Assistant Librarian

This is an exciting opportunity to join the highly successful Aldar family of schools and to help shape the future of Abu Dhabi’s leading school group.

West Yas Academy opened in September 2016 providing high quality education to the Emirate. The children are taught the Massachusetts Common Core Curriculum - tailored to be meaningful to children attending the school, alongside the local curriculum of Arabic, Islamic Studies and Social Studies. Facilities at the school are excellent and include a large astro-turf field, two swimming pools, well stocked library, a large multi-purpose sports hall, an auditorium and outdoor play areas.

We provide a warm, friendly and supportive environment where students enjoy learning and achieving in an atmosphere of mutual respect and trust.

RESPONSIBILITIES:
The purpose of this post is to contribute to the Department as a team player through collaboration and the development of best pedagogical practices. Teachers at West Yas Academy are responsible to have overall responsibility for maximizing learning opportunities for all students within the Department; teachers will have a positive impact on the whole school development through the delivery of high-quality outcomes for all students.

General Responsibilities:

- Assist academy in achieving its overall vision and strategic intentions and to contribute to the achievement of relevant targets as set out in the academy’s improvement plan and self-evaluation form
- Comply with regulations pertaining to health and safety at work legislation and adhere to academy policies relating to safe working practice and equal opportunities regulations
- Comply with the academy’s Performance Management Policy ensuring challenging annual targets are set and to fulfil the role of performance management reviewer if directed to do so by the Principal
- Comply with the academy’s staff dress code at all times including the wearing of photo ID / lanyard
- Comply with the academy’s computer Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) at all times
- Attend all staff briefings/Professional Development Activities

Main Duties:

- Developing and delivering ‘library information literacy’ sessions to ensure that students are able to find the resources they require whether books/magazines or on-line, enabling students to become independent and effective library users.
- Selecting and ordering new books appropriate to each section / Grade level and interests of the students, as well as the requirements from the teachers for resources to support the curriculum topics.
- Liaising with teachers to ensure that topic-related resources are distributed to the classrooms as and when required.
- Cataloguing all resources into the automated library system, ‘Destiny Follett’. All resources must be catalogued according to the Dewey system. Books must be labeled and covered.
- Maintaining the library data base - ensuring that records of all students and teachers are up to date.
- Following up overdue books from both students and teachers; receiving money for lost or damaged books; repairing damaged books.
- Maintaining an attractive library environment which caters for all students’ needs, to sit and read quietly or to carry out independent study.
- Promoting reading through attractive displays to encourage students to enjoy a wide range of literature to foster a love of books to become life-long readers. Keeping up to date with new releases to be able to recommend books to students.
- Arranging author visits.
- Arranging book fairs with local book shops.
- Running the ‘Book Club’ where students can order books from a catalogue, consolidate the order for the whole school and distribute books when they arrive.
- Signing books in and out and re-shelving the returned books.
- Liaising with teaching and non-teaching staff and responding to enquiries on matters within the postholder’s responsibility
- Complying with the requirements of health and safety, other relevant legislation and school policies
- Assisting with the development of policies and procedures
- Attending any necessary training associated with the duties of the post
- Undertaking any other reasonable duties within the overall function, commensurate with the grading and level of responsibility of the post

Minimum Qualifications:

- Minimum of a Bachelor degree in Library Science
- Experience in an international school is an advantage

Minimum Experience:

- Minimum of 2 years experience
- Job specific knowledge and skills:

- Knowledge of Inquiry Based Curriculum and Common Core curriculum and latest developments
- Knowledge of UAE Ministry of Education and ADEK regulations relating to curriculum, assessment and compliance would be advantageous

Personal/ Leadership Qualities:

- Commitment to the ideals of international education
- Ability to prioritize projects and tasks
- Ability to initiate and manage change in the work environment
- Ability to identify problems, achieve effective solutions