Principal Librarian- Office of the Chief Justice x1
Job Details
Job Title: Principal Librarian
Department: Office of the Chief Justice (OCJ)
Reference Number: 2026/151/OCJ
Post Number: POST 38/213
Location: Supreme Court of Appeal, Bloemfontein, Free State
Salary: R413 001 – R486 501 per annum
Salary Level: Level 08
Experience Required: Minimum 2 years
Performance Agreement: The successful candidate will be required to sign a performance agreement.
Job Overview
The Office of the Chief Justice is inviting applications from suitably qualified and experienced candidates for the position of Principal Librarian at the Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein.
The successful candidate will be responsible for managing and coordinating court library services, ensuring that judges, legal professionals, court staff and members of the public have access to relevant legal information and research resources.
The position involves overseeing library collections, managing legal databases, coordinating procurement, supervising staff and ensuring the effective delivery of library and information services.
Job Description
The Principal Librarian will oversee the daily operations and administration of the Supreme Court of Appeal’s library. The role focuses on managing legal information resources, maintaining library collections, facilitating legal research and ensuring that relevant legal publications and digital resources are accessible and up to date.
The successful candidate will also provide research assistance, coordinate library training, manage budgets and procurement processes, and supervise library staff.
Key Responsibilities
Library Collection and Information Management
Monitor the collection, cataloguing and publication of library materials.
Identify and select relevant materials for procurement in accordance with library policies and guidelines.
Assess the relevance and currency of library collections and recommend additions, removals or updates.
Organise, classify and catalogue legal materials for easy retrieval.
Apply classification systems, metadata and barcoding to library materials.
Monitor hard-copy and electronic library resources.
Manage serial publications, amendments, loose-leaf subscriptions and binders.
Facilitate the submission of standing orders.
Coordinate interlibrary loans to provide access to additional resources.
Monitor the circulation of judgments to publishers, external stakeholders and judges.
Digital Library and Legal Research Services
Monitor electronic databases, legal research tools and online subscriptions.
Implement digital tools and technologies to improve information retrieval.
Keep up to date with emerging technologies relevant to legal research and library management.
Provide legal research assistance, citation verification and help with locating relevant legal precedents.
Provide reference assistance to judges, lawyers, court staff and members of the public.
Conduct training sessions on legal research methods and the use of legal databases.
Facilitate legal awareness through newsletters, alerts and other information services.
Promote awareness of the library’s resources and services.
Library Administration and Financial Management
Coordinate and monitor the effective administration of library services.
Coordinate library staff meetings.
Support the coordination of Library Committee meetings.
Facilitate online training sessions by Juta, LexisNexis and Sabinet.
Monitor quarterly library budget allocations.
Coordinate procurement processes with Supply Chain Management.
Monitor asset verification schedules and the library asset register.
Coordinate the disposal of approved library publications for donations.
Staff Supervision
Supervise library staff.
Monitor the effective delivery of library services.
Support the coordination and management of library operations.
Minimum Requirements
Applicants must have:
A National Diploma in Library Science, Information Science or an equivalent qualification.
The qualification must be at NQF Level 6 with 360 credits, as recognised by SAQA.
A minimum of two years’ relevant experience in library services.
Added Advantage:
– Experience working in a legal or law library.
Required Knowledge and Skills
Knowledge:
Library and Information Science.
Library prescripts, legislation, procedures and processes.
Online databases.
Information management.
Information retrieval.
Skills and Competencies:
Research and analytical skills.
Excellent written and verbal communication.
Computer literacy, particularly MS Office.
Planning and organising.
Accuracy and attention to detail.
Interpersonal skills.
Problem-solving abilities.
Report-writing skills.
Ability to work independently and under pressure.
Enquiries
Technical Enquiries:
Mr V.Z.J. Zwane
Telephone: (051) 492 4623
HR Enquiries:
Ms D.S.J. Peters
Telephone: (051) 492 4523
How to Apply
Applications must be submitted via email:
Email: 2026/151/OCJ@judiciary.org.za
Employment Equity
The Office of the Chief Justice will give preference to candidates in line with its Employment Equity goals.