JOB SUMMARY

Ottawa Public Library (OPL) provides accessible, innovative library and information services throughout the City of Ottawa, that meet the unique needs of diverse communities, delivered through a range of vehicles and reflecting a citizen-centred approach.

Come join the team that will work at our new Central Branch at Ādisōke! Set to open in 2026, this modern, sustainable facility with its iconic architecture will be a must-visit destination in the OPL network of library branches. A place where community will come together to learn, create, and connect, the Coordinator delivers high-quality client service, programming, and supervise a great team, that inspires learning, sparks curiosity, and connects people.

You carry out the duties and responsibilities of one of the following assigned service areas: Adult & Readers’ Advisory, Reference, Children’s & Youth, Digital Services, Community or District Branch, Circulation, Access, Outreach and Volunteer, Collection Development, Technical Services, or InfoService.

You also: perform administrative and human resource management duties; participate in the development of policies, procedures and objectives for library services; maintain an up-to-date knowledge and expand awareness of Library developments; establish and maintain liaisons with internal and external contacts; and exercise responsibility for the day-to-day operation of the library branch/service.

Work is performed within the context of the policies and framework of the Library corporate culture as embodied in the Mission Statement, Core Values, Customer Experience Guidelines and the Canadian Federation of Library Association position statements on Intellectual Freedom and Diversity and Inclusion, with particular emphasis on providing customer service excellence.

The Coordinator, Community or District Branch performs public service duties by:

• Providing the full range of readers advisory and reference services such as answering Library users’ queries, advising them in their selection of material, assisting them in the use of the catalogue and other tools, placing requests, preparing readers’ advisory tools such as bibliographies, reviews, web links;
• Ensuring that appropriate levels and types of programming and user education activities are available to the public;
• Conducting tours and group visits;
• Making recommendations for the development of demographic profiles for Branches in the cluster.

Carries out collection development duties by:

• Recommending items for retention, disposal or replacement;
• Recommending changes to the collection to reflect changing customer interests and needs;
• Making recommendations for purchase to fill gaps in the collection;
• Making recommendations for the development of profiles for the branch.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Completion of 4-year university degree in a related field. 
Master's degree in Library and/or Information Science from an accredited school is desirable.

Minimum of four (4) years of progressively increased responsibilities in public service and staff supervision.

KNOWLEDGE

• Management principles, including policy and procedural development, human resource management, budgeting and monitoring.
• Methods and techniques for customer service and complaint investigation and resolution.
• Theories and principles of library science as well as methods and techniques of library operations.
• General knowledge of Library policies and procedures.
• Supervisory techniques and practices.
• Carry out, supervise and demonstrate a range of circulation activities.
• Adult/Children literature in a variety of formats, readers’ advisory services, trends in reading, literacy and ESL collections and adult/children’s programming.
• Reference resources in print, microform and electronic formats and of current developments in reference services.
• Principles of collection development and maintenance.
• Electronic database and other bibliographic searching techniques.
• Desktop applications, intranet and internet and keyboarding procedures, to the extent where it may be required to demonstrate such usage to colleagues or library patrons.
• Methods and techniques for sorting and shelving library materials according to alphabetical, Dewey Decimal or other prescribed sequence and procedures.
• Working knowledge of applicable occupational health and safety legislation.
• General knowledge of Ottawa Public Library policies and procedures related to health and safety.

COMPETENCIES, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Lead by example, demonstrating integrity, creativity and enthusiasm in achieving results directly and through staff work teams.
• Exercise effective judgement and independent decision-making capabilities.
• To deliver library programs to a range of users who may include early childhood, school age and adults.
• To design and create thematic displays.
• Evaluate existing methods and procedures, analyze alternatives and develop and implement effective solutions or changes.
• Develop workplans; assign work, evaluate performance and supervise staff.
• Well developed organizational skills.
• Use tact, discretion and confidentiality.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• To prepare and analyze statistics and report to management.
• Perform multiple tasks concurrently.
• Mediate and resolve conflicts effectively.
• Data-entry, retrieval and keyboarding skills including use of standard office equipment, including operating an IBM compatible computer in Microsoft Windows.
• Minimum keyboard skills of 25 wpm.

Core Behaviours
Core behaviours define the City's expectations of the behaviours employees should demonstrate in performing their work.  They are reflective of the City's culture and values and guide all our present and future activities.  Every employee is encouraged to learn, embody, and demonstrate these core behaviours.

Review the Core Behaviours.

Leadership Competencies
The City has defined key competencies that leaders are expected to embody and demonstrate to successfully move the organization towards achieving its strategic objectives and create an organizational culture that supports and empowers employees to excel, grow and reach their full potential. These leadership competencies and associated behaviours are expected to be demonstrated by leaders at all levels of the organization. 

Review the Leadership Competencies.