of employment that successful candidates will be required to participate in training programmes relevant to the skills necessary for the performance of the duties attaching to the post and to attend all mandatory training.

Health & Safety: The holder of the post shall co-operate with the terms of Carlow County Council’s Safety Statement and Major Emergency Plan. It is a condition of employment that the successful candidate will be required to participate in training programmes relevant to the skills necessary for the performance of the duties attaching to the post. He/She shall familiarise him/herself with the safety rules and procedures and make proper use of all safety, clothing and equipment. Failure to comply with the terms of the Safety Statement may result in a disciplinary action.

Use of Modern Technology: The successful candidate will be required to use all equipment provided, including computers, hand held terminals, mobile telephone, electronic equipment, video or other monitoring equipment and any other new technology which may be introduced in the future.

Superannuation & Retirement: If you are pensionable under the Local Government (Superannuation) (Consolidation) Scheme 1998 and are liable to pay Class A PRSI contributions, you would be required in respect of superannuation to make contributions at the rate of 3.5% of net pensionable remuneration (i.e. pensionable remuneration less twice the annual rate of social insurance old age contributory pension payable at the maximum rate to a person with no adult dependant or qualified children) plus 1.5% of full pensionable remuneration. You are required in respect of spouses’ and children’s pension benefit to contribute at the rate of 1.5% of full pensionable remuneration in accordance with the terms of schemes made under the Local Government (Superannuation) (Consolidation) Scheme 1998. Maximum retirement age is 70. If the Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2004 applies to your employment, 65 is the minimum age at which your pension may be paid. As a new entrant to the public service, under the terms of this legislation you will not be required to retire on grounds of age. Persons who become pensionable officers of a local authority who are liable to pay the Class D rate of PRSI contribution will be required in respect of their superannuation to contribute to the local authority at the rate of 5% of their pensionable remuneration. You may also be required to pay Spouses and Children/ Widows and Orphans contributions at the rate of 1.5% of gross pay. Maximum retirement age is 70.

Persons who become pensionable staff of a local authority for the first time on or after 01 January 2013 are assigned to the Single Public Service Pension Scheme with effect from the date of appointment. The scheme is contributory and provides pension, retirement gratuity, death gratuity and survivors benefits. If you are pensionable under the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and other provisions) Act 2012, you are liable to pay the Class A rate of PRSI contribution. You are required to pay contributions as follows: 3% of gross remuneration and 3.5% of net pensionable remuneration (i.e. pensionable remuneration less twice the annual rate of social insurance old age contributory pension payable at the maximum rate to a person with no adult dependant or qualified children). The minimum age at which you may retire is allied with the State Contributory Pension age (currently 66, rising to 67 in 2021 and 68 in 2028). The maximum retirement age is 70. To qualify for a pension the successful candidate must have served a minimum of two years employment in a local authority. You are reminded that under this agreement the Council may refer you to a medical advisor at any time to determine fitness for carrying out the duties to which you have been assigned. Further information is available from the Human Resources Department.

Pension Accrual A 40-year limit on total service that can be counted towards pension where a person has been a member of more than one existing public service pension scheme would apply. This 40-year limit, which is provided for in the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012 came into effect on 28 July 2012. This may have implications for any appointee who has acquired pension rights in a previous public service employment.

Pension Abatement If the appointee has previously been employed in the Civil or Public Service and is in receipt of a pension from the Civil or Public Service or where a Civil/Public Service pension comes into payment during his/her reemployment that pension will be subject to abatement in accordance with Section 52 of the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012.

Incentivised Scheme for Early Retirement (ISER) It is a condition of the Incentivised Scheme for Early Retirement (ISER) as set out in Department of Finance Circular 12/09 that retirees, under that Scheme, are debarred from applying for another position in the same employment or the same sector. Therefore, such retirees may not apply for this position.