Digital Information Officer, Berkshire

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Job description

This role could be suitable for a newly qualified library/Information professional as full training and support are offered.

Systems support! A digital Information Officer is required to support the digital and IT requirements of the Service and contribute to the delivery of a range of digital improvements across the Library and Resident Contact Team. This role is also required to contribute to the purchasing and keeping of adequate stocks sufficient in number, range and quality to meet the general requirements and any special requirements both of adults and children.

Main responsibilities include:

Under the direction of the Library and Resident Contact Management Team, provide Systems Support for a range of Library Management, Customer Service and Telephony systems, liaising with system suppliers and partners as required. Maintain public PC hardware and, in liaison with the Council's IT provider, ensure technical solutions are consistent with Borough requirements while maintaining and updating Inventory databases for all ICT equipment belonging to the Service.
Help residents navigate access to digital and physical information sources and books to enrich lives, reduce dependency and encourage good decision-making. Promote a fully blended digital and physical library offer to fulfil the Council's obligations to its residents and its statutory duties. Make every effort to ensure the digital offer is inclusive to all and fully blended with the physical offer.
Maintain awareness of changing customer needs and demands to ensure more effective service delivery, horizon scanning for new developments and presenting options to the Library and Resident Contact Management Team for review and investigating technical solutions for service delivery.
Working closely with the Library Advocacy and Advancement Officers update webpages and use new technologies and methods to promote libraries and library services.
Purchase, maintain and develop high-quality stock collections within a set budget. Keep up to date and anticipate the release of new publications and trends in reading in order to select and promote collections that meet demand without delay. Maintain awareness of and stay abreast of developments in the Book World and develop professional relationships with contacts in the books, reading and publishing world.
Promote and support a programme of activity based on the four national universal offers: Reading, Information & Digital, Culture & Creativity and Health & Wellbeing. Lead on one or more of these offers, providing colleagues with support, materials and training. Contribute to the development and implementation of a programme of digital activity to reflect the four national universal offers.
Deliver a programme of training for all staff to ensure they are equipped to meet the digital support needs of the customer and are competent in all the IT systems that they are required to use.
Promote and support structured and unstructured forms of interaction and engagement within libraries particularly in their role as community hubs that operate as a gateway to physical and digital information and are used by a range of partners to bring people together, giving them access to a greater breadth and depth of services and support. Help residents navigate access to digital and physical information sources and books to enrich lives, reduce dependency and encourage good decision-making.
Take advantage of library design to facilitate multiple potential uses of the space for cultural activities, educational services, health and wellbeing events, community support and volunteering opportunities.
Contribute to suitable project working as necessary to deliver improved services.
Undertake direct customer service delivery for a specified proportion of the working week, including weekends and evenings.
Act as senior officer on duty to ensure escalations are resolved and buildings are secured after an event or at the end of a shift.
Contribute to the Economic Recovery, Business Support, Training and Skills Development element of the Service.
Provide training for relevant staff to collate key statistical, management information and reports from the Library Management System, and other reporting databases.

To be considered for this role you will need the following skills and experience:

Degree or equivalent knowledge and experience gained through work related training.
Qualified in Library and Information Science.
Demonstrable commitment to personal professional development.
Qualified in library or information science or Chartered Librarian.
First degree or equivalent knowledge and experience gained through work related public/school library experience.
Excellent use of all ICT in a modern service delivery confidently and competently.
Worked in public libraries or customer/community information delivery/enquiry locations previously.
Ability to monitor and manage allocated budgets.
Ability to acquire the skills necessary to deliver enquiry service projects to improve services.
Excellent levels of verbal, digital and written communications skills.
Ability to draft reports on enquiry and electronic service issues for peers and support staff ,senior officers and elected Members.
Experience of collecting, analysing, concluding and reporting on statistical data.
Demonstrable ability to train others effectively.
Extensive experience in a public library environment.
Awareness of the value of library, community information and enquiry services.
Demonstrable high levels of oral and written communication skills.
Available to work weekend and evening shifts.
Ability to be flexible in terms of working patterns and working locations.

The job is very physical in nature therefore the following is required: The ability to lift and carry boxes of craft materials and books, to assemble and dismantle shelving units, to move laden trolleys, display units and shelving on castors, to move tables and chairs and other similar items of furniture, to walk up and down stairs and to stand on your feet for extended periods of time. Access to own transport