Vacancy for the post of “Librarian” at the Gudja Public Library

An advert for the post of “Librarian” was published in the Times on Saturday 10^th March 2007. MaLIA has very strong reservations about the contents of this advert.

The first sentence states that “The Department of Public Libraries and the Gudja Local Council are receiving applications from qualified persons for the post of librarian at Guzeppi Zammit Library, Gudja”. MaLIA would like to note that the Department of Public Libraries does not exist. The DOI website indicates it as the Libraries and Archives Department. However, this is inaccurate as well as the Archives have now become a separate and distinct entity.

The same sentence indicated that applications will be received from “qualified persons” but no indication is given on the qualifications required. If the post is that of a librarian, a qualification in library and information studies should be a prerequisite. Why has this been omitted? If the Gudja Local Council wanted the post to be open to persons who do not have a library qualification, they should not have used the term "librarian", as this implies a qualified library and information professional.

The successful applicant, the advert states, should be “proficient in the use of computer and office equipment” but no mention is made of previous library experience, library skills, interest in literature, interpersonal skills etc. Surely these skills are more important for the post than the capacity to use office equipment!

The advert also states that the applicant will be “expected to work in accordance with a timetable during the week as the management of the library will decide from time to time”. Does this exclude, a priori, the possibility of the library being open to users during the weekend? And what does from time to time imply?

Finally, the post is being indicated as a "librarian self-employed on contract basis". How is this possible if all library officers in the public library network receive their salary for standard hours from the Department of Libraries? Does this imply that this Department is relinquishing the administration of one of its branch libraries?

MaLIA is deeply concerned that basic issues related to the profession have been neglected in this advert and calls on the Gudja Local Council to recall the advert and take the issues raised above into consideration before republishing the advert in the local media.