Librarian (Correctional Facility) Series

California State Personnel Board Specification

Series established July 23, 1975

Scope

This series specification describes three professional Librarian classes used in a State correctional facility in the Department of Corrections or Department of the Youth Authority. These classes are used for positions which are assigned responsibilities that require application of the basic philosophy, principles, and theories of library service; evaluation of materials, information, and research; assessment of proposals; and ability to keep informed of and to evaluate studies and developments in the profession; to maintain order and supervise the conduct of inmates or wards; to protect and maintain the safety of persons and property; and to do other related work.

Factors Affecting Position Allocation

Factors affecting position allocation include the level, variety, and complexity of work, independence of action, degree of supervisory responsibility, and role in program and policy formulation and implementation.

Definition of Levels

Librarian (Correctional Facility)

This is the entry and journeyperson working level for this series. Incumbents in this class perform difficult professional work in connection with selecting, cataloging, loaning, or the reference use of books and other library materials. A Librarian (Correctional Facility) heads up a smaller correctional facility library.

Senior Librarian (Correctional Facility)

This is the working supervisor level. Incumbents may either (1) supervise a staff of professional, technical or clerical personnel; (2) be responsible for a larger correctional facility library; or (3) be responsible for highly complex, technical, and specialized work.

Supervising Librarian (Correctional Facility)

This is the full supervisory level in this series. Positions in this class either (1) direct the work of the largest correctional facility libraries; or (2) plan, organize, and direct a staff involved in highly complex work of a specialized nature including program development or project management.

All Levels:

Incumbents maintain order and supervise the conduct of persons committed to the Departments of Corrections and the Youth Authority; prevent escapes and injury by these persons to themselves or others or to property; maintain security of working areas and work materials; inspect premises and search inmates or wards for contraband, such as weapons or illegal drugs.

Minimum Qualifications

All Levels:

Education Requirements: Equivalent to graduation from college and completion of one additional year of graduate study in a library school accredited by the American Library Association. (Registration as a graduate student in a library school accredited by the American Library Association will admit applicants to the examination, but they must submit evidence of completion before they can be considered eligible for appointment.)

Librarian (Correctional Facility)

Experience Requirements: None.

Senior Librarian (Correctional Facility)

Either I

Two years of California state service performing the duties of a Librarian (Correctional Facility) or Librarian.

Or II

Three years of increasingly responsible and varied professional library experience, including cataloging, reference work, and the selection of library materials.

Supervising Librarian (Correctional Facility)

Either I

One year in the California state service performing the duties of a Senior Librarian (Correctional Facility) or Senior Librarian or two years performing the duties of a Librarian.

Or II

Experience: Four years of increasingly responsible and varied professional library experience, at least one year of which shall have been comparable in responsibility to a Senior Librarian or Senior Librarian (Correctional Facility) such as having charge of a small library or subordinate section of a major library; and

Education: All of the above.

Knowledge and Abilities

Librarian (Correctional Facility)

Knowledge of: Principles, trends, and practices of professional library work; modern library methods, techniques, and terminology; standard reference materials, library tools, guides, and indexes; library purposes, trends, and organization.

Senior Librarian (Correctional Facility)

Knowledge of: All of the above, and complex bibliographical terminology; subject fields and California government, geography, and libraries; principles and practices of supervision; the Department's Affirmative Action Program objectives; a manager's role in the Affirmative Action Program and the processes available to meet affirmative action objectives.

Ability to: In addition to the above, incumbents at this level must demonstrate ability to plan, organize, direct, and evaluate the work of professional and clerical personnel; assume leadership and apply creativity in the formulation of needed changes in method and procedures; effectively contribute to the Department's affirmative action objectives.

Supervising Librarian (Correctional Facility)

Knowledge of: All of the above, and advanced and complex problems of reference, research methods, cataloging, and other major library functions; library administration, finance, and economic and social trends as they relate to library development.

Ability to: All of the above.

All Levels:

Ability to: Apply professional knowledges to the practical problems of the job; establish and maintain cooperative relationships with library users, co-workers, supervisors, and others contacted during the course of work; analyze situations accurately and take effective action; speak and write effectively.

Special Requirements

All Levels:

All employees must exhibit maturity, good judgment, tact, pleasing personality, and neat personal appearance; sympathetic understanding of and willingness to work with the resident population of a State correctional facility.

Special Physical Characteristics

All Levels:

Persons appointed to positions in this class must be reasonably expected to have and maintain sufficient strength, agility, and endurance to perform during stressful (physical, mental, and emotional) situations encountered on the job without compromising their health and well-being or that of their fellow employees or that of inmates. Assignments during tour of duty may include sole responsibility for the supervision of inmates and/or the protection of personal and real property.

Class History