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Job Description

Reporting to the Senior Manager or Manager, the Senior Research Librarian is responsible for providing the professional expertise needed to meet the personalized information and reference needs of parliamentarians, their staff, and other authorized clients of the Library of Parliament (LOP) by providing in-depth information using an extensive array of electronic and print information resources. As mentors for teams of Research Librarians, they are responsible for providing daily guidance and subject matter expertise in the completion of complex client requests or in resolving issues arising in the provision of information and research services.

The incumbent performs the following duties:

• Provides a comprehensive range of personalized and non-partisan information and research services to parliamentarians and other authorized clients on a confidential basis, by various communication channels.
• Coaches, mentors and provides professional support to team members by advising and guiding in the selection of sources and material, reviewing their work and editing when required, and making sure that responses are correct, appropriate, and consistent with LOP standards.
• Assesses and assigns all requests coming through the client request system and coordinates distribution to teams across the Library. Considers capacity across teams and rearranges workload when problems arise. Coordinates with other divisions on the partition of multi-pronged questions.
• Reports to management regularly on team and individual work accomplishments, problems, progress in mastering tasks and work processes, on individual and team training needs and on issues arising in operational duties.
• Collaborates with managers to train team members in research services, in library procedures, and in the parliamentary context to meet client requirements, and provides - or helps arrange for - specific advanced training necessary for the accomplishment of individual and team tasks.

Qualifications

Education:

• A master's degree in library and information studies from an ALA-accredited program.

Experience:

• Extensive experience in conducting in-depth searches using print and online sources.
• Extensive experience in providing reference and information sources.
• Extensive experience in providing written responses to requests for information in English and French.

Extensive experience is defined as three (3) or more years carrying out these functions, or an equivalent combination of experience.

Knowledge:

• Knowledge of the Canadian Parliament, the federal government and current affairs.
• Knowledge of the principles, practices and current developments in the provision of reference services.
• Knowledge of search methods, techniques and tools associated with retrieving and evaluating information.

Competencies:

• Adaptability
• Client Focus
• Embracing Diversity
• Exemplifying Integrity
• Organizational Awareness
• Data/Information Retrieval and Analysis
• Quality Focus
• Communication
• Teamwork
• Analytical Thinking

Asset Criteria:

• Experience in coaching, mentoring, or providing professional support to team members.
• Experience in reviewing reference responses and/or editing written documents to ensure comprehensiveness, clarity, conciseness and relevance of information.

Operational Requirements:

• Ability to work an evening duty shift (10:30am to 7:00pm) every 4-5 weeks (during sitting weeks).

Conditions of Employment:

• A second-language evaluation (Bilingual staffing - imperative): CCC/CCC.
• A successful pre-employment security screening.

Additional information

Please include a cover letter with your application describing how you meet the education and experience requirements of the position. Applications without a cover letter will not be considered. Please combine your cover letter and CV into a single document or upload your cover letter on the second page of the application form.

The Library of Parliament welcomes all candidates to apply and encourages applications from Indigenous persons, racialized persons, 2SLGBTQIA+ persons and persons with disabilities for this position.

We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace by providing a barrier-free staffing process. If you have an accommodation request or require material in an accessible format, please contact us at .

Education and experience requirements will be used to determine which candidates will be asked to participate in the next stage of the selection process.

This selection process may include a second-language evaluation, a written exam, and an interview. The interview will consist of behavioural, situational and knowledge-based questions. Candidates will be required to pass each stage in order to move to the next stage of the selection process.

Qualified candidates from this selection process may be considered for determinate or indeterminate positions at the Library of Parliament that require similar knowledge and/or competencies.

Satisfactory references and proof of education are essential conditions of appointment.

Travel and relocation expenses are the responsibility of the candidates.

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