Librarian, International Collections Development Coordinator Job in Washington, DC

This position is located in the Collection Development Office, Researcher and Collections Services.

The position description number for this position is 461080.

The salary range indicated reflects the locality pay adjustments for the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan area.

The incumbent of this position will work a flextime work schedule.

This is a non-supervisory, bargaining unit position.

Relocation expenses will not be authorized for the person(s) selected under this vacancy announcement.

Clarification from the agency

Anyone may apply - By law, employment at most U.S. Government agencies, including the Library of Congress, is limited to U.S. citizens. However, non-citizens may be hired, provided that other legal requirements are met and the Library determines there are no qualified U.S. citizens available for the position.

This position serves as an International Collections Development Coordinator located in the Collection Development Office, Researcher and Collections Services within the Library Collections and Services Group (LCSG) and reports to the Collection Development Officer. 

The incumbent contributes to the mission of the Library of Congress to acquire, manage, preserve, and make available a universal collection of knowledge to meet the current and anticipated needs of Congress and the nation. With a focus on collecting from outside the United States, the incumbent conducts in-depth complex studies of the collections and of the current acquisitions program, recommends strategies to strengthen acquisitions efforts in certain areas, and communicates trends to managers and staff in relevant offices throughout the Library. Assumes both a leadership and liaison role in working with units and individuals involved in the international collecting program. Facilitates an ongoing program to customize approval plans and initiates the development of policies and workflows as needed. 

The focus of this position is collection development related to materials from outside the United States. The goal is to ensure that the Library’s international collections reflect the breadth and depth of knowledge published around the world in a wide variety of formats, within the confines of staff resources and funding limits. Monitor and assess at a high level, the Library’s international acquisitions in all formats and to produce reports on the same. Facilitates communication between recommending/custodial divisions and all units that are involved in acquisitions, both analog and digital.

Using data-based analysis methods and collection development assessment best practices, designs, prepares and conducts complex systematic collection development studies to determine the strengths and weaknesses of the existing international collections. Implements complex studies of new non-United States acquisitions to assesses program effectiveness. The scope of such assessments may encompass large portions or the entirety of the Library's international collections or acquisitions programs, or they may be limited to narrow aspects of the same.

In consultation with the Collection Development Officer, assumes a leadership role in analyzing emerging trends in international information dissemination, factoring in the needs of the Library’s users, including Congress, and anticipated needs of future users.  Ensures that studies address the scope and depth of collections strengths and weaknesses based on collecting levels articulated in the Collections Policy Statements, collections usage, and comparisons with local, national, and leading academic and research libraries.

Provides guidance in creating and revising approval plans, Collections Policy Statements, and other documentation to ensure currency, accuracy, and consistency with Library of Congress policies, practices, and trends. At the direction of the Collection Development Officer, drafts new policies related to international collecting. Provides input to the Collection Development Officer regarding purchase acquisitions budgets and allocations.

Serves as an expert regarding international collections and acquisitions and shares such information with Library staff. Coordinates with staff both within Researcher and Collections Services and in other areas, primarily the Acquisitions and Bibliographic Access Directorate (ABA) and the Digital Collections Management and Services Division of Discovery and Preservation Services, along with the Law Library. Initiates, establishes, and maintains professional relationships with librarians and other specialists in order to share resources and information as well as to serve to optimize the Library’s international collecting program. 

Convenes and leads discussions concerning all aspects of international collection development policy in the Library. Delivers presentations to diverse groups and facilitates discussions that identify and resolve emerging issues of controversial matters relating to collection development, management, preservation, and/or storage issues. As a collection development expert, represents the office in meetings, conferences, and programs. Convenes and/or leads cross-organizational committees, task forces and other focus groups of staff and/or managers to address the most complex international collection development issues. 

Prepares a variety of documents related to collection development and acquisitions for internal and external audiences of varying interests using word processing, spreadsheet, public presentation, and other software, prepares narrative and graphical reports.  Independently drafts memos, correspondence, reports, and other highly complex analytical and descriptive documents that include narrative text, graphs, charts, tables, and other visual representations of analysis.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Education

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 a 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.

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.

Additional information

Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

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.

For more information regarding eligibility requirements, please see the Library of Congress Merit Selection Plan, Section 8.5, at: Merit Selection Plan

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 and Diversity Programs at 202-707-6024 or email spp@loc.gov. FAILURE TO SUBMIT YOUR CERTIFICATION WILL CAUSE YOUR APPLICATION TO NOT BE CONSIDERED UNDER THE SELECTIVE PLACEMENT PROGRAM.

Agency contact information