Library Officer, Content and Discovery

Be challenged and imagine with us

As a Library Officer, you will provide essential functional and technical support to ensure students and staff have timely access to scholarly resources for learning, teaching, and research. Working as part of the Content and Discovery team, you’ll support a range of library services with a focus on digital content, course readings, and resource discovery.

In this role you will:

• Support the acquisition and evaluation of scholarly resources by verifying bibliographic information and sourcing materials from publishers and other suppliers.
• Process digital course reading lists, including sourcing appropriate content and troubleshooting access or content issues.
• Contribute to resource sharing by requesting materials from other institutions when not available locally.
• Assist with a range of library projects, such as implementing new systems, analysing usage data to support collection decisions, and contributing to cross-team collection management tasks.

This fixed term position is a parental leave cover until April 2026, is full time, and will be located at the Callaghan Campus (Awabakal land).

About the Library

The University Library plays a vital role in supporting students, academics, and researchers, providing a first-class learning environment that fosters collaboration, research excellence, and academic success. With a strong workplace culture and a commitment to innovation, the Library is both a student-facing service and a strategic hub, adapting to the evolving needs of the University community.

In recent years the University of Newcastle's Library has changed, as with other academic libraries, from developing and preserving print collections to supporting collaborative learning and research through the provision of digital collections, by offering contemporary and flexible learning facilities and social meeting spaces, and by building the user experience into the design and development of new service models.

Our recognition and support for the changing needs of students, academics, and researchers is exemplified through investment in learning spaces and resources, a client-centred service model that engages staff and clients in ongoing review of service requirements, and introducing technology solutions that enhance the client experience. 

Our libraries are welcoming places where students come to meet, read, study and learn. We operate four libraries across five locations: Callaghan, Newcastle City, Central Coast, Gosford, and Sydney.

How will you inspire us?

You will have:

• Strong attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple tasks effectively, ensuring accuracy and meeting deadlines.
• Excellent problem-solving skills, with the ability to troubleshoot and resolve issues related to scholarly content access, metadata, and resource sharing.
• A collaborative mindset, with a willingness to share the workload and support team members across various projects and tasks.
• The ability to adapt to changing priorities and work efficiently in a dynamic, team-oriented environment.

What we offer

The remuneration for this position is from $74,491 to $80,972 plus 17% superannuation and is commensurate with skills and experience. 

In addition to working for a university that is breaking boundaries, discovering new ways of thinking and cementing a place as a global leader, we offer a range of benefits to our employees to ensure you balance your commitments, stay healthy and work effectively. 

These include: 

• 17% super and salary packaging.
• Additional University Holiday days, generous personal, life, and parental leave, annual leave loading, and additional purchased leave scheme.
• Discounts on private health insurance, gym memberships, software, travel and more.
• A range of support and wellbeing programs.

For more information on benefits and conditions, please follow this link.

About our University

The University of Newcastle stands as a global leader distinguished by a commitment to equity and excellence. Our vision is to be a world-leading University for our regions and creating a better future for our regions and the globe. Underpinned by this vision are our values of excellence, equity, engagement and sustainability.

Your next steps

Important information before you apply:

• If viewing this on a job board other than the University's please click ‘Apply’ (or equivalent) to reach the University's website, where a copy of the Position Description can be accessed. Please download a copy from the Related Documents section before commencing your application.
• Applications for this position will only be accepted from those with Australian residency or a valid work permit.

Your application:

Your application must include:

• Your resume.
• A cover letter outlining your motivation to apply for this opportunity.
• A statement addressing the Essential Criteria listed below (these may differ slightly from the Position Description, please only respond to the below in your application).

1. Completion of an associate diploma level qualification with relevant work‐related experience; or an equivalent combination of relevant experience and/or education/training.
2. Knowledge of and ability to apply Resource Description and Access (RDA), Dewey Decimal and other relevant schemas and information systems.
3. Demonstrated ability to effectively and accurately search databases for bibliographic verification and sourcing of resources, including publisher and online websites and other relevant systems.
4. Demonstrated ability to prioritise work, manage time and workloads, solve problems and maintain attention to detail when managing competing demands from multiple stakeholders.

Please upload your Cover Letter and response to the requested Criteria as one PDF document. This document should not exceed 3 pages.

We value diversity and strive to ensure that our recruitment processes are equitable, inclusive, and barrier-free. If you require an alternative pathway to view the Position Description or to submit an application, please reach out to employment@newcastle.edu.au.

We also seek to provide a fair chance to all applicants by providing reasonable adjustments where required during the assessment and interview phases of the recruitment process.

Contact Us

For specific position enquiries, please contact Bronwen Thomas, Manager, Content and Discovery, University Library on (02) 4921 5829 or via email at bronwen.thomas@newcastle.edu.au

Having technical difficulties? Please reach out to us: employment@newcastle.edu.au Please note, we do not accept email applications.

Closing date: Tuesday, 27^th May 2025 at 11.59pm AEST

We are excited to be Looking Ahead with you

We provide opportunities for all people regardless of their background and experience, and this philosophy is reflected across all that we do. 

The University of Newcastle is an equal opportunity employer committed to equity, diversity, and social inclusion. Women and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates are particularly encouraged to apply.  

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