Library and Knowledge Specialist

Job description

Job responsibilities

JOB TITLE: Library and Knowledge Specialist

PAY BAND: 5

HOURS: Full Time 37.5 hours per week

BUSINESS AREA: Organisational Development

ACCOUNTABLE TO: Library and Knowledge Services Manager

JOB PURPOSE:

The purpose of this role is to ensure all Trust staff and learners have access to and can make use of the knowledge base to underpin patient care, education, lifelong learning, research, and innovation.

To support the work of the Library & Knowledge Services Manager in delivering the library strategy and a high quality library and information services in line with the NHS Library Quality and Improvement Framework (LQIF).

The Library and Knowledge Specialist will be a key member of the Library and Knowledge Services team who contributes to the delivery of bespoke accurate, relevant, and timely information to all Trust staff.

In partnership with the team, you will undertake customer analysis to understand user needs to ensure Library and Knowledge Services deliver on customer expectations within the physical, financial, and organisational resources available.

The post provides opportunities to be involved in all aspects of the library service including: evidence searches, training; e-resources management; marketing and promotion and knowledge management.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Deliver information skills training to groups and individuals enabling them to effectively undertake evidence searches, critically appraise information and access electronic resources.

Undertake advanced and complex literature searches by accessing a variety of sources including clinical databases and evidence sources to identify and provide reliable information to support patient care, service and policy development, research and audit. Evaluate quality of information and where appropriate provide evidence summaries to enable healthcare staff to make a rapid assessment of the literature.

Build and maintain working relationships with colleagues from clinical care groups and corporate directorates to advocate the benefits of the library and knowledge service and improve library resources based on customer need. Collaborate with Trust staff and partner organisations on project work and on-going tasks, providing library and knowledge-based expertise.

Update and create online subject guides, to help Trust staff access information tailored to their clinical or professional interests. Liaise with clinical teams to identify suitable content.

Selection and design of training and promotional materials including written and electronic versions.

To assist in publicising and promotion of library and knowledge services to stakeholders including our remote users by a variety of means including the use of social media and the intranet. To produce, develop and promote user guides and support material to enable Trust staff and students to make best use of all resources available.

Create and administer online OpenAthens accounts for library users, allowing users to access online resources both within and outside the Trust Network. Resolve issues for users concerning access to resources and problems with information systems.

Collaboratively maintain and manage library stock within our agreed collection development policy. Manage journal subscriptions and monitor usage to ensure best use of resources and inform future purchases.

To catalogue, classify and subject-index stock according to Wessex and local cataloguing rules and input data to the library management system.

Assist with the provision of current awareness services.

Provide library inductions, answer enquiries and deliver any aspect of operational library work as required

Contribute to a culture of service quality improvement by ensuring that appropriate audit, statistics collection and other formal and informal research activities regularly take place, including contributing to local and national evaluations of the impact of health library services.

Support the Library and Knowledge Services Manger to demonstrate quality improvement in Library Service delivery as required by NHS England.

Assist in delivery of the library and knowledge management strategy and work towards introducing systems and processes to allow knowledge to be captured, shared and used efficiently and effectively within the organisation to develop, improve performance and avoid errors.

To supervise the work of the Library Assistant in the absence of the Library and Knowledge Services Manager.

To keep up-to-date with developments in the library and information profession and network with other healthcare libraries to share best practice

Act in accordance with relevant legislation and information governance requirements e.g. GDPR, copyright legislation.

Help to maintain the library as a safe, healthy and tidy environment for work and study.

Assist the Library and Knowledge Services Manager with other activities as necessary.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Degree or postgraduate qualification in Librarianship/Information Management, or equivalent experience Evidence of recent, relevant continuing professional and personal development. Advanced computer literacy, including use of MS Office, email, internet, and social media
• Evidence of recent, relevant continuing professional and personal development.
• Advanced computer literacy, including use of MS Office, email, internet, and social media

Desirable

• Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals or willingness to work towards Chartership.

Experience

Essential

• Experience of searching specialist databases
• Experience of supporting in-depth enquiries: searching and retrieval of information via electronic and printed sources
• Experience of managing and promoting resources such as e-books and e-journals
• Experience in the use of an electronic library management system
• Experience in the delivering presentations, both in person and remotely
• Experience of providing services to a remote user base

Desirable

• Experience of developing training material
• Experience in using reference management software
• Experience in user research and service evaluation.
• Experience in delivering knowledge management activities.
• Social media/website administration experience.

Knowledge, skills and attibutes

Essential

• Customer service experience, user experience mindset and excellent interpersonal skills
• Effective communication skills at all levels both verbal and written, together with the ability to relate to staff, peers, medical staff, and other professional groups and internal bodies
• Excellent IT skills and extensive knowledge of library, web and office applications.
• Good knowledge of and experience in using new and developing technologies
• Ability to work as part of a team, to work unsupervised and to prioritise workloads.
• Strong problem-solving skills, with the ability to think innovatively and creatively and a willingness to offer new ideas and approaches
• Knowledge of UK copyright and data protection law.
• Able to travel between other Trust bases as required
• Knowledge of the structure and organisation of the NHS, and healthcare library knowledge services and resources, education and training or similar environments
• Positive attitude to change

Desirable

• Knowledge of Healthcare databases and health websites
• Good critical appraisal skills
• Able to pick up new skills and knowledge quickly
• Supervisory skills
• Knowledge of effective use of social media, web, and other technologies in a professional information environment

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Employer details

Employer name

Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Royal Berkshire Hospital

Craven Road

Reading

RG1 5AN

Employer's website

https://www.royalberkshire.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)