Library Officer, NL/Reader Services (Chinese Collection)

NLB National Library Board; Singapore; Hybrid; SGD 42,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

The National Library Board (NLB) in Singapore invites an experienced frontline library professional to join our team. You will deliver reference and information services to library users onsite and online, handle loans, and support information literacy sessions and programmes.

You will oversee Reading Rooms operations, contribute to collection maintenance, and assist in projects while ensuring quality customer service and efficient operations.

Qualifications

• 3 to 5 years of frontline service experience.
• Proficient in speaking and reading Chinese language.
• Systematic, meticulous and self-driven; able to handle operational matters.
• Contribute to NLB mission and vision; support researchers, scholars and public users.
• Appreciates operational challenges and can propose workable solutions.

Responsibilities

• Provide reference and information services onsite and online (CRM) including Tier 3 enquiries.
• Manage loans services according to library policies.
• Conduct information literacy sessions, class visits, tours and programmes.
• Coordinate Reading Rooms operations and ensure spaces meet user needs.
• Assist in projects related to Reading Rooms setups and new services.
• Compile statistics/reports and support administrative duties.

Skills

Chinese language proficiency

Frontline service experience

Teamwork

Problem solving

Tools

ILS (Integrated Library Management System)

Job description

[What the role is]

The National Library Board (NLB) nurtures Readers for Life, Learning Communities and a Knowledgeable Nation by promoting reading, learning and history through our network of 28 libraries across Singapore, the National Library and the National Archives of Singapore. At NLB, you can look forward to a flexible, hybrid work environment with rewarding, impactful deliverables that improve the lives of the community. With caring colleagues, you will be in an ideal environment for professional development, innovation and impact.

We can offer you:

• A chance to Impact the Community, bridge gaps and empower everyone with the opportunity for learning and discovery.
• An opportunity to Innovate and Push Boundaries.
• We value ideas, curiosity and a passion for innovation to transform our libraries and archives.
• An organisation that Ignites your Growth and Wellbeing through investment in staff development and wellbeing in a supportive and collaborative environment

To provide reference and research information services that are timely, useful and accessible to the library users through the provision of reference and customer services, management of Singapore’s heritage collection/content, promotional, administrative activities and projects so as to contribute towards the achievement of NLB’s mission and vision.

[What you will be working on]

Library and Reference Services Provide relevant and timely reference and information service to library users onsite as well as online (via CRM database) including Tier 3 enquiries according to Service Standards.

Manage customer engagements for loans services according to Policies and Processes.

Conduct information literacy, class visits, tours, user education session and programmes (on rotational basis).

Operations Agilities at Reading Rooms (including level 12 and 13)

Ensure that NL Reading Room operations are well maintained in good condition to meet both operational and customers’ needs.

To be involved in projects relating to Reading Rooms set-ups and new services.

General Administrative Support Provide support in library operations such as planning of rostering duties, assisting in ISO 9001 annual certification or audit exercises, compiling reports and statistics, financial matters, procurement, systems and administrative duties (such as electronic filing and other duties)

Serve these roles in rotational basis: minute taker for department weekly meeting, fire warden, staff welfare representatives and NL representatives for ALG programmes/activities

Compile and collate statistics and reports relating to scope of duty

Supervise support staff including part-time staff in Reference Service

Monitor performance according to Service Standards by providing feedback and guiding new hires via on-the-job training

Planning and supervise manpower planning for frontline duties and collection maintenance works

Collection Maintenance Works (Chinese Collection) Assist Librarians and Collection Heads in collection maintenance matters in accordance with the SOP which include weeding, reworks, binding and book displays

Compile collection management/development reports supporting Donors’ and Singapore and Southeast Asian collections

Supervise collection maintenance works and ensure the library’s collection is relevant and up-to-date

Coordinate and plan for spatial optimisation including Reading Rooms and Closed sections

Manage collection audit and promotion initiatives such as stocktake, exhibition preparation, and project management relating to collections matters

Manage bibliographic records in Integrated Library Management Systems (ILS) for item tracking and standards

Content Development and Projects (on assignment basis) Assist Librarians in simple searching and retrieval of information using databases and other resources on assigned topics/subjects for compiling of resource guides and bibliographies

Maintain quality content on documents, webpages, databases and files updating and indexing of articles

[What we are looking for]

3 to 5 years of relevant working experience in frontline service

Proficient in speaking and reading in Chinese Language is required as the incumbent will also be required to handle Chinese Collections

Systematic, meticulous and self-driven, with the abilities to manage operational matters especially in problem solving and meeting researchers’ information needs

Contribute towards the achievement of NLB mission and vision and positive feedback from researchers especially in establishing LKCRL’s role as a centre of scholarly research on Singapore and Southeast Asia

Appreciates operational challenges, service gaps with the abilities to find workable solutions

Work as a team and contribute to positive team spirit amongst colleagues, and supervisory skills

The successful candidate will be appointed on a 2-year contract in the first instance.