The Royal Irish Academy is a predominantly publicly funded institution established for the promotion of learning in the sciences and humanities across the island of Ireland. The Academy’s latest strategic plan for 2019–23.

Department: Library
Duration: Permanent
Reports to: Librarian or his/her nominee

Key purpose of role

To create and edit digital images in a variety of formats from the collections of the Royal Irish Academy Library including archives, manuscripts and print holdings, to assist in the management of reprographic and digital image orders, and to appropriately describe digitised outputs using metadata and cataloguing standards, as well as providing service cover for the Reading Room. The successful individual will be located primarily in Academy House but may occasionally be required to discharge duties across other Academy sites.

Key accountabilities

The Library Assistant responsibilities are:

• Processing reprographic orders and requests for digital images
• Digitising material (in whole or in part) for reprographic orders, preservation or promotional purposes, or as part of larger project work using relevant equipment and according to standards and local procedures
• Scanning, photography, digital manipulation of images and file format transfer
• Liaising with external suppliers regarding digitisation activities
• Appropriate handling, retrieval and storage of fragile and rare materials
• Creating basic metadata (to prescribed standards) for digitised outputs in a variety of formats
• Assistance with collection management activities such as the receipt and processing of print periodicals
• Delivery of quality services to readers and visitors, from issuing readers’ tickets to reader induction and assistance with resources and retrieval
• Assisting with enquiries, preparation of exhibitions, lecture series and conferences
• Participation in team meetings, projects and outreach initiatives, and collation of statistics
• Participation in stocktaking, cleaning and collection care; contributing to emergency response planning and equipment ordering
• Undertaking any other duties as deemed appropriate by the line manager within the scope of the role

Person specification

Essential qualifications

• A degree-level qualification in library studies or a relevant discipline
• Strong IT and database skills
• Knowledge and experience of digitisation, scanning and image editing
• Experience of working with heritage collections such as archives, manuscripts, printed books and artefacts
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with a strong focus on service delivery and customer satisfaction
• High level of accuracy, consistency and attention to detail
• Ability to work under pressure, prioritise and balance workloads to meet deadlines
• Ability to work well independently as well as part of a team

Desirable qualifications

• Experience of liaising with internal and external stakeholders on digitisation projects
• Knowledge of developments in library related web applications and network technologies
• Knowledge of relevant cataloguing standards and metadata schemas
• Knowledge of the digital environment as well as copyright and other applicable standards

Further information

Salary: Salary is on the Senior Executive Assistant Scale €34,934 – €40,968. Candidates should note that entry will be at the minimum of the scale and the rate of remuneration may be adjusted from time to time in line with government pay policy. Candidates should note that different pay and conditions may apply if, immediately prior to appointment, the appointee is a serving civil or public servant.

Hours of work: The normal hours of work are 35 hours per week.

Overtime is not paid in respect of excess attendance which, should it arise, is discharged by time off in lieu at times agreed in advance with the Executive Director.

Leave: The annual leave entitlement is 22 days per annum, pro-rata for shorter periods. Entitlement to leave for public holidays is in accordance with the terms of the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997. There is a requirement to take up to four days annual leave where the Academy is closed at Easter and Christmas.

Medical: Staff shall, if required, and at the expense of the Academy, submit to a medical examination by a registered medical practitioner nominated by the Academy and shall authorise such medical practitioner to disclose and to discuss with the Academy the results of the examination and the matters which arise from it so that the Academy can ascertain any matters that they consider might impair a staff member from properly discharging his/her duties.

Pension: Details of the appropriate pension scheme will be provided upon determination of appointee’s status.

Permanent Pension contribution: This appointment is subject to the Additional Superannuation Contribution (ASC) effective from 1 January 2019.

Application process

Completed applications consisting of one electronic copy (with all documents contained in one Word document) must be submitted to recruitment@ria.ie in the order as set out below:

• A brief cover letter demonstrating how you meet the qualifications and experience for the position (max. 700 words)
• A curriculum vitae summarising your qualifications and relevant experience (max. 4 pages)

Applicants will be shortlisted based on information provided in their application.

Please note: failure to fulfil the application requisites will deem the application invalid.

Closing date: 10th August 2022 at noon. Late applications will not be considered.

It is anticipated that interviews will be held week commencing 15th August 2022.

Please note: Interviews will use competency-based questions.

The Royal Irish Academy is an equal opportunities employer