Information Specialist – Midrand

Duties and Responsibilities:
Management of the Information Centre (Digital Information Centre Administration)
 Manage the day-day activities of the Information Centre in an academic environment.
 Manage the routine operations of the inter-Information Centre loans and request service.
 Liaises with departments within the College to ensure efficient support, i.e. assignment capacity.
 Establish and maintain effective working relationships with academic staff and students, as well as external bodies.
 Prepares reports related to Information Centre and information services.
 Develops and maintains a digital information collection.
 Assists with the provision of information services in a digital environment.
 Assists with managing all auxiliary services such reproduction and digitization.
 Monitors the performance of all functions of Information Centre systems.
 Liaises with the Capacity Management and Timetabling Centre to ensure that lectures have all the academic material they require for presenting lectures including sourcing teaching resources from publishers.
 Ensures that Policies and Procedures are adhered to.
 Provides feedback to the Information Centre Manager and Head: Academic on all
Information Centre related issues.

Provision of Information Services and User Information
 Conducts class visits and live interactive training sessions for students and lecturers.
 Facilitating and supporting learning by teaching information literacy skills to students
and staff, within classrooms and virtual learning environment.
 Assists students with Academic writing, referencing and search skills.
 Trains students and lectures on how to use the Information Centre database to enable them to do research and access the information required, e.g. Ebscohost, Juta Law and HeinOnline.
 Conducts presentations during Student Information sessions/ Digital Literacy Classes and Lecturer Information briefings.
 Provides guidance to students on academic writing and referencing styles.
 Support academic staff with literature searches using research databases, printed resources and the internet.
 Addresses user enquires.
 Keep up to date with new developments, innovations in the Information Centre sector and participate in professional groups and Professional Learning Networks.

Research Output and Academic Support
 Measuring research impact and develop best practices for use of information.
 Postgraduate research support to students by educating and providing academic support.
 Research support to academic staff.
 Assist students to find academic research material and provide support on research related queries.
 Play an active role in research by performing own research and produce research output and activities.

Information Centre Resources Marketing
 Designs posters and Information Centre packs to market Information Centre resources on the campus.
 Innovative marketing and promotion of information Centre resources.
 Market, promote and co-ordinate awareness campaigns pertinent to the Information Centre.

General Administration
 Maintains records for payment of invoices.
 Monitor the performance of all functions of Information Centre automated Information Centre systems.
 Collection development, maintenance and management of Information Centre resources.
 Recruit and train writing consultants.

Competencies Required:
 Interpersonal and communications skills
 Coaching and mentoring skills
 Problem solving skills & Time management skills

Best suited to a friendly, organised person who works accurately and is able to handle
pressure
 Information and Digital Fluency Skills
 Digital literacy skills
 Working knowledge of MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
 Understanding of library related technology (e.g. Law online databases, Sirsi Dynix, Emerald, Ebscohost, Sabinet. etc.)
 Multi literacy Skills
 Innovative and Energetic
 Producing own Research

Minimum Qualification Requirements:
 Minimum of Honours Degree in Library and Information Science.
 Master’s Degree in Library and Information Science (M.Bibl) an added advantage

Minimum Experience Requirements:
 Minimum of 3 years experience in an Academic library.
 Must have professional registration with LIASA.

Working Hours:
 Monday to Thursday 12:00 – 21:00 during academic weeks.
 Fridays, 08:00 – 17:00.
 The Information Specialist may also be required to work one Saturday shift a month
from 08h00 to 13h00 (timing of this monthly Saturday shift will be determined by the
Head: Academic).
 In the week where the IS works the Saturday shift the Friday working hours will change to
08h00-12h00 accordingly.