Individual Occupational Requirements for
GS-1410: Librarian Series
Revised Standard! Effective January 1,2001
The text below is extracted verbatim from
Section IV-B of the Operating Manual for Qualification Standards
for General Schedule Positions (p.IV-B-198), but contains minor edits
to conform to web-page requirements.
This is an individual qualification standard.
Basic Requirements:
All librarians must meet the requirements for professional education in library
science or possess equivalent experience and education as shown for GS-7; however,
as a standard practice applicants enter at grade GS-9 on the basis of a master's
degree in library science.
Since many libraries are highly specialized, some librarian positions require
a knowledge of a specialized subject or field of endeavor.. Also, since materials
in libraries are often in foreign languages, some librarians must have a proficient
knowledge of one or more foreign languages. For such positions, applicants must
meet requirements that are directly related to the subject matter or language of
the specialization. These requirements are in addition to the basic professional
library science requirements that apply to all positions. However, these requirements
may be included in or supplemental to those specified for all positions. The following
specializations are authorized: biological, medical, social or physical sciences,
education, fine arts, business and industry, humanities, law, music, engineering,
and the Germanic, Slavic, Oriental, Semitic, or Romance languages.
For GS-7: Applicants must meet the requirements specified in paragraphs A or B below.
- Completion of 1 full academic year of graduate study in library science
in an accredited college or university, in addition to completion of all
work required for a bachelor's degree;
OR
- A total of at least 5 years of a combination of college-level education,
training, and experience. To qualify on this basis, the applicant must
establish conclusively that the education, training, and experience provided
a knowledge and understanding of the theories, principles, and techniques
of professional librarianship; a knowledge of literature resources; and
the knowledge and abilities essential for providing effective library and
information services.
Additional Education And Experience Requirements for Positions at GS-9 and Above
In addition to meeting the basic entry qualification requirements, applicants
must have directly related education and/or specialized experience in the amounts
required for the grade level as shown in the following table.
GRADE |
EDUCATION OR |
EXPERIENCE |
GS-9 |
2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education or master's
in library science or equivalent graduate degree, e.g., LL.B. or J.D.,
related to the position. |
1 year equivalent to at least GS-7 |
GS-11 |
3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education in library
science or doctoral degree (Ph.D. or equivalent) related to the position |
1 year equivalent to at least GS-9 |
GS-12 and above |
None |
1 year equivalent to at least next lower grade level |
Note: Equivalent combinations of education and experience
are qualifying for all grade levels for which both education and experience
are acceptable. |
Evaluation of Specialized Experience (for positions at GS-9 and above):
Experience must have demonstrated the ability to perform, supervise, or direct
one or more of the functional areas of work covered by this series; to understand
the concepts, theories, new developments, and co-relationship of information in
related fields; and to maintain up-to-date information on the state of the art.
For positions where foreign language proficiency is needed, applicants must be able
to read and/or translate material in the appropriate specialized subject-matter
field.
For Librarian (appropriate specialization): Applicants must also possess
specialized knowledge of a subject-matter field and/or proficiency in one or more
foreign languages directly related to the position(s) being filled. When such
knowledge is required for the position, an applicant's education or experience
must have included or been supplemented by the requirements specified in one of
the paragraphs below:
A full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university
that meets all academic requirements for a bachelor's degree that included
at least 24 semester hours in the specialized field for which the applicant
is being considered, e.g., physical science, biological science, social
science; or that included any combination of subjects with at least 15
semester hours in a major subject (such as physics or chemistry) that is
especially applicable to the position for which the applicant is being
considered; or
Completion of at least 24 semester hours of legal study in an accredited
law school for positions primarily concerned with providing library services
in law or legislative reference; or
Four years of pertinent experience of such nature and level to provide a
knowledge of the basic principles, theories, practices, techniques, terminology
and expressions of the appropriate discipline or subject-matter field; an
understanding of the standard methods, procedures, and techniques of research
and analysis in the subject-matter field; ability to acquire additional
information about the field and related fields; and some knowledge of
literature resources in the field.
Such experience should be equivalent to that which would have been
acquired through successful completion of a full 4-year curriculum in an
accredited college or university with major study in appropriate subjects,
or combination of subjects, as specified in (a) above; or legal training
as specified in (b) above; or
Any time equivalent combination of experience as described in (c) with
education as described in (a) or (b) above; or
Demonstrated ability as shown by education or experience to read or
translate information from one or more foreign languages into English.
SUPERVISORY AND ADMINISTRATIVE POSITIONS
For supervisory positions, see the "Qualification Standard for Supervisory
Positions" in Section IV-A of this Manual. For positions concerned with
administration, management, or direction of library programs, candidates must meet
all other requirements for the particular grade and also show that they possess
the required administrative and/or managerial ability to perform successfully the
duties of such positions. Education, training, or experience of the candidate should
demonstrate, e.g., ability to manage or direct a library, group of libraries, or
library system; ability to plan, organize, and direct the development and execution
of library programs, policies, and procedures; ability to plan or conduct management
studies, public relations, and educational activities, ability to plan, develop
and carry out administrative activities of the library or library system concerned
with budget and finance, personnel, plant and equipment, etc.
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