Canadian Agriculture Library Information Specialist

Important messages

We are committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free work environment, starting with the hiring process. If you need to be accommodated during any phase of the evaluation process, please use the Contact information below to request specialized accommodation. All information received in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential.

Assessment accommodation

Tips for candidates who wish to apply:
✔ The application process will take approximately 60 minutes to complete.
✔ When submitting your application, you will be asked for information about your education and experience. The system will prompt you with specific questions for each qualification. This requires that you provide additional details in a written text response thoroughly explaining where, when and how you obtained this education or experience. Ensure you answer the questions if applicable.
✔ Your Resume is also required.
✔ Keep reading to find out more exciting and important information about the selection process, the Information Specialist job and our AAFC organization in the sections below.

Duties

AAFC’s Information Specialists are modern-day librarians who can access countless files and resources from their desktops. On any given day, they might be asked to look up building codes for equipment standards, find market reports and product studies, or search for patents in specialized databases. When asked what the best part about the job is, an AAFC Information Specialist said "Knowing that you make a difference. Knowing that what you did several months ago is having an impact somewhere else in a much bigger project.”

As an Information Specialist, you will utilize your library education credentials and training towards contributions and influence in:
✔ Providing library services including reference, information research, and current awareness to clients on site and across the department.
✔ Conducting reference interviews, and analyzing and responding to client requests.
✔ Identifying sources of information, and searching and gathering data using a variety of research techniques.
✔ Monitoring relevant news sources and producing media monitoring reports as required.
✔ Participating in client outreach activities to promote library services and providing training to clients on the use of library and information resources.
✔ Collection management.
✔ Participating as a member of project and tasks teams.

Work environment

The Canadian Agriculture Library (CAL) is one of the largest federal government libraries. The modern headquarters Library in Ottawa is located beside the Central Experimental Farm. The complex is equipped with a full gym and is conveniently located within walking distance to restaurants, shopping, banking, pharmacy and numerous other services.

The Saskatoon Research and Development Centre, located in the heart of the Prairies in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, conducts research on prairie crops to support the agri-food industry in Western Canada. It is located on the campus of the University of Saskatchewan.

As one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers, AAFC is proud to celebrate our achievement in creating a diverse, respectful, and positive workplace where all employees are valued and recognized for their unique qualities, ideas, voices and perspectives. We welcome all applicants and strongly encourage candidates to self-declare if they belong to an Employment Equity designated group.

Intent of the process

Immediate needs:
* To staff one Information Specialist position on a Permanent basis in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
* To staff one Information Specialist position on a Temporary basis in Ottawa, Ontario.

Future Needs: Qualified candidates will also be placed in a talent pool to be used for staffing similar permanent or temporary positions in Ottawa or Saskatoon.

All federal organizations may use this selection process to appoint a qualified candidate to a similar position within their organization. By applying to this process, you consent to your personal application-related information being shared with other government departments interested in staffing similar positions.

Positions to be filled: 1

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

In order to be considered, your application must clearly explain how you meet the following (essential qualifications)

EDUCATION:
► Graduation from a recognized post-secondary institution with a master’s degree in Library Science, or in Library and Information Science; OR graduation from a recognized post-secondary institution with a Bachelor’s degree in Library Science, or in Library and Information Science, for which another Bachelor’s degree was a prerequisite.

Note: You do not need to have completed your studies in order to submit your application for this selection process. Applications will be accepted from current students who are expecting to complete their Library Science or Library Information Science degree by August 31, 2019. Your graduation just must occur before we are able to hire you for a job!

If you were educated outside of Canada, you must have your certificates and/or diplomas assessed against Canadian education standards. Click on the link below to contact the Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials (CICIC).

Degree equivalency

EXPERIENCE (For the qualifications below, we are looking for you to have gained the required experience over a period of twelve months; however, a shorter duration may be considered based on complexity and scope of work, and level of direct responsibility demonstrated):
► Experience in providing research services in a library environment
► Experience developing and conducting library training /orientation sessions
► Experience in developing and delivering current awareness products/services

If you possess any of the following, your application must also clearly explain how you meet it (other qualifications)

► Graduation from a post-secondary institution in a scientific, policy, or business-related field

Degree equivalency

► Experience in creating promotional materials
► Experience in preparing end-user guides for library websites
► Experience with SharePoint (Collaborative tools)
► Experience in providing library or information services in an academic library, special library, or research library

The following will be applied / assessed at a later date (essential for the job)

Various language requirements
For any position in Saskatoon, SK:
►English Essential

For any position in Ottawa, ON:
►You must be able to work in English AND in French (Reading, Writing and Oral proficiency). We are looking for a bilingual profile of BBB/BBB. If you aren't sure what that means, click on the links below!

Information on language requirements

Second Language Writing Skills Self-Assessment
In order to help you decide if you should apply to a bilingual position, an optional self-assessment of your writing skills in your second official language is available for you to take before completing your application.

For more information, please consult:
Unsupervised Internet Test of Second Language Writing Skills

KNOWLEDGE:
► Knowledge of trends, emerging technologies and challenges with the delivery of library services
► Knowledge of best practices for the provision of reference services
► Knowledge of information resources used to provide library services

COMPETENCIES:
► Adaptability
► Client Focus
► Initiative
► Interactive Communication
► Teamwork
► Writing Skills

Conditions of employment

► Enhanced Reliability Status
► Ability and willingness to work 7.5 hours per day within Canadian Agricultural Library core hours
► Ability and willingness to work overtime
► Ability and willingness to travel

Other information

The Public Service of Canada is committed to building a skilled and diverse workforce that reflects the Canadians we serve. We promote employment equity and encourage you to indicate if you belong to one of the designated groups when you apply.

Information on employment equity

APPLICATION & CORRESPONDENCE INFORMATION
Applications submitted by email will not be accepted. You must apply on-line through www.canada.ca/en/public-service-commission/jobs/services/gc-jobs.html.

Persons with disabilities preventing them from applying on-line are asked to contact 1-800-645-5605.

Persons are entitled to participate in the appointment process in the official language(s) of their choice. Applicants are asked to indicate their preferred official language(s) in their application.

We will contact you by e-mail. Please ensure that your e-mail address is valid and accepts messages from unknown users. It is your responsibility to regularly check your e-mail for communications regarding this selection process. Should we contact you and you fail to reply within the designated time frames, your application may not be considered further.

ASSESSMENT INFORMATION
You must meet all essential qualifications in order to be appointed to a position. Other qualifications may be a deciding factor in choosing the person to be appointed. Some essential and other qualifications will be assessed through your application. It is your responsibility to provide appropriate examples that illustrate how you meet each qualification, if applicable.

All information obtained throughout the selection process, from the time of application to close of process, may be used to evaluate the candidates. A written examination and an interview may be administered. Reference checks will be sought. Proof of your education credentials will be required at a later date.

Second language evaluation (SLE) required for Bilingual positions:
If you have valid SLE results, you will be asked to provide proof.
If you need to be retested (reading, writing or oral), you will be scheduled.
If you have never had a second language evaluation, you will be scheduled for the reading and writing tests. If you are successful on the reading and writing, then you will be scheduled for an oral evaluation.

Preference

Preference will be given to veterans and to Canadian citizens, in that order, with the exception of a job located in Nunavut, where Nunavut Inuit will be appointed first.

Information on the preference to veterans

We thank all those who apply. Only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.