Senior Library Assistant

Offaly County Council Library Service currently headquartered in Tullamore manages and supports a network of eight public libraries strategically located across the county. The Library Service is constantly innovating and diversifying in a dynamic and changing environment, taking advantage of technological advancement to deliver a wide and varied range of front-line services to customers.

In 2023, a new national five-year strategy was introduced – ‘The Library is the Place: Information, Recreation, Inspiration’. The strategy continues to build on the technological and service innovations of recent years and focuses on improving access, use and visibility of public libraries as an essential community service. It proposes new actions on lifelong learning, cultural heritage, digital inclusion and makes a clear contribution to sustainable development and climate action, with actions designed to help Ireland achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Modern libraries reflect the different ways people use them and the successful implementation of “My Open Library” services in Banagher, Ferbane, Kilcormac and Tullamore libraries allows self-service access to library members outside normal working hours. This ensures Offaly’s libraries are more accessible for commuters, workers and students and attract a broader range of customers.

Offaly County Council is seeking a dynamic, creative and motivated individual to fill the role of Senior Library Assistant. This person will assist in fulfilling our vision to ‘provide welcoming and accessible spaces and services to support the people of Offaly in their pursuit of knowledge, culture, skills and recreation’.

The successful candidate will work to a high standard as part of a multidisciplinary team implementing work programmes to achieve objectives as set out in relevant national and local policy including Creating Space, Offaly Libraries Development Plan 2024-2028.

The Senior Library Assistant is a supervisory position employed in Library Headquarters or any library facility or branch across Offaly. He/she will report to a senior library staff member and will perform a role in almost all areas of library service. The job profile is likely to evolve as the service adapts to meet the changing needs of the community.

As the Library Service is a county-wide service, staff may be required to provide cover at, and may be reassigned to, any service point within County Offaly as required by the County Librarian.

See key responsibilities for this post listed in Particulars of Office, under Duties.

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE POST

The ideal candidate will be a highly motivated person, with drive and commitment to delivery of quality public services and continual professional development. The ideal candidate must have at least two years satisfactory experience in library work and will demonstrate a clear knowledge and understanding of:

• Local authority services, its key stakeholders and relationships

• Local government structures and its democratic role and mandate

• National and international public library policy and strategy

The ideal candidate will:

• have excellent interpersonal and communication skills

• have the ability to provide excellent customer service

• understand the changing library environment and be capable of adapting to change

• have an ability to work effectively within a team to achieve a common goal, ensuring standards are adhered to and maintained whilst also being capable of working on their own initiative, in an independent environment and without supervision if required

• be motivated to achieve maximum performance by supporting the current Performance Management and Development System (PMDS)

• demonstrate good administrative experience

• have excellent IT skills including knowledge and understanding of relevant technical ICT packages and an ability to work with online resources in a library environment

• have an awareness of Health and Safety legislation and regulations, the implications for the organisation and the employee, and their application in the workplace

• Have a current, full, clean, Class B drivers’ licence and access to own vehicle

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 particular note of these when completing the application form as any short-listing or interview processes will be based on the information provided by candidates:

Delivering Results & Communicating Effectively:

• Plans work and allocation of staff and other resources effectively.

• Takes ownership of tasks and is determined to see them through to a satisfactory outcome.

• Implements high-quality service and customer care standards.

• Is logical and pragmatic in approach, setting objectives and delivering the best possible results with the resources available through effective prioritisation.

• Accurately estimates time parameters for project, making contingencies to overcome obstacles.

Demonstrates effective verbal and written communication skills.

Performance Management & Teamwork:

• Supervises the team or work area to achieve corporate objectives.

• Works as part of a team to ensure delivery of library plans and programming.

• Has a strong team ethic of co-operation and mutual support, sharing information and knowledge as appropriate.

• Relates well to others and maintains positive, productive and beneficial working relationships.

Addresses conflict or dissatisfaction in a constructive manner.

Personal Effectiveness:

• Takes initiative and is proactive when he/she sees the opportunity to make a contribution.

• Manages time and workload effectively. Maintains a positive, constructive and enthusiastic attitude to their role.

• Is open to taking on new challenges or responsibilities.

• Demonstrates flexibility and openness to change.

• Acts with integrity and encourages this in others.

Knowledge, Experience & Skills:

• Has knowledge and understanding of the structure and functions of local government and in particular the library service.

• Has knowledge of current local government and library service issues.

• Has a clear understanding of the role, objectives and targets and how they support the service delivered by the library and can communicate this to the team.

• Has relevant experience including experience of working as part of a team.

• Has experience of preparing reports and correspondence.

• Has knowledge and experience of operating ICT systems.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Details of Key Duties and Responsibilities are outlined under “Particulars of Office”

QUALIFICATIONS

1. Education, Training, Experience, etc.

Each candidate must, on the latest date for receipt of completed application forms:

a) Have a good general level of education,

b) Have had at least two years satisfactory experience of library work.

* Copies of qualifications must be attached to support this application. Failure to provide qualifications will deem this application invalid.

2. Citizenship

Candidates for any of the above panels 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.

3. Driving Licence

The Holder of the Post of shall hold a full driving licence for Class B vehicles free from endorsement/disqualification. When required to do so, holders of office shall drive a motor vehicle in the course of their duties and for this purpose provide and maintain a vehicle to the satisfaction of the local authority.

4. Character

Candidates shall be of good character.

5. 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.

* Non Irish Qualifications must be accompanied by a determination from Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) to establish their comparability against the Irish National Framework of Qualifications, overseas qualifications must also be accompanied by a translation document.

PARTICULARS OF OFFICE

1. The Post:

The post is permanent, whole-time and pensionable. A panel will be formed for an initial period of one year and this may be extended for a period of time at the discretion of the Chief Executive. The panel will be used to fill appropriate positions that may arise for its duration. Positions will be offered in order of merit as per the panel.

2. Salary:

The salary shall be fully inclusive and shall be as determined from time to time. Holders of the post will be paid at the appropriate point on the salary scale in accordance with the relevant Department Circular. Starting pay for new entrants will be at the minimum of the scale. Where the appointee has been serving elsewhere in the public service in an analogous grade and pay-scale and will be moving without break to another part of the public sector at an analogous grade, the appointment may be made at the appointee’s current point of scale. The rate of remuneration may be adjusted from time to time in line with Government pay.

The current salary scale applicable to the post is €36,474 - €56,015 LSI 2

3. Duties:

The duties of the post are 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 Acts 2001 and 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 subparagraph (a) of this paragraph under the general direction and supervision of the Chief executive or such other employee as the Chief Executive may from time to time determine, such appropriate services of an executive, administrative or management nature as may be required by any local authority or body herein before mentioned in the exercise and performance of any of its powers, functions and duties to exercise such powers, functions and duties as may be delegated to him/her by the Chief Executive from time to time, including the duty of servicing all committees that may be established by any such local authority or body. The post holder will, if required, act for an employee of a higher level. The post holder may be required to work outside his/her normal job description from time to time.

The duties to be assigned include the following although this list is not exhaustive and may be reviewed from time to time as organisational needs require:

• Support the line manager to ensure all Library work programmes are implemented, to deliver on the Council’s Corporate Plan, Offaly Library Service Development Plan and operational plans

• General branch library work and service development

• Supervise staff

• Oversee and deliver excellent customer service

• Community engagement and outreach (both in person and online)

• Utilise Library Management Systems, digital resources and self-service technologies to deliver effective and efficient library services

• Organise, facilitate and promote library events in library service points and across extensive social media platforms

• Support and deliver national and local programmes and services for all members of the community in Reading and Literacy; Learning and Information and Community and Culture

• Deliver user education in all areas of information provision including ICT, and eResources

• Support and promote My Open Library and self-service Technologies

• Stock selection, maintenance and collection development and management

• Administrative duties to include data collection and analysis, report writing and cash reconciliation

• Promote and market library services and programmes through outreach activities, media engagements and presentations to key audiences and stakeholders

• Support good governance of library buildings, health and safety, child protection, data protection and business continuity in accordance with Council policies

• Any other duties that may be assigned by the senior line manager/ County Librarian.

4. Work Base:

Offaly 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.

5. Working Hours:

The current working hours provide for 35 hours per week and involve working late nights/weekends and rosters. You may be requested in certain circumstances to work additional hours and time off in lieu will be applicable. No additional remuneration will be paid in respect of such activities.

The provisions of Offaly County Council’s Time and Attendance Policy is applicable to this grade at the current time. The working hours may be reviewed at any time by the Countil.