Senior Library Assistant

1. The Position The Council is seeking applications from suitably qualified candidates with relevant experience for the position of Senior Library Assistant. It is proposed to form a panel of qualified candidates from which vacancies both permanent or temporary will be filled during the lifetime of the panel. The Senior Library Assistant is a frontline and key support position within the structure of the Library Service. A Senior Library Assistant makes a valuable contribution to the provision of the library service centrally and at local branch level by providing support to library management and supervising staff. The Senior Library Assistant will work under the direction of the Librarian/Staff Officer, or such person as may be assigned from time to time by Donegal County Council. The Senior Library Assistant may deputise for the Librarian/Staff Officer/Executive Librarian and will represent the Librarian/Staff Officer and the organisation as required. The main role of the Senior Library Assistant is the delivery of the library service (public and/or support) in the geographical and functional areas specified in this role description, in line with the priorities identified in The Library is the Place: National Public Library Strategy2023-2027 and Cultúr le Chéile: Strategic Plan for Culture Divsion 2022-2026.

Donegal County Library The Library Service is based in the Housing, Corporate and Cultural Services Directorate of Donegal County Council. The Culture Division comprises the Library Service, the Arts Service, the Regional Cultural Centre, the Museum Service, the Archives Service, the Biodiversity Office and the County Donegal Heritage Office. The library network includes 13 libraries and 8 Taobh Tíre community partnership service points. The Central Library in Letterkenny is the largest and the busiest library and includes the main Local Studies research collection and Europe Direct, in addition to providing public library services. Online library services and resources are developing rapidly, as are the options for self-service including the My Open Library Service. As the Library Service is part of the Culture Division it is expected that Senior Library Assistants will work with colleagues from across the Division on programmes and projects, from time to time. Note: A satisfactory competence in the Irish language is deemed necessary relation to any vacancy within the Glenties Municipal District. An assessment of this competence may be carried out as part of the recruitment and selection process as appropriate.

2. Roles Duties & Responsibilities The duties of the Senior Library Assistant will be consistent with the provision of a modern public library service that is responsive to the changing requirements of customers of all ages and abilities and will include but are not limited to: • Overseeing and delivering core frontline library services (including online), • House-keeping and cataloguing functions within the Library Management System, • Maintaining, developing, and promoting collections and services, • Answering enquiries, helping students and researchers, • Providing mediated access to library resources in-house and online, • Using and promoting new technologies and assisting the public in using technology such as self-service, Internet, online resources, digital equipment, iPads, Android tablets etc., • Recommending appropriate books for children and adults of different reading levels and interests, • Organising, promoting and delivering events and activities such as storytelling / rhymetime, workshops on library IT, book clubs, class visits, lectures, community events, festivals publications, exhibitions etc., • Assisting in the implementation of the Right to Read, Healthy Ireland at Your Library, Skills for Life and other programmes, • Providing outreach services to schools and other community organisations, • Selecting, sorting, processing, and distributing stock, • General administration and financial administration duties incl. financial processing, maintaining and reviewing statistical records, gathering and compiling information, and reporting on services, • Forging and maintaining links between the library, other Culture Division services and Donegal County Council services, the education sector and the community, • Providing cover in other libraries when required to maintain opening hours and services, • Managing of the building / facility and service in absence of more senior officer, • Administration of buildings / facility and equipment maintenance programme, • Ensuring high standards of health and safety and child protection, • Proposing ways of delivering better services, and developing such proposals, • Contributing to and implementing Donegal County Council, Library Service and other policies and plans, • Supporting senior staff in service planning and delivery, and • Any other duties as required by the County Librarian/Culture Division Manager.

These duties are indicative rather than exhaustive and are carried out under general guidance. The duties and responsibilities for this post may vary from time to time, without changing the general character of the duties or level of responsibilities entailed. The post holder may therefore be required to perform duties appropriate to the post, other than those detailed above, and to take instructions from and report to an appropriate Officer or such designated Officer as may be assigned from time to time by the Council. 3. Qualifications & Requirement of the Post The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has declared that the qualifications for the position of a Senior Library Assistant will be as set out below: (a) Character: Candidates shall be of good character. (b) Health Candidates shall be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service. Successful candidates will be required to undergo a medical examination carried out by the Council’s Occupational Medical advisor prior to appointment. (c) Education, Training, Experience etc. Each candidate must, on the latest date for receipt of completed applications: (i) have a good general level of education, (ii) have had at least two years satisfactory experience of library work.

Note: Senior Library Assistants who are appointed to Leabharlann Phobail na Rosann or Leabharlann Phobail Ghaoth Dobhair must be competent in the Irish Language (assessed by separate language test).

4. Particulars of the Post (a) General Donegal County Council proposes to create a panel of qualified candidates for the position of Senior Library Assistant from which it will fill any vacancy that may arise. (b) Probation The successful candidate shall be required to be on probation for an initial period, as determined by the Council. This period may be extended at the discretion of the Council. (c) Remuneration The current annual pay-scale is €34,260 minimum to max LSI2 €53,301. (as per Circular EL 03/2024). Holders of the post will be paid at the appropriate point on the salary scale in accordance with the relevant Department Circular. New entrants will commence on the minimum point of the scale. (d) Base The base for the post of Senior Library Assistant shall be determined by the Council and will depend on the particular area and service to which the post holder is assigned. The role of Senior Library Assistant may involve some travel, with some trips involving overnight stays and associated costs covered by the appropriate allowances. (e) Residence Holders of the post shall reside in the district in which their duties are to be performed or within a reasonable distance thereof. (f) Working Hours / Annual Leave The normal hours of work will be 35 hours per week. The Council reserves the right to alter the hours of work from time to time. The Senior Library Assistant role will involve some work outside of normal business hours including evenings and Saturdays. Annual leave allowance will be in accordance with Circular LG(P) 07/2011. Maximum 30 days for all applicants. (g) Requirement to Drive Candidates shall be required: (a) to possess a full current category B Driving Licence. (b) to have their own vehicle available for use while performing their duties and the associated costs will be covered by the appropriate allowances. (h) Citizenship Requirements Eligible candidates must be, on the latest date for receipt of completed application forms; (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. (I) Conflicts of Interest

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 duties as a local authority employee. (J) Garda Vetting Candidates for the post of Senior Library Assistant are subject to Garda Vetting. Please note all candidates must attain a satisfactory Garda Vetting Disclosure prior to appointment, otherwise the offer of employment will be withdrawn. In the event where a Garda Vetting Disclosure indicates that there is a case pending, then the appointment cannot proceed at that time and the offer of employment will be withdrawn. The candidate will however retain their position on the panel and will be considered for the next vacancy should same arise within the lifetime of the panel.