Good afternoon all,

I thought I would share this with you:

UCOL’s restructuring proposal:

All library staff and student support staff roles at the UCOL Palmerston North campus ‘are being’ disestablished (proposal/consultation phase has begun). The proposal suggests that all library roles be disestablished (there are 10 librarians currently working here). They propose to name the library the ‘Knowledge Hub’ and create four new library roles – job title: Student Library Advisors, and one leader role – job title: Senior Advisor Knowledge Hub.

It appears that our librarian roles are not viewed by UCOL management as professional/specialised/skilled roles (although one slight concession that suggests the library roles are professional, is the requirement for a degree and library qualification in the new job description):

UCOL has released the draft job description for the proposed ‘Student Library Advisor’ role. Most of the current library roles (duties) (i.e. Cataloguer, Electronic, Interloans, Liaison, Acquisition, Systems, Processing, Collection Management, Overdues & Circulation etc.) are to be condensed into the proposed Student Library Advisor role.

The Student Library Advisor is also  expected to carry out work at the customer service desk; however this not only includes circulation/library duties but Information Technology assistance (e.g. computer logins and printing requirements – Advanced information technology skills is listed as an essential specific experience) - this is because the current non-library Computer Support Assistant role (1 full-time and 1 part-time role/people) is also being disestablished. The Student Library Advisor is also expected to manage other student resources (this could include handling student nursing uniforms, graduation gowns, equipment bonds, trip/travel payments, gym fee payments etc.) – this is because the Student Resource Centre (currently manned by two non-library roles/people) is also being disestablished.

Many of the duties listed in the proposed new role description (Student Library Advisor) appears to be liaison based i.e. teaching - providing seminars, online resources, workshops and one-on-one sessions for staff and students; with some of the technical library roles mentioned briefly in a few bullet points.

If you would like to support us there is a petition you might like to sign here and/or you may like to email a few words of support?

Your support is much appreciated.

Kind regards

Sandra

*Please share with your colleagues

Sandra O’Dea

Cataloguing Librarian

Student Intranet & Library Website Content Management

UCOL Library, Palmerston North
D 06 952 7001 ext 70664

 

 
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