2.1 Staffing
A resource centre needs competent and enthusiastic staff. Staff
need to be selected carefully and encouraged to improve their
knowledge and skills through ongoing training.
A large resource centre containing several thousand materials
and providing a range of information services will need at least
two full-time members of staff (or equivalent) - a resource
centre officer, who has overall responsibility for developing
and managing the resource centre, and a resource centre assistant
to carry out routine tasks such as ordering and receiving materials.
A resource centre with fewer materials or offering fewer services
will need only a resource centre officer.
Ideally, the resource centre officer should have both knowledge
of the subject area, and experience or training in resource
centre work. If the person appointed lacks experience in resource
centre work, it is important to provide training.
If it is not possible to appoint a resource centre officer
with knowledge of the subject area, it is important to identify
someone who has this knowledge, who can supervise and/or liaise
with the resource centre officer. This person needs to be able
to discuss the information needs of people who will use the
resource centre, and to understand the importance of access
to and use of information. This person could be another member
of staff or a member of the resource centre advisory committee,
if there is one (see Section 2.2).
If staff are seconded to the resource centre for part of the
day, it is important that they have sufficient time for resource
centre work. Otherwise they may not be able to do a satisfactory
job, and may become demotivated. It is also important that the
other work they do is complementary to their resource centre
work. For example, if their work also involves training, publications
development, outreach, advocacy, health promotion or counselling,
this work and their resource centre work will each be useful
to the other.
2.1.1 Job descriptions
A job description and person specification (a list of qualifications
and experience necessary to do the job) need to be drawn up
for each member of staff. This will help to recruit the right
people and enable them to know what work they are expected to
do.
Section 2.1.2 is a sample job description and person specification
for a full-time resource centre officer. An alternative might
be to recruit two resource centre officers to job-share, or
employ volunteers. Volunteers should also have job descriptions.
If it is not possible to appoint a full-time resource centre
officer (or equivalent), at least six to eight hours per week
should be allowed for resource centre duties. This would enable
the resource centre to be open for at least two hours a day
for three days a week, and would allow two hours a week for
administrative duties.
If the resource centre is only open to staff within the same
organisation, it could be open when resource centre staff are
not on duty.
2.1.2 Sample job description of a resource centre officer
Background
The aim of the resource centre is to assist in the overall goal
of the organisation to achieve health for all by collecting,
organising and disseminating information in health and health-related
fields. The resource centre serves staff of the organisation,
including those responsible for training and those undertaking
research. The resource centre is guided in its implementation
and development by the Resource Centre Advisory Committee. The
Resource Centre Officer is accountable to the Head of Information.
Main responsibilities
The Resource Centre Officer is responsible for the day-to-day
running of the resource centre. Specific responsibilities are
to:
- develop a collection policy in consultation with the Head
of Information and the Resource Centre Advisory Committee
- gather information and materials to meet the needs of resource
centre users, in consultation with the Head of Information
and the Resource Centre Advisory Committee
- develop and maintain an effective ordering system for new
materials
- process materials, including entering new materials into
the accessions register and classifying and cataloguing materials
- ensure that the resource centre is user-friendly and accessible,
including assisting users to identify materials
- develop activities in which users can share ideas and concerns
on the role of the resource centre
- work with users to identify activities that information
could support, and provide materials for those activities
- promote the services of the resource centre through activities
such as displaying new materials in the resource centre, and
at meetings and workshops
- encourage and promote the use of information
- produce regular statistical reports on the functioning and
use of the resource centre
- liaise with the Head of Information and the Resource Centre
Advisory Committee to implement the resource centre guidelines
and procedures.
Person specification
Matriculation
Good administrative skills
Computer skills [if your centre is or may become computerised]
Good working knowledge of English and local language
Knowledge of the health sector
Resource centre experience or training
Able to communicate and work well with users
Able to take responsibility
Friendly, creative and enthusiastic
Committed to the aims of the resource centre
next: 2.2 Advisory committees
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