PRINCIPAL LIBRARIAN

This position offers an exciting opportunity for an experienced library professional to contribute to the operations of the Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein, one of South Africa's highest judicial institutions. As Principal Librarian, the successful candidate will be responsible for overseeing the court library's daily functioning and ensuring that judges, lawyers, court staff, and members of the public have access to accurate, up-to-date legal information and resources. The role sits within the court's administrative structure and carries supervisory responsibilities, requiring a blend of technical library expertise, legal research knowledge, and people management capability.

Applicants must hold a National Diploma in Library Science, Information Science, or an equivalent qualification at NQF level six, with 360 credits as recognised by SAQA. A minimum of two years' relevant experience in library services is required, and previous experience within a legal or law library environment will be a distinct advantage. The ideal candidate will demonstrate strong knowledge of library and information science matters, including library prescripts, legislation, procedures, and processes, alongside familiarity with online databases and information management systems. Analytical and research skills are essential, as is proficiency in written and verbal communication, computer literacy in MS Office, and the ability to plan, organise, and work accurately with close attention to detail. Interpersonal skills, problem-solving abilities, report writing competence, and the capacity to perform under pressure and work independently are also critical for success in this demanding environment.

The duties cover a wide spectrum of library and information service activities. The Principal Librarian will monitor the collection, cataloguing, and publication of library materials, identify and select relevant resources for procurement in line with library policies, and assess the collection's relevance and currency, making recommendations for additions, removals, or updates. Legal materials must be organised and catalogued using appropriate classification systems and metadata to ensure easy retrieval, including barcoding. The role also involves monitoring the usage of both hard copy and online resources, overseeing serial publications, handling amendments and updating loose-leaf subscriptions and binders, and facilitating standing orders for the court. Service delivery is another key aspect, with duties encompassing the monitoring of circulation desk services and helpdesk rosters, implementing digital tools to improve information retrieval, and staying abreast of emerging technologies relevant to legal research and library management. The position also entails monitoring digital resources, facilitating interlibrary loans, and ensuring the circulation of delivered judgments in PDF and Word formats to publishers and external stakeholders, as well as distributing finalised judgments of interest to other judges.

Reference assistance and library awareness activities form a further core component, including providing support to judges, lawyers, court staff, and the public with legal research, citation verification, and locating legal precedents. The Principal Librarian will also conduct training sessions for legal professionals on effective research methods and database usage, and keep the court community informed of legal developments through newsletters, alerts, and current awareness services. Administration and coordination duties include supervising library staff, convening library services staff meetings, supporting Library Committee meetings, facilitating online training provided by Juta, LexisNexis and Sabinet, monitoring quarterly budget allocations, coordinating procurement with supply chain management, overseeing asset verification, and managing the disposal of approved library publications for donations. This is an OSD-graded post, and the successful candidate will be required to sign a performance agreement. The organisation will prioritise candidates in line with its Employment Equity goals.