Job Specification

Purpose of Position :

In the Ontario Workplace Tribunal Library (OWTL), to deliver research services, and to provide timely, accurate and reliable information resources and library services to the tribunals' (WSIAT, OLRB, HRTO, PEHT) adjudicators, staff and clients, and to the public. To deliver current awareness and training to tribunal staff. To advance, promote and increase access to information resources by ensuring availability of appropriate knowledge and information materials through options that maximize the value for the investment made; to develop tools/processes that optimize organization, retention and retrieval of knowledge/information in any media or format. To meet the tribunals' and clients' current and future information needs.

Duties / Responsibilities :

• Provides reference and research services to adjudicators, staff and clients of the four tribunals, as well as to the public and other institutions such as the Ministry of Labour.

• Records selected reference questions and their answers in a database to facilitate answering similar questions in future and to assist other library staff in doing so.

• Shares subject-matter expertise with other library staff, and shares knowledge of sources, topics and tools.

• Prepares and delivers training sessions for the staff and adjudicators on databases and other electronic products relevant to their research and information needs.

• Prepares and delivers orientations to new staff and adjudicators on library services etc.

• Creates content (e.g. pathfinders) for the Ontario Workplace Tribunals Library website and for Tribunal Intranets and updates web content as required.

• Updates various reference documents (e.g. relevant statutes, amendments; amendments to Regulations; certifications granted list etc.)

• Selects content for current awareness packages for the tribunals (paper-based or electronic).

• distribution of tribunal decisions to relevant contacts (e.g. CANLII, Quicklaw, Ministry contacts).

• Catalogues material (monographs, serials, reports, articles, electronic) according to current cataloguing practices using Library of Congress (LC) classification

• Participates in collection management activites as required – providing expert insight on collection development, assisting in collection evaluation/weeding and shifts.

• Represents the library on relevant associations and committees as required.

• Maintains special library databases such as the database of OLRB certificates. Collects metrics as required.

Knowledge :

• Knowledge of relevant laws/regulations/rules pertaining to the mandates of client tribunals
• Knowledge of the principles of administrative law, and the operation of regulatory agencies
• Expert knowledge of research techniques, particularly in areas of law and medicine
• Expert knowledge of the following data sources: Quicklaw, CanLII, internet searching, CHRR, in-house data repositories of client organizations (where permitted), other electronic tools as required (use and licensing limitations).
• Thorough knowledge of the principles and practices of library science, notably collection organization, cataloguing/classification, collection development and management.
• Strong written and oral communications and interpersonal skills to assist library clients with their information searches, provide guidance, prepare administrative reports, and make recommendations.
• First-hand knowledge of user needs, combined with expert research knowledge is applied in the creation of training programs and the development of user help such as pathfinders, research guides, and so on. This expertise also informs the creation of current awareness products.

Judgement :

Working under the direction of the Head Librarian and within the principles and practices of library science, the incumbent is guided by the documented practices and procedures of the Ontario Workplace Tribunals Library. As a subject-matter expert in the operations and mandate of our client tribunals, the reference librarian uses judgement in providing guidance to researchers (tribunal staff and members of the public) and to library staff in navigating the information resources of the library. Judgement is exercised in the minimization of costs related to these activities. Judgement is applied in the application of licensing limitations and other legal limits to the use of information (e.g. application of the Copyright Act, FOIPPA and PIPEDA, where necessary).

Accountability - Programs :

Conducts research on behalf of clients (staff and public). Develops and delivers orientation and training programs for tribunal staff and adjudicators. Creates tools to help researchers conduct independent searches. Contributes to current awareness products for client tribunals.

Accountability – Personnel :

Contributes to the collegial nature of library work by lending subject matter expertise to the daily work of the library.

Accountability - Finance and Materials :

Adheres to the terms of licenses for electronic information sources.

Accountability - Impact of Errors :

Incorrect answers to questions from tribunal staff and adjudicators may lead to errors in decision-making (regulatory and/or administrative), leading to appeals and potential embarrassment for the tribunals. Errors in answering questions from the public may lead to poor decision-making by them, with the possibility of real losses before tribunals or in arbitration. This would reduce the credibility of the library, and possibly (by extension) of the tribunals.

Contact - Internal :

Frequent contact with adjudicators and staff of client tribunals in relation to research requests, training, and current awareness.

Contact - External :

Frequent contact with members of the public – workers, employers, their advisors and other interested parties (e.g. students). Occasional contact with other librarians seeking information or assistance in conducting research. Regular contact with staff of other tribunals regarding information requests.