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Thursday, August 21, 2014

Librarian, United Nations (NY)

Librarian, United Nations – NY

UN is seeking a Librarian. This position is located in the Department of Public Information (DPI) in the Outreach Division, at the Dag Hammarskjöld Library. Incumbents report directly to a Unit Coordinator which may be in any area of Library operations.
Responsibilities
The Library has adopted a flexible working organisation and the Librarian may be responsible, within delegated authority, for any of the following duties:
• Selects material for the development of collections; coordinates selections and departmental requests for materials, ensures their accordance with collection development policies.
• Catalogues abstracts and/or indexes complex scientific and technical materials that require in-depth treatment of subject matter or documents of a politically sensitive nature.
• Integrates and balances user and institutional needs, applying extensive experience with the management of commercial sources of information.  Maintains communication with networks in the relevant fields and with associations of library and information specialists.
• Evaluates adequacy of existing reference tools.  Implements new technologies in information management to ensure that new tools developed for efficient access to information are accessible to staff throughout the Organization.
• Advises other units and departments seeking expertise in information architecture, content organization, and metadata, including Internet/Intranet sites.
• Conducts programs of outreach and user education to improve client use of desktop information resources; uses judgment of relevant institutional needs to develop presentations appropriate to client audience; develops marketing and publicity materials to facilitate outreach.
• Guides, trains and supervises general service and professional staff in the function.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
The initial primary focus of the three posts concerned may be (1) coordination of the UNBIS Thesaurus and Library authority files (2) document analysis & metadata (3) coordination of the UN libraries’ electronic resources purchasing consortium. Other duties may be considered and postholders will have responsibility for a portfolio of duties and projects.
Competencies
• Professionalism: Knowledge of library operations and electronic data management. Ability to apply conceptual, analytical, and evaluative skills and identify issues, formulate opinions and make conclusions and recommendations. Ability to develop sources for data collection.  Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.
• Teamwork:  Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.
• Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.
Education
Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in library science, information science or related field. A first-level university degree in combination with additional two years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Work Experience
A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in library work, information network administration or related area is required. Five years of experience in a role as professional librarian, documentalist, archivist or similar active information service role is desirable.
Experience of working in an international environment is desirable.