Librarian

Career Prospects

I am a bright talented, experienced and enthusiastic Librarian whose desire is to possess a challenging position in a dynamic environment aimed at meeting the information needs (demands) of the 21st century learners. In such an institution, I would like to exhibit my skills and knowledge to the best of my ability thereby contributing towards the growth of the organization. I am currently working as a Head Librarian at Gems Metropole School in Motor City, Dubai, managing the Foundation Stage (FS), Primary and the Secondary libraries on daily basis. The school offers the British (UK) Curriculum including the Cambridge International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) and the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma for senior secondary level. I have also once worked at a library in Southern Africa that houses Anglo American reading materials that is, (US) curriculum. I am highly experienced in the knowledge of Library Security System, E-library, Federated Search Engines and in the use of the Follet Destiny Library Manager, Koha, Millenium and the Nexuslib Integrated Library Management Systems. My other areas of expertise include: Information Technology (Proficiency in MS Office Applications), the use of Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC), MARC21 Formats, Editing and Higher Education Systems and Management, Training and Leadership, Human Resources Management, Public Speaking, Knowledge Management, Research and Development, Information Literacy, Project Management, Cataloguing and Classification using the Dewey Decimal Classification Scheme (DDC) and the Library of Congress (LC)

Professional Experience

1.Title : Head Librarian October 2015 - Present

Institution: GEMS Metropole School Motor City– Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Key Responsibilities

Embrace and encourage the ethos and standards of excellence as defined in the GEMS Core Values

Assist students to find books appropriate to their reading levels and interests as well as helping these students and staff members to source topic-related books for their studies

Keep records of books borrowed and also following up on unreturned books via written letters to parents

Store, maintain and allow access to the audio-visual Library

Teach younger students about books, their treatment and the Library layout including the Dewey Decimal Classification Scheme (DDC)

Liaise with Heads of Departments to select and prepare annual Library orders

Provide operational support to facilitate effective delivery of books and use of the library facility

Work with individual departments to develop subject-specific teaching and learning resources both within the Library and across the school

Support individual students to make effective use of the learning resources available and monitor students independently studying in the library

Encourage the active participation of students and teachers in accessing the full range of facilities available through the library/learning resource centre, in order to maximize their learning opportunities and encourage life-long learning

Develop students’ techniques in retrieving information, utilizing the resources supplied by the library/resource centres

Provide guidance, where appropriate, in the use of ICT applications and other library resource services to ensure that students can make full use of the facilities available

Maintain an atmosphere conducive to study and learning within the library/resource centre, managing student behaviour with the objective of quiet zones to enable students to concentrate and maintain their attention span whilst studying at any time when the library/resource centre is open

Promote the use of the library/resource centre to the school community and foster an attractive atmosphere and environment which is conducive to a positive learning experience for users

Maintain awareness of students’ special needs and operate within the SEN policy framework of the school. Liaise with SENCO to ensure students on individual learning plans are appropriately supported and monitored

Ensure that the sensitive topics law is followed and censor materials accordingly

Identify, import and edit cataloguing records from a commercial bibliographic database into the institution’s library database according to local and international standards

Participate in the selection, training and supervision of Library support staff, parent volunteers thereby helping the school reduce extra costs of hiring external trainers

Ensure that the institution’s policies, procedures and codes of conduct are followed at all times

Initiate effort and energy beyond the typical work day where the tasks require additional commitment

2.Title : Deputy Chief Librarian May 2012 – September 2015

Organisation: Bulawayo Public Library, Bulawayo –Southern Africa

Key Responsibilities

Act in the absence of the Chief-Librarian

Catalogue and classify learning resources using the Dewey Decimal Classification Scheme and the Anglo-American Cataloguing Rule 2 (AACR2), develop and maintain accurate and reliable catalogue and lending systems, to facilitate accessibility, use and control of stock

Management of the Library’s circulation system

Provide highly quality reference services both in print format and on-line to Library patrons by handling basic inquiries, requests and projects requiring independent judgment and basic knowledge in interpreting policies and procedures

Teach Information Literacy skills to Library users. 80% of Library users reported to have benefited from the initiative

Allocate staff duties, time-tables and their supervision

Orientation and induction of students on internship as well as new Library staff

Organize fundraising activities for the Library and safe keeping of Library assets

3.Title: Library Assistant June 2011 – April 2012

Organisation: Bulawayo Public Library, Bulawayo – Southern Africa

Key Responsibilities

Operate small branch libraries under the directive of the Deputy Chief Librarian

Manage reserve materials by placing items on reserve for library patrons, checking items in and out of library and removing outdated items

Instruct patrons on how to use reference sources and automated information systems

Maintain records of items received, stored, issued and returned and also prepare statistical records

Sort books, publications and other items according to established procedures and return them to shelves, files or other designated storage areas

Solve problems associated with the circulation and control of library materials

Assist clients to find information; assists clients in the use of the catalog and to locate material on the shelves

Maintain newspapers, periodical collection and other library collections

Assist clients with the operation of the printers, photocopiers, computers and other library equipment Creates displays, signs, and assists in the production of library brochures

Process and check out Reserve materials and repair damaged library

Materials

4.Title : Library Assistant (Internship) October 2009 – August 2010

Organisation: Bulawayo Public Library, Bulawayo – Southern Africa

Key Responsibilities

Register and amend library membership records and cards, obtaining proof of identity

Check- in and check-out of library materials

Produce fines and overdue reports or letters for loss or damage of borrowed library materials

Respond to routine library inquiries, including the taking and processing of requests and the issuing of inter-library loans (Resource Sharing)

Shelve returned materials and maintain shelves in an orderly state

Pack and unpack parcels and prepare materials for shelves and display, including accessioning books as necessary

Make an initial assessment of the physical condition of library materials being returned according to the library’s abridged system

Perform clerical work in respect of discarding/binding and undertake minor book repairs, affix date labels and spine tags as appropriate

Answer the telephone as required including renewal of books, library and general information, electoral roll details and redirect calls to appropriate staff and/or take messages or appointments

Assist in erecting and dismantling exhibitions including international and local Book Fairs and displays as required

Encourage disruptive customers to leave the library, to behave or in other assistance

Total up cash taken for fines and other charges and sales, separate out the float for giving change and bank the money

Achievements

From October 2015 to-date – With the help of the team, I have so far managed to open 2 other new libraries that is, the Foundation Stage (FS) and the Secondary libraries at Gems Metropole School Motor City, Dubai, United Arab Emirates where I am currently working. I have since gained experience of working with students and staff in a multi-cultural setting thereby fostering oneness, love and unity of purpose

Feb 2015 – Upgraded and re-modelled the Children’s Library to a world class and modern Children’s Centre at Bulawayo Public Library, Southern Africa

From 2013 – 2015 Worked as a Freelancer, mainly in cataloguing and classifying tertiary education reading materials at the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) in Southern Africa

From 2012 – 2015 Trained and provided technical advice to outside library users mostly teachers from both primary and secondary schools in the area of librarianship so that they can start from scratch their own school or community libraries. More than 300 local teacher and student Librarians were trained

Aug 2012 - As a Technical Librarian cum Archivist at Bulawayo Public Library (Southern Africa), I introduced E- Resources such as the E-Granary Digital Library, Emerald Online Journal for students to benefit from the initiative. Again I initiated a project on digitization of the Historic Reference Collection materials at the Library. Assessed and selected photos and pictures depicting the history of the whole Southern African. Scanned and stored over 2000 images now viewable, readable and accessible online by library patrons. Proceeded to phase 2 of the project concentrating now the on digitization of the microfilm newspapers into a machine readable format for an Online-Reference Library. Over 75% of Bulawayo Public Library’s newspapers have been digitized and historians, anthropologists, history researchers, tourists and individual individuals from the region and beyond are benefiting from this development

May 2012 - Appointed as a Deputy- Chief Librarian at the Bulawayo Public Library, Southern Africa. Managed to raise the Library’s income revenue by over 50% through timely fundraising activities and publicity and the library’s information sources and services

From 2011 - 2015 Guided successfully over 200 students from various Universities and Colleges such as the National University of Science and Technology (NUST), Chinhoyi University of Technology (CUT), Bulawayo Polytechnic College and the United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) among others, all in the Southern Africa, in their final year Project Researches or Dissertations

Sep 2011 - Again as a Technical Librarian at the Bulawayo Public Library, I improved and upgraded their Computer Centre. Most of the community members are now computer literate as a result of this development

5.Title : Teaching Assistant (Key Stages 1 and 2) April 2005 – August 2007

Organisation: Chionja Primary School, Chiredzi – Southern Africa

Key Responsibilities

Provide support within the classroom during literacy and numeracy lessons

Plan activities and lessons for literacy on a regular basis

Assist the lead teacher to arrange small groups in class for literacy, phonics and reading among other skills

Regularly give feedback to the lead teacher on students’ progress and behaviour

Plan learning activities and school trips with the lead teacher

Help children with their playing, learning and social development

Tide up the classroom before and after lessons

Professional and Academic Qualifications

Bachelor of Science Honours (BSc) Degree in Library and Information Science

Institution: National University of Science and Technology (NUST) Bulawayo, Southern Africa, August 2007- May 2011

Degree Class: Upper Second Class (2.1). Dissertation: My research project at the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) in Zimbabwe was based on Collection Development and Management in Public Libraries So As To Meet User Information Needs (A case of the Bulawayo Public Library, Southern Africa).

Since then, I developed an interest in coming up with new initiatives wherever I work aimed at providing the much needed solutions to the institution’s beneficiaries

Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) Approval License, 3 July 2017, (Government of Dubai)

Certificate in Follet Destiny Library Manager (Integrated Library Management System), 23 January 2017, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Certificate in Fire Fighting and Prevention Methods 13 January 2016, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

3 ZIMSEC GCE ‘Advanced’ levels attained at Takwirira High School 2003 - 2004, Manicaland Province, Southern Africa

9 ZIMSEC GCE ‘Ordinary’ levels attained at Mutandahwe High School 1999 - 2002, Manicaland Province, Southern Africa

Professional Boards

A member of GEMS EDUCATION International Network of Librarians

An Executive member of the Zimbabwe Library Association (ZIMLA), Matabeleland Region, Southern Africa

Referees

1.Ms Antonette Naidoo (Library Leader)

Gems Metropole School Motor City, Honsho Road Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Tel: +971-*-***-****

Cell: +971-**-***-**** / +971-**-***-****

Email: *.**********@*******.***

2.Ms Letshani Ndlovu (The Chief-Librarian)

Bulawayo Public Library

P O Box 586, Bulawayo, Southern Africa

Tel: +263 9 60965/6

Cell: +263-***-***-***

Email: **********@*****.***

3.Ms Esabel Maisiri (Chairperson of the department of Library and Information Science)

National University of Science and Technology (NUST)

P O Box AC 939 Ascot, Bulawayo, Southern Africa

Tel: +263-*-***-***/283 842

Cell: +263-***-***-***

Email: ********@****.**.**

My mobile number: +971********* My e-mail address: **********@*****.***

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