Librarian jobs in South Africa

Industry: Education & Training

Job category: Others: Education and Training

Location: Potchefstroom

Contract: Permanent

Remuneration: Market Related

NWU

NORTH-WEST UNIVERSITY (POTCHEFSTROOM CAMPUS) LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SERVICES POSITION NUMBER: LIBRARY ASSISTANT (EVENINGS) X 2 POSITION: N001097 and N000224 PEROMNES GRADE: P13 EMPLOYMENT TYPE: PERMANENT APPOINTMENT

The rendering of an effective, knowledgeable, and helpful information and learning service to all the users of the NWU LIS in supporting the teaching and learning activities on the campus in general and specifically the personal needs of the students, lecturers, and researchers regarding their academic activities mainly in the evenings. This role is primarily in the evenings.

• General Loan Services
• Circulation duties, i.e. providing, receiving back, and renewing library material.
• Manning the Circulation Desk in the evenings according to the library hours
• Booking and holding of resources in use on request of users
• Registration of users and updating loan records of users
• Finding library resources
• Direct enquiries to the relevant person or section
• Receive and send requests of campus and branch libraries to other campuses.
• Identify missing resources and notify the responsible Librarian for follow-up actions.
• Send damaged books to the responsible section for rebinding
• General Administrative Tasks
• Manage the cash register for payment of fines and registration.
• Collection of fines and replacement costs from users
• Help students book discussion rooms
• Record and keep statistics daily
• Ordering and dispatching of all the required supplies for the section, ILL and the branch libraries
• General supervision on the tidiness and maintenance of the Circulation Desk
• Contact Users on the availability of their requested and on-hold items.
• Any other tasks as requested by Manager or Director
• Shelf maintenance
• Sorting and shelving of returned books and other materials
• Systematising used books on the sorting shelves according to the Dewey Decimal Classification System and different collections in the library
• Shelving books lying around on tables and shelves.
• Control and shelf reading about correct placement of books on shelves.
• Locating missing books and checking against the LMS
• Participating in stock-taking
• If necessary, assisting with moving and rearranging collections or crammed shelves during quiet periods or holidays – or other library projects
• Assistance to users
• Participating in Orientation, Open Days, and other library marketing events
• Assisting students and staff in locating books
• Provide basic training on how to navigate the NWU Online resources.
• Providing basic search training to users
• Schedule appointments for users with Faculty Librarians
• Collect usage statistics of the library in the evenings
• Supervision of Student Assistants
• Supervise student assistants and Interns in the evenings
• Develop a rooster for student assistants in the evenings
• Ensure student claims are submitted monthly.
• Verification of student assistant claimed hours
• Follow up on queries from student assistants
• Occupational Health and Safety
• Attend OHS training.
• Member of the LIS OHS committee.
• Submit required OHS reports monthly.
• Report OHS issues to the Chair when they arise.
• Ensure compliance with OHS legislation in the evenings.

• Grade 12 or Certificate in Library &/ or Information Science
• 1 year’s experience working in an academic library will be an added advantage

• One year experience in Library and Information work will be an added advantage
• One year of knowledge and understanding of the Dewey classification system or numerical skills will serve as a recommendation

• Computer skills: MS Office, e‑mail and Internet
• General knowledge of the University structure
• Ability to master the Worldshare Library Management Systems
• Ability to get familiar with the Dewey Decimal Classification system

• Positive attitude towards client service, ability to liaise and interpersonal skills
• Ability to function optimal in a fast‑changing working environment
• Ability to attend to various tasks simultaneously and function amidst high stress
• Ability to function independently as well as in teamwork

Ability to work in the evenings and weekends

The annual total remuneration package will be commensurate with the level of appointment as advertised and in line with the NWU policy guidelines.

Mr Kgasane Seemela Tel: 018 389 2826

Ms Dolly Lebepe, Tel: 018 299 4936

07 December 2025

As soon as possible

Kindly take note: applications must be submitted online through the official NWU vacancy website. Incomplete applications and those submitted through any other platform will not be considered.

The University subscribes to and applies the principles of Employment Equity (EE) Act and is committed to transformation. Preference will be given to candidates from the designated groups, in accordance with the principles of the EE Act and NWU Employment Equity Plan. The University reserves the right not to make an appointment. Communication will be limited to shortlisted candidates only. If you are not contacted within two months from the closing date of this advertisement, please accept that your application was unsuccessful.