Subject Librarian Morocco, North Africa & the Middle East (1.0 full-time equivalent) to start on 1 September 2016.
DutiesOn the basis of a collection profile, the Subject Librarian is responsible for purchasing publications from Morocco, North Africa and the Middle East for Leiden University Libraries (UBL) and cataloguing these publications. To do this, he/she will develop a regional network of, among others, libraries, bookshops and publishers, that is used to acquire materials and for which he/she will be required to travel in the region several times a year.
Other tasks include:
- Coordinating the activities and services of NIMAR's library.
- Maintaining close contact with the UBL about materials to be acquired and identifying new developments concerning publications in the region.
- Maintaining contact with and supporting students, teachers and researchers at NIMAR in relation to their need for scholarly literature.
Your profileYou are a specialist who is proud to build and catalogue an outstanding, deep collection within the agreed frameworks. To accomplish this, you are a good networker, a good communicator and result-oriented. You take the initiative and you can work independently, but you are also capable of coordinating tasks in collaborative manner and, if necessary, coaching your colleague(s).
You possess:
- A completed library, information and/or media qualification at a minimum of HBO level. In addition, you should ideally have completed a university degree in the Humanities or Social Sciences, or have a demonstrable affinity with these disciplines;
- An excellent command of the Arabic (modern standard Arabic), Moroccan and French languages and a good command of English and/or Dutch, both orally and in writing. Knowledge of the Berber language is desirable;
- Employment experience in the library and information sector, especially in the field of collection development and cataloguing in standard formats (Marc21) and systems (ALMA, Worldcat);
- Knowledge and experience of Arabic transliteration is desirable;
- Knowledge of and insight into (developments in the field of) libraries, publishers and bookshops in order to acquire materials and make them accessible through the catalogue;
- Willingness to travel in Morocco and elsewhere in North Africa and the Middle East to expand Leiden's collections with publications from this region, within the framework determined by UBL;
- An existing network of libraries, publishers and bookshops in North Africa and the Middle East, or the willingness to set up and expand such a network;
- Excellent communication and networking skills, including the ability to maintain good contact with specialists at UBL and to keep them well informed;
- Excellent computer skills and knowledge of digital information systems and collections.
Description of the organisationThe Netherlands Institute Morocco is an institute of Leiden University with national duties. It is financed by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and works closely with the Dutch Embassy in Morocco. Under the umbrella of Leiden University's Faculty of Humanities, NIMAR offers BA and MA courses in the language, culture, religion and society in Morocco, North Africa and the region. It will also organise high-value education to contribute to the intellectual formation of Islamic frameworks in the Netherlands, of Moroccan-Dutch youth and of professionals from the Netherlands, the Arabic world and Africa. NIMAR facilitates and stimulates scientific research and makes this knowledge accessible to Dutch society.
NIMAR also functions as a library and contributes to the construction of a national collection about Morocco and the Arabic world. As well as in the reading room at NIMAR, these collections will also be made available at the University Library in Leiden (UBL). The UBL is an internationally recognised research library with world-class collections and advanced services for education and research. The UBL provides these scholarly information services as a trusted partner in knowledge for researchers, teachers and students. We create trusted, sustainable and innovative services in collaboration with other leading parties both in the Netherlands and abroad. We are recognised worldwide for our special collections, which have an important social and cultural function alongside their role in education and research.
The staff of NIMAR consists of approximately eleven colleagues and is led by the Director of NIMAR.
We offerThe appointment is for the duration of one year. An extension is possible, based on good performance. Dependent on education and experience, the gross monthly salary amounts to a minimum of 23,900 MAD and a maximum of 35,851 MAD on the basis of a full 37-hour working week for a full-time appointment (scale 8 Rrlok).
This is not an expat assignment, but a local position with the associated salary and working conditions of the Dutch Embassy in Morocco.
Among other legislation, the Legal Position of Local Employees (Rrlok) established by the Minister for Foreign Affairs applies to this employment contract, together with the relevant post development. One consequence of this is that salaries are adjusted to the local conditions.
More informationFor more information about NIMAR and the procedure, contact prof.dr. L. P.H.M. Buskens: l.p.h.m.buskens@hum.leidenuniv.nl.
For more information about the content of this position, contact Birte Kristiansen, Subject librarian Middle East and the Islamic world, email: b.kristiansen@library.leidenuniv.nl.
Information about the employment conditions (Rrlok)
ApplyApplications may be submitted by email, attaching a letter of motivation and a CV, until May 23th, to vacaturesnimar@hum.leidenuniv.nl.
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