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Post Description:  Assistant Librarian

Background

Applications are invited from citizens and residents of Samoa for the above Support Staff position with SPREP at Vailima.

The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) is an independent intergovernmental agency that provides assistance and technical advisory services to Pacific Island countries, territories and administrations in the protection and management of their environment to ensure they achieve sustainable development for present and future generations. The organization is based in Apia, Samoa and has a total staff body of about 70 comprised of about even number of professional and support staff. SPREP has a total annual budget of about USD8 millions. SPREP’s membership comprises 21 Pacific Island countries and territories and 4 developed countries 1 .

The Corporate Services Division is responsible for the provision of support services to the Organisation through the areas of Human Resources & Administration, Finance, Information Technology, Information Resources and Communications & Publications.

1 American Samoa, Australia, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, France, Guam, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, United Sates of America, Vanuatu and Wallis and Futuna.

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities:

The Assistant Librarian is responsible to the Corporate Services Manager under the supervision of the Librarian/Information Resource Centre Manager, to perform the following duties:

• Maintain serial records and update SERMAN database;
• Maintain the circulation system (Inmagic DBText) of SPREP’s Information Resource Centre (IRC);
• Process inter-library loan requests using all available information networks;
• Input bibliographic records using SPREP database (IRC as well as SPREP’s member countries involved in the EU/SPREP PEIN Network);
• Do bibliographic checks and searches;
• Catalogue and classify IRC and regional environment reports and documents using Library of Congress subject descriptors and the Dewey Decimal Classification system
• Shelving and filing of IRC materials;
• Provide user services, including addressing inquiries and document delivery;
• Do internet searches and document downloading/procurement and delivery;
• Process requests for, and disseminate SPREP publications;
• Assist the contact point for clearinghouse mechanism via SPREP’s website;
• Conduct induction programmes for SPREP staff and/or country attachments to IRC;
• Assist in the establishment and maintenance of SPREP Archival Repository (both physical and electronic collections);
• Assist in the establishment of Programmes library/resources databases for networking to the IRC database;
• Compile, layout and send regular bulletin ‘Whats’new in the IRC’ on latest lists of new books and resources available in the IRC, to SPREP staff, and for posting to the SPREP Library website.
• Assist provide technical input into library training activities for staff of Environment Departments in PEIN member countries;
• Assist in the establishment of National Environment Libraries/Information Centres (may include travel in-country);
• Assist in the coordination and organization of national and regional workshops under the EU/SPREP PEIN Project;
• Assist in maintaining the IRC’s “Virtual Library” accessible via Internet; and
• Performing other relevant duties as required.

Required Qualifications and Experience

Essential

• A Diploma in Librarianship (a higher qualification would be an advantage);
• At least 4 years working experience in a library;
• Sound knowledge of library operations and well developed computer skills;
• Excellent communication skills in Samoan and English;
• Familiarity and experience in maintenance of information databases on library software;
• Experience in assisting users with reference and research enquiries using the internet; and
• A proven ability to work under limited or without supervision.

Terms and Conditions

Duty Station: Apia, Samoa.

Duration:   Appointment is for a term of 3 years initially with a possible renewal depending on performance and availability of funds.

Grade:   Appointment will be at the Grade F2 of SPREP’s Support Staff Scale.

Salary: Basic salary ranges from SAT$22,080 p.a. to SAT$33,120 p.a. depending on qualifications and experience.

Term: Appointment is subject to a satisfactory medical examination, as well as a 6 months’ probationary period. An appointment is terminated by (i) completion of term of contract (ii) one month’s notice by either party (iii) without notice by either party paying one month salary in lieu of notice or (iv) dismissed with or without notice as a disciplinary measure.

Annual Leave: 15 working days a year (up to a maximum accumulation of 50 days).

Sick Leave: 30 working days a year (up to a maximum accumulation of 90 days).

Other Leave: Provisions also exist for maternity, family (compassionate and paternity) and special (without pay) leave.

Duty Travel : SPREP meets travelling expenses at prescribed rates necessarily incurred by staff required to travel away from Apia on official business.

Personal Accident Insurance : All employees are covered by SPREP’s 24 hour Life and Personal Accident Insurance Policy.

Medical Benefits : All employees and their dependents are entitled to have all reasonable medical, dental, and optical expenses, as determined by the Director, under the terms and conditions of the SPREP in-house Medical Treatment Scheme.

Superannuation : For local contract staff, SPREP will pay 7% of basic salary to the Samoa National Provident Fund.


Definitions:

'Dependent' means the financially dependent spouse or dependent child of an employee.

'Dependent child' means an employee’s unmarried, financially dependent, natural or legally adopted child ho is:

• under the age of 16 years; or
• under the age of 19 years if undertaking full-time study at a secondary school; or
• under the age of 22 years if enrolled and undertaking full-time study at a university or other tertiary institution; or
• mentally or physically incapacitated.

Equal Opportunities: SPREP is an equal opportunities employer. Men and women are equally eligible for all posts in SPREP.

General: Appointment will be under the terms and conditions of SPREP’s Staff Regulations, a copy of which will be made available to the successful applicant.

Applications

Applications should include:

• A detailed curriculum vitae containing full personal details, qualifications and experience relevant for the position; previous and current appointments with salaries and names and contact addresses/numbers/E-mail of three professional referees who are prepared to provide testimonials.
• Available references from at least three recent employers and/or supervisors
• A statement to address how each Essential Selection Criteria is met.
• Copies of academic qualifications.

The Director

SPREP                                                    Telephone: (685) 21 929

P O Box 240                                             Fax: (685) 20 231

Apia                                                         Email: SPREP@sprep.org

Samoa