Librarian (Collection Development Librarian)

About the role

The Library of Congress shares its vast collections of books, manuscripts, photographs, maps, audiovisual materials, and priceless artifacts to cultivate curiosity and spark imagination. We engage, inspire, and inform Congress and the American people with a universal and enduring source of knowledge and creativity.

We seek highly talented professionals to join a vibrant and collaborative community. Your work here will have lasting impact on the Library and its users well into the future.

What you will do

• This position serves as a Librarian (Collection Development Librarian) located in the Collection Development Office, Library Collections and Services Group at the Library of Congress.
• As the Librarian (Collection Development Librarian), you will: Participate in systematic studies to determine the strengths and weaknesses of the collections focusing on a specific subject or format, identifying trends and recommending strategies to enhance the Library's collections in an assigned subject and/or format.
• Follow approved collections analysis protocol, collaborates with others to prepare and conduct collection development studies that include emerging trends in information dissemination factoring in the needs of users, including Congress, and the anticipated needs of future users.
• Identify scope and depth of assigned collections based on collecting levels articulated in collection development policy statements, collections usage, comparisons with other national and leading academic and research libraries/information centers, available lists, and catalogs and bibliographies of available information resources.
• Utilize internal and external collections databases such as integrated library systems, OCLC, and World Cat to participate in systematic studies to determine the strengths and weaknesses of collections focusing on a specific subject matter or format.
• Identify trends and recommend strategies to enhance the Library's collections.
• Compile, manipulate, and maintain information using relational databases such as Microsoft Access.
• Assist senior collection development analysts, curators, subject specialists, and their managers to review, edit, and update collections policy statements and other documentation to ensure currency and accuracy based on changes to policies, practices and trends.
• Assist with managing collection policy review schedules.
• Research collection policy standards based on input from internal and external stakeholders ensuring alignment with Library of Congress and Library Services strategic plans and priorities.
• Update a variety of documents related to collection development and acquisitions for internal and external audiences of varying interests using word processing, spreadsheets, and public presentation software such as PowerPoint.
• Prepare narrative and graphical reports relating to the strengths and weaknesses of the Library's collections and acquisition goals.
• Draft descriptive memos, correspondence, reports, and other documents that include narrative text graphs, charts, tables, and other visual representations of collection development analysis for review by the senior collections development analysts.
• Assist in documenting collection policy activities and schedules.
• Prepare meeting agendas, notes and action items that facilitate the efficient accomplishment of collection development milestone tasks.
• Prepare weekly, monthly, quarterly, annual, and other production and activity reports of varying frequency highlighting individual and group accomplishments and trends.
• Maintain documentation relating to collections development.
• Represent the Collection Development Office in meetings, conferences, and programs.
• Serve on cross-organizational committees, task forces, and other focus groups of staff and/or managers convened to address general collection development issues.
• Promote Library of Congress collection development policies and practices to internal stakeholders at appropriate fora.
• Identify and report issues impacting effective and efficient collection development to senior collections development analysts.
• Deliver presentations to individuals and groups and participate in discussions that identify emerging issues and/or leads to resolution of matters relating to collection development, management, preservation, and/or storage issues.
• Develop and maintain professional relationships with collection development partners and collaborators, acquisitions, preservation, and reference librarians to understand issues and trends in collection development.
• Maintain current awareness of issues, practices, trends, and collaborative efforts in collections development, storage, and preservation.
• The position description number for this position is 470678.
• The salary range indicated reflects the locality pay adjustments for the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan area.
• The incumbent of this position will work a compflex work schedule.
• This is a non-supervisory, bargaining unit position.
• Relocation expenses will not be authorized for person(s) selected under this vacancy announcement.

Requirements

• Conditions of Employment Library of Congress employees are prohibited from using illegal drugs, including marijuana.
• The Library is part of the Federal Government and abides by federal law, so regardless of individual state or District of Columbia laws, marijuana use is illegal, considered criminal activity, and can affect your employment at the Library.
• In addition, past or current drug use and activities (e.g., selling or distributing) may deem you ineligible for employment.

Education

BASIC REQUIREMENTS: All librarians must meet the requirements for professional education in library science or possess equivalent experience and education. A. Completion of 1 full academic year of graduate study in library science in an accredited college or university, in addition to completion of all work required for a bachelor's degree; or B.

A total of at least 5 years of a combination of college-level education, training, and experience.

To qualify on this basis, the applicant must establish conclusively that the education, training, and experience provided knowledge and understanding of the theories, principles, and techniques of professional librarianship; a knowledge of literature resources; and the knowledge and abilities essential for providing effective library and information services.

Additional Education And Experience Requirements for Positions at GS-9 and Above In addition to meeting the basic entry qualification requirements, applicants must have directly related education and/or specialized experience in the amounts required for the grade level as shown in the following table.

2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education or master's in library science or equivalent graduate degree, e.g., LL.B. or J.D., related to the position.

You MUST submit a legible copy of your college/university transcripts to your online application.

Unofficial transcripts are acceptable at the time of application. Official transcripts will be required if selected.

Failure to submit the required legible documentation at the time of application will result in disqualification of your application.

Foreign Education – Education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed equivalent to conventional/accredited U.S. education programs to be acceptable for Federal employment.

If your college/university is outside the U.S., your transcripts must be accompanied by a report from a credential evaluation service that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or the Association of International Credentials Evaluators (AICE).

Failure to submit a foreign education evaluation report will result in disqualification of your application.

How you will be evaluated

The Library of Congress evaluates applicants through an applicant questionnaire and a structured interview. Applicants may also be screened for some jobs through licensing, certification, and/or education requirements, a narrative/application review, and/or a preliminary telephone interview.

The knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) that are marked with a double asterisk (**) in the vacancy announcement and the applicant questionnaire are considered the most critical for a position.

To be considered for final selection, applicants must demonstrate fully acceptable experience in these designated KSAs in the narrative/application review, preliminary telephone and/or full structured interview.

The various assessment tools listed above are designed to verify or explore applicants' experience, knowledge, and training directly related to the job in order to identify the best qualified applicants for selection. You may preview questions for this vacancy.

Documents you must provide

• Current or former federal employees must submit their most recent Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50 or equivalent).
• Applicants with disabilities may be considered under special hiring procedures and must submit an appropriate certificate of eligibility when applying for this position.
• The proof or disability/certification may be issued by the State Vocational Rehabilitation Office, Disability Services or Career Services office of the applicant's college or university, or the Department of Veterans Affairs.
• The letter must verify that the applicant has a severe disability and must be dated within three years of the date of the application.
• The program does not accept certification from health care providers.
• For more information contact the Library's Office of Equal Employment Opportunity at *** or email ***.
• FAILURE TO SUBMIT YOUR CERTIFICATION WILL CAUSE YOUR APPLICATION TO NOT BE CONSIDERED UNDER THE SELECTIVE PLACEMENT PROGRAM.

What to expect next

Please review our evaluation process under Evaluation. You may check the status of your application for this position at any time by logging onto the USAJOBS "My USAJOBS" tab and clicking on "My Applications." You will receive final notification via e-mail when the vacancy has been filled.

Additional information

Although it is the Library's policy to afford the maximum pay benefit to employees when setting rates of pay, a new appointee who has had no previous Federal service will generally be paid at step one of the grade. The Library of Congress is an equal opportunity employer.

Applicants must submit a complete application package that is received by the closing date of this announcement.

Appointment/retention is subject to a favorable evaluation of an appropriate personnel security/suitability investigation. For more information, please see: Vetting Process This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please email ***.

The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be determined on a case-by-case basis. Applicants with disabilities may be considered under special hiring procedures and must submit an appropriate certificate of eligibility when applying for this position.

The proof or disability/certification may be issued by the State Vocational Rehabilitation Office, Disability Services or Career Services office of the applicant's college or university, or the Department of Veterans Affairs. The letter must verify that the applicant has a severe disability and must be dated within three years of the date of the application.

Certification from health care providers are not accepted. For more information contact the Library's Office of Equal Employment Opportunity at *** or email ***.

FAILURE TO SUBMIT YOUR CERTIFICATION WILL CAUSE YOUR APPLICATION TO NOT BE CONSIDERED UNDER THE SELECTIVE PLACEMENT PROGRAM.

The Library of Congress is the national library of the United States and is part of the Legislative Branch of the Federal government. As such, all positions are in the excepted service. The Library reserves the right to fill a lesser or greater number of vacancies indicated during the life of this vacancy announcement.

Initial permanent appointments to the Library of Congress require completion of a one-year probationary period. Probationary periods served at other Federal agencies do not count toward this requirement. The Library of Congress may offer repayment for all or part of federally insured student loans.

However, not all service units within the Library of Congress participates in the repayment of federally insured student loans. Therefore, determination to repay a federally insured student loan is subject to approval by the appropriate service unit. A “Not to Exceed" (NTE) status is used to identify an appointment with a specific ending date.

However, the Library has the right to separate a NTE employee at any time due to either performance issues or budget constraints. Are you a veteran? Please indicate the type of veterans' preference you are claiming in your application materials and/or applicant profile and provide the appropriate supporting documentation to validate your claim.

Those applying for 5-point preference must submit Member Copy 4 of your DD 214. Those applying for 10-point preference must fill out an SF-15 (click here for the form) and provide the required documentation listed on the back of the form. If required supporting documentation is not attached, Veterans' Preference will not be considered in the application process.