Medical librarian job description

This post includes 3 parts: duties list, job qualification and job description writing tips for Medical librarian in details. A complete job description concludes Medical librarian key duties/responsibilities, Medical librarian job qualifications (knowledge, education, skills, abilities, experience…KSA model) and other ones such as daily tasks, key activities, key/core competencies, job functions/purpose…

I. List of Medical librarian duties:

1. The Librarian 1 is the beginning rank and is expected to demonstrate excellence in meeting the position responsibilities, as defined by the job description and annual goals.
2. Begin to fulfill the criteria for service to the library, university, and/or community.
3. Begin to fulfill the criteria for professional contributions.
4. For a complete description of the position and department, please see the department URL.
5. The Lane Medical Library & Knowledge Management Center at Stanford University Medical Center (SUMC) seeks a qualified applicant to fill the position of Information Services Librarian Clinical Liaison. Reporting to the Director for Research & Instruction, the primary focus of this position is to teach the library's clinical and academic communities effective and productive use of available information resources and tools in the service of clinical care.

II. List of Medical librarian qualifications

1. Master’s degree in Library Science from an American Library Association accredited Library school. In selected instances, a post-graduate degree in a related discipline may be required or substituted for an MLS. Appointment to this rank is limited to two years at which time it is expected that the individual will develop necessary requirements to meet expectations of performance at the Librarian 2 level.
2. Advanced degree in a related field and relevant professional experience may be substituted for an MLS degree. Appointment to Librarian 2 requires at least 2 years of professional experience and achievements; Librarian 3 requires at least 5 years of experience and professional achievements.
3. Familiarity with geospatial methods, spatial data formats and models, and spatial statistics, particularly with regard to applications in epidemiology and public health.
4. Strong public service orientation; excellent analytical, organizational, management, oral and written communications; strong interpersonal skills.
5. Demonstrated ability to work collegially, cooperatively, and independently with varied groups in a complex organization and function collaboratively in a rapidly changing team environment.
6. Innovative, resourceful, and flexible. Knowledge of information technology.

III. Tips to write job description

1. Too-long job description:

Looking at a too-long job description can frighten the candidates off and drive the away. A job description, no matter how important the job is, should not be included in more than 3 pages. If one focuses on too many things at a time, he shall definitely lose focus on the main items and get overwhelmed by the remaining; So, keep it concisely.

2. Too-short job description:

While too-long can be a problem, too-short is more a problem. It will ruin the meaning of the job description. A too-short one means it lacks necessary details and therefore, the candidate will not be able to understand while reading it.

3. Listing unnecessary functions or job duties:

Just classifying these into the “others” category will save you a lot of effort and space. On the other hand, the job description will become more dilute and easy to be neglected.

4. Key functions

Not listing key functions as required for the job can be a fatal mistake to a job description.

5. Grammar and spelling

Poor grammar and having spelling errors can ruin the job description, too. Never think that as you are the employer, you may have the right to make grammar or spelling errors while requires other not to. A job description with such errors is easily to be mistaken as a fake or ghost ads; as a result, the candidate will turn away from it.

6. Not specific enough:

Be specific and concise; if you don’t address the specific, then what the job description is for. It is for the candidate to understand just exactly what he needs to do or needs to have. Lacking details can confuse the candidates very well.

7. Not having the job description reviewed by others:

This is also a common mistake. One may be subject to bias, but more than one, especially with the help of those external advisor, the job description can be more perfect.

8. Using buzzwords or abbreviations:

In fact, it is not necessary at all to use such in a job description.

9. Using slang or legal words:

Just use common wording to communicate with others and don’t do anything extraordinarily.

10. Not updating the job description:

The same job may require different duties and responsibilities in different times, so, you cannot use the same job description for 2 different times.