Public Services Reference Librarian (Philadelphia, PA)

Public Services Reference Librarian – Philadelphia, PA (10/31/08)

EMPLOYER:Philadelphia FIGHT The AIDS Library.

POSITION DESCRIPTION: The AIDS Library is a small medical library at Philadelphia’s largest AIDS Service Organization, Philadelphia FIGHT. It services health care providers, consumers, teenagers, activists, ex-offenders and social workers. The Public Services Reference Librarian is responsible for participating in the provision of consistent, high quality information and referral services to those infected and affected by HIV. This position is multi-faceted and requires someone who can work with a team of HIV professionals (case managers, providers, care outreach workers, and educators) to provide services and instruction to our patrons, those who are incarcerated, those working in the field, and the general public. This position includes staffing the Information Desk at the AIDS Library; delivering in-depth knowledge of local, regional, national, and international HIV/AIDS resources (print and non-print), responding to information requests both on site and remotely and utilizing all available methods of information transfer such as email, phone, fax, mail, and websites to provide information for people with HIV/AIDS, developing online resources and classes, and managing and teaching computer technology.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Reference: Responsible for participating in the provision of consistent, high quality information and referral services to people infected and affected by HIV/AIDS; for responding to information requests both on site and connecting patrons to HIV services in the region and beyond; for answering prisoner letters and maintaining a database of prisoner correspondence.

Information Desk: Serve 10 hours on the Information Desk each week, including checking AIDS Library mail, email, voicemail, providing bibliographic instruction, maintaining all statistical information.

Online Resources: Design and maintain online resources, including the AIDS Library and Critical Path Project websites, bookmarks or book-marking sites, the Koha collection and borrower database, and any other online marketing materials designed to increase public awareness of the AIDS Library and consequently increase usage of those services.

Computer Tutorials: Develop basic computer tutorials for our patrons that have limited technology skills, track client statistics, and design and track assessment of clients, tutorials, and programs; provide one-on-one and group computer classes, and keep online tutorials and educational resources up-to-date on our websites. Outreach with other Philadelphia ASOs to offer computer classes for staff on finding and using AIDS Library, Critical Path Project, and other online resources.

Intra-agency collaboration: Represent the AIDS Library on committees with other FIGHT programs including Client Relations Committee and AIDS Education Month Committee. Work on grant-funded National Library of Medicine projects, including our online course program in Moodle and our outreach to Philadelphia shelter staff and residents.

The Public Services Reference Librarian is responsible for the creation and maintenance of statistical gathering and reporting forms as dictated by organizational need. It is the policy of Philadelphia FIGHT that all business and patient information be treated as confidential material.

QUALIFICATIONS:
ALA accredited MLS. Demonstrated experience or training in reference, reader’s advisory and public services; Counseling, case management, or experience working with low-income, low-literacy populations is desirable; Excellent reading skills and deductive reasoning skills; excellent communications, interpersonal skills and collaborative skills; flexible, self-motivated, organized, able to work well under pressure; computer literacy required; technical processing training helpful; experience or training in database searching required; knowledge of Spanish desirable

To APPLY: Please fax or email resumes and cover letters to: Juliet Fink, Director of Education Philadelphia FIGHT The AIDS Library * Critical Path * Project TEACH 1233 Locust Street, 2nd Floor Philadelphia, PA 19107 P: (215)985-4851 x141 F: (215)985-4492 Email: jjfink@fight.org