Job Specification

Purpose of Position :

To operate and maintain a library in a correctional facility to meet the professional needs of administrative, correctional and clinical staff and the leisure and therapeutic needs of inmates.

Duties / Responsibilities :

At a medium security correctional facility provides library services by:
1. Organizing and maintaining the library's collection of books, periodicals and publications by providing circulation and reference services, and arranging inter-library loans; acquiring, cataloguing and classifying library materials from approved lists.
2. Assisting inmates with inquiries and providing information on library stock, services and procedures.
3. Maintaining a manual and/or automated circulation system consisting of books, periodicals, serials and other materials by inputting/updating records.
4. Shelving and carrying out re-arrangement of books, preparing purchase orders and taking stock, performing minor book repairs.
5. Assisting in the development and implementation of new library services, policies/procedures and automated reference systems to meet user needs for the correctional facility.
6. Typing records, correspondence and statistical reports on library activities, filing library materials; sorting and distributing mail; photocopying materials.
7. Coordinate information on library services to the Deputy Superintendent Programs. Provide plan during absences that would allow for the delivery of basic level of library services during approved leaves.
8. Promoting and coordinating the library program with the goals of the institution, i.e. research, education, and treatment.
9. Supervising inmates using the area. Supervising and instructing inmate workers for a majority of working time, which includes writing reports such as occurrence reports, demonstrating library techniques/procedures, Salary Note K-1 applies.
10. Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge :

Job requires knowledge of library procedures and practices pertaining to the circulation, reference, minor book repairs, cataloguing, inter-library loans and serials/publications management in order to provide library services. Job requires knowledge of library policies and guidelines in order to operate, maintain and provide a variety of library services. Job requires knowledge of software applications to utilize automated systems to input/update and search data, type correspondence and reports. Job requires knowledge of institutional security policies/procedures in order to maintain the safety and security of the library work area. Job requires the ability to plan and organize work and to develop and maintain working relationships with inmates and staff.

Skills :

Job requires analytical skills to perform descriptive cataloguing of library materials by applying appropriate rules and procedures. Job requires analytical skills to search for books and other materials for library users utilizing the inter-library load procedures, e.g., searching and arranging to obtain library materials for users from other libraries. Job requires assisting users in locating and retrieving information, books, periodicals and conducting straightforward literature searches using manual and/or automated systems. Job requires analytical skills to provide input into inmate disciplinary/performance reports. Job requires oral communication skills to provide information to library users on library stock, borrowing process, inter-library loan process/services and circulation services. Job requires preparing correspondence, statistical reports on library activities and records of library stock. Job requires tact and courtesy when responding to users requests, when instructing and maintaining control of inmate helpers and in dealing with behavioural issues as they arise.

Freedom of Action :

Job requires working in accordance with established library practices, standards, and guidelines, e.g. inter-library loan requirements and related procedures. Job requires helping users with requests for information of a directional or otherwise straightforward nature, e.g. location of library materials. Job requires processing and routing periodicals and contacting users re: overdue materials in accordance with established procedures. Work is subject to review or monitoring for results in terms of provision of library services, e.g. books and library materials shelved. Job requires referring to supervisor situations not covered by established library/security methods and procedures such as difficult and involved information requests by users, uncooperative inmate helpers. Job requires working in accordance with institutional policies/procedures with regard to security.