Hong Kong Library Education and Career Forum 2015 Career Opportunities in Hong Kong Public Libraries 25 July 2015 Hong Kong Public Libraries

About HKPL  Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD)  A network of 68 static and 12 mobile libraries  A collection of over 13 million items  Annual circulation over 50 million  Over 4 million registered patrons

Role and Function  as an information centre  as a medium and resource centre for self-education and continuing education  as a centre for the promotion of reading & literary arts in Hong Kong ; and  as a community cultural centre

 5-level structure: (Total 80 as at July 2015) Organization Major Libraries (6) District Libraries (30) Small Libraries (31) Mobile Libraries (12) Hong Kong Central Library (1)

Organization  7 Functional Units:  Administration and Support  Computerization  Technical Processing  Extension Activities  District Council Management  Planning & Development  Special Duties

Staff Structure  Professional Staff:  Chief Librarian  Senior Librarian  Librarian  Assistant Librarian

Staff Structure  Supporting Staff:  Assistant Clerical Officer  Cultural Services Assistant

New Mode of Service Delivery  Civil Servant (Supporting Staff)  Core services :  Provide one-stop customer services  Promote self-service culture e.g. self- charging, express check-in  Engage users in the use of IT services e.g. RFID, Octopus payment, online library service, electronic locker

New Mode of Service Delivery  Service Bureau (Supporting Staff) Non-Core services :  Handling materials returned via express check-in  Sorting  Shelving  Processing of new materials

Job Specialization  Professional Staff – Librarian  Supporting Staff

Job Specialization – Professional  Circulation  Reader and information services  Technical processing  Collection development  Marketing  IT  Management and administration

Job Specialization – Professional  Circulation  Patron registration  Circulation of library materials  Reservation of library materials  Reader’s enquiry service

Job Specialization – Professional  Reader and information services  Reader’s advisory service  Special collections  Interlibrary loan  Electronic references  Newspaper and periodical

Job Specialization – Professional  Technical processing  Classification and cataloguing  Selection and acquisition

Job Specialization – Professional  Collection development  Identify readers’ needs  Formulate policies for selection, acquisition and withdrawal  Stock-editing

Job Specialization – Professional  Marketing  Organizing extension activities and outreach programs  Partnership - schools, NGOs and community organizations  Publicity materials - Newsletter  User-education

Job Specialization – Professional  IT  Develop and maintain:  Integrated library system including RFID sub-system  Library homepage and portal  Multi-media and Internet services  E-service channels

Job Specialization – Professional  Management and administration  Operations  Planning and development  Finances and supplies  Human resources

Job Specialization – Supporting  Circulation including lending, returns, shelving  Processing of library materials  Clerical work  General enquiry  Library order

Competencies for Librarian  Knowledge  Community  Library collection  Book trade  Circulation policy  Reference  IT

Competencies for Librarian  Skills  People – from engaging people to handling demanding patrons  Communication - Oral / Written / Language  Critical thinking – problem solving  Managerial  Marketing  IT  Planning and budgeting

Competencies for Librarian  Attitudes  People oriented  Love knowledge  Love to help and share – approachable  Patience  Positive thinking  Social awareness  Flexible – mindset /work schedule

Direct Recruitment  Assistant Librarian  Assistant Clerical Officer  Cultural Services Assistant II

Direct Recruitment – Assistant Librarian  Entry requirements:  A Bachelor degree from a Hong Kong university or equivalent; and  With the following results in the Common Recruitment Examination (CRE)  “Level 2” in Use of Chinese;  “Level 2” in Use of English; and  Pass in Aptitude Test

Direct Recruitment – Assistant Librarian  Entry requirements:  Equivalent language requirements:  Grade C or above in UE in HKAL or English Language in GCE A Level  6.5 or above in IELTS within 2 years  Grade C or above in Chinese Language and Culture or Chinese Language and Literature in HKAL

Direct Recruitment – Assistant Librarian  Terms of appointment:  Civil service probationary terms for 3 years  Upon passage of probation bar, may be considered for appointment on prevailing permanent terms  Salary: $25,505 (MPS 14) to $47,235 (MPS 27) w.e.f

Career Development – Librarian Grade  Induction course  On-the-job training  Diploma in Librarianship  Courses in administration and management  Career posting  Subject groups  Experience sharing sessions  Overseas training program for Senior Librarian  Other professional development opportunities

Direct Recruitment – Assistant Clerical Officer  Entry requirements: 

Direct Recruitment – Assistant Clerical Officer  Terms of Appointment:  Civil service probationary terms for 3 years  Upon passage of probation bar, may be considered for appointment on prevailing permanent terms  Starting salary: $13,120 (MPS 3) to $26,785(MPS 15) w.e.f

Direct Recruitment – Cultural Services Assistant II  Entry requirements:  Completed Form 4 or equivalent; and  Attended a level of proficiency in Chinese and English languages equivalent to Form 4 standard

Direct Recruitment – Cultural Services Assistant II  Terms of Appointment:  Civil service probationary terms for 3 years  Upon passage of probation bar, may be considered for appointment on prevailing permanent terms  Starting salary: $11,575 (MPS 1) to $17,995(MPS 8) w.e.f

Direct Recruitment – Advertisement  Major local newspapers  Homepages:  Hong Kong Public Libraries (  Leisure and Cultural Services Department (  Civil Services Bureau(

Thank you Q & A