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This position is located in the Music Section, Patron & Network Engagement Division, National Library Services Blind/Print Disabled Directorate, Library Collections and Services Group.
The position description number for this position is 463412.
The salary range indicated reflects the locality pay adjustments for the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan area.
This is a non-supervisory, bargaining unit position.
03/14/2025 to 04/11/2025
$120,579 - $156,755 per year
GS 13
No
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Not required
No
Permanent - Position
Full-time - Flexitime.
Excepted
13
No
No
VAR003045
833684900
INTERNAL EMPLOYEES - CONSIDERATION UNDER THIS VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT IS LIMITED TO THE PERMANENT AND INDEFINITE STAFF OF LIBRARY COLLECTIONS AND SERVICES GROUP, DUE TO BUDGETARY CONSTRAINTS. TEMPORARY NOT-TO-EXCEED (NTE) AND INDEFINITE NOT-TO-EXCEED (NTE) EMPLOYEES ARE INELIGIBLE TO APPLY. (EMPLOYEES MUST MAINTAIN ELIGIBILITY AT THE TIME OF SELECTION.)
The position serves as a Senior Accessible Music Librarian in the Music Section, Patron and Network Engagement (PNE) Division, National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS), within the Library Collections and Services Group (LCSG). Reporting to the Section Head, the incumbent exercises a high degree of independence in improving workflows and updating or creating new guidelines, systems and operational policies. Exercising a high degree of independence, the incumbent provides expert patron services and liaison functions related to music and accessible-format music materials. Facilitates product management and enhancements of library systems. Expert in problem solving; strengthens interoperability of NLS technical systems, patron-related databases, and collection distribution technologies and systems.
Responds to difficult inquiries and solves highly complex problems leveraging highly specialized fields of knowledge regarding accessible-format music materials that are difficult to identify or locate, or information that involves related and rapidly evolving terminology. Responds to inquiries by telephone, correspondence, digital media, and in person. Applies in-depth knowledge of music subjects in general and of concern to disabled persons, their families, and professionals who work with them. Provides information about the NLS program from the vantage point of great familiarity with unique resources within and outside NLS.
Clarifies, analyzes and responds to questions and requirements. Applies search strategies of significant complexity or time; identifies resources from the NLS music collections and from the general and special collections of the Library or from other resources. Clarifies vague requests for accessible-format music materials through use of proper bibliographic tools. Work may involve researching trends and patterns to develop new methods or services, sometimes under severe time constraints. Searches authoritative resources for bibliographic records. Provides technical expertise in the specific subject area of music, especially music in the special formats of braille, large-print, and recorded. Provides assistance in a courteous, professional, and timely manner, in accordance with the highest standards of public service.
Exercises high level of independence to develop collections by identifying acquisition opportunities and reporting to Section Head for further processing. For selected acquisitions, writes justifications, and processes acquisition of new materials for the collection. Examines unsolicited materials to determine whether they should be added to the library's collection. Determines the quality of materials acquired from different sources. Determines the need for new subscriptions and renewals and initiates process accordingly. Able to handle novel or obscure problems and/or special requirements for Music Section collections and collections development coordination. Able to take on Contract Officer Representative (COR) responsibilities. Coordinates in deselecting and withdrawing materials and claims missing titles.
Exercising a high degree of independence, manages projects related to NLS Music Section and/or NLS patron services. Manages projects pertaining to accessible-format files and collections of various complexities relevant to Music Section operations. Solves problems concerning complex accessible music formats by identifying, for example, unusual or obsolete file formats and finding solutions to convert or map them to current accessible music formats. Ensures accuracy and currency of digital archives. Exercises considerable judgment and discretion in interpreting, applying, and developing new guidelines, including deviating from or extending traditional methods, techniques, and practices or identifying areas for improvement in established methods and procedures. Provides guidance to staff and/or interns.
Writes and/or edits materials of a highly complex subject matter utilizing an extensive knowledge of the subject area of music. Writes and/or publishes materials of complex subject matter using an extensive knowledge of the subject area of digital accessible technologies to provide accurate interpretation and explanation of the subject. Writes and/or edits documents, guidelines, articles, metadata, catalog records, NLS music magazines, blog entries for the Music Section's blog, and reports. Compiles information packages for blind or otherwise reading-disabled patrons. Analyzes and reviews the preparation and organization of complex projects. May assist with management of writing and editing tasks and may manage the production of the Section's music magazines. Manages and performs the review of the preparation and processing for the final materials being produced.
Conditions of Employment
Library of Congress employees are prohibited from using illegal drugs, including marijuana. The Library is part of the Federal Government and abides by federal law, so regardless of individual state or District of Columbia laws, marijuana use is illegal, considered criminal activity, and can affect your employment at the Library. In addition, past or current drug use and activities (e.g., selling or distributing) may deem you ineligible for employment.
Applicants must have had progressively responsible experience and training sufficient in scope and quality to furnish them with an acceptable level of the following knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the duties of the position without more than normal supervision.
Ability to provide reference and research services.**
Knowledge of collections, development and management of digitized music materials.**
Ability to manage projects.
Ability to perform writing and editing duties.
Ability to interact collaboratively with others and provide consultation and liaison services.
Ability to communicate effectively other than in writing.
or
You must submit a legible copy of your college/university transcripts to your online application. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable at the time of application. Official transcripts will be required if selected. Failure to submit the required legible documentation at the time of application will result in disqualification of your application.
Foreign Education – Education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed equivalent to conventional/accredited U.S. education programs to be acceptable for Federal employment. If your college/university is outside the U.S., your transcripts must be accompanied by a report from a credential evaluation service that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or the Association of International Credentials Evaluators (AICE). Failure to submit a foreign education evaluation report will result in disqualification of your application.
Although it is the Library's policy to afford the maximum pay benefit to employees when setting rates of pay, a new appointee who has had no previous Federal service will generally be paid at step one of the grade.
The Library of Congress is an equal opportunity employer.
Applicants must submit a complete application package that is received by the closing date of this announcement.
Appointment/retention is subject to a favorable evaluation of an appropriate personnel security/suitability investigation. For more information, please see:Vetting Process
This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please email ADA@loc.gov. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be determined on a case-by-case basis.
Applicants with disabilities may be considered under special hiring procedures and must submit an appropriate certificate of eligibility when applying for this position. The proof or disability/certification may be issued by the State Vocational Rehabilitation Office, Disability Services or Career Services office of the applicant’s college or university, or the Department of Veterans Affairs. The letter must verify that the applicant has a severe disability and must be dated within three years of the date of the application. Certification from health care providers are not accepted. For more information contact the Library's Office of Equal Employment Opportunity at 202-707-6024 or email spp@loc.gov. FAILURE TO SUBMIT YOUR CERTIFICATION WILL CAUSE YOUR APPLICATION TO NOT BE CONSIDERED UNDER THE SELECTIVE PLACEMENT PROGRAM.
The Library of Congress is the national library of the United States and is part of the Legislative Branch of the Federal government. As such, all positions are in the excepted service.
The Library reserves the right to fill a lesser or greater number of vacancies indicated during the life of this vacancy announcement.
Initial permanent appointments to the Library of Congress require completion of a one-year probationary period. Probationary periods served at other Federal agencies do not count toward this requirement.
The Library of Congress may offer repayment for all or part of federally insured student loans. However, not all service units within the Library of Congress participates in the repayment of federally insured student loans. Therefore, determination to repay a federally insured student loan is subject to approval by the appropriate service unit.
Are you a veteran? Please indicate the type of veterans' preference you are claiming in your application materials and/or applicant profile and provide the appropriate supporting documentation to validate your claim. Those applying for 5-point preference must submit Member Copy 4 of your DD 214. Those applying for 10-point preference must fill out an SF-15 (click here for the form) and provide the required documentation listed on the back of the form. If required supporting documentation is not attached, Veterans' Preference will not be considered in the application process.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
The Library of Congress evaluates applicants through an applicant questionnaire and a structured interview. Applicants may also be screened for some jobs through licensing, certification, and/or education requirements, a narrative/application review, and/or a preliminary telephone interview. The knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) that are marked with a double asterisk (**) in the vacancy announcement and the applicant questionnaire are considered the most critical for a position. To be considered for final selection, applicants must demonstrate fully acceptable experience in these designated KSAs in the narrative/application review, preliminary telephone and/or full structured interview. The various assessment tools listed above are designed to verify or explore applicants' experience, knowledge, and training directly related to the job in order to identify the best qualified applicants for selection.
You must submit a legible copy of your college/university transcripts to your online application. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable at the time of application. Official transcripts will be required if selected. Failure to submit the required legible documentation at the time of application will result in disqualification of your application.
Foreign Education – Education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed equivalent to conventional/accredited U.S. education programs to be acceptable for Federal employment. If your college/university is outside the U.S., your transcripts must be accompanied by a report from a credential evaluation service that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or the Association of International Credentials Evaluators (AICE). Failure to submit a foreign education evaluation report will result in disqualification of your application.
Current or former federal employees must submit their most recent Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50 or equivalent).
Applicants with disabilities may be considered under special hiring procedures and must submit an appropriate certificate of eligibility when applying for this position. The proof or disability/certification may be issued by the State Vocational Rehabilitation Office, Disability Services or Career Services office of the applicant’s college or university, or the Department of Veterans Affairs. The letter must verify that the applicant has a severe disability and must be dated within three years of the date of the application. The program does not accept certification from health care providers. For more information contact the Library's Office of Equal Employment Opportunity at 202-707-6024 or email spp@loc.gov. FAILURE TO SUBMIT YOUR CERTIFICATION WILL CAUSE YOUR APPLICATION TO NOT BE CONSIDERED UNDER THE SELECTIVE PLACEMENT PROGRAM.
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
Please carefully follow all instructions under the How to Apply tab to ensure you are considered for the position.
You are required to apply online for this announcement. We are unable to accept mailed or emailed documents. You must complete the entire application process, including submission of all documents BEFORE this announcement closes. To do so, complete the following steps.
Step 1: If you do not already have one, create a resume on USAJOBS. Although you must enter your Social Security Number for USAJOBS, this information will not be provided to the Library of Congress.
Step 2: Review the Job Announcement. We recommend you go to the end of the Qualification and Evaluation section of the job announcement to preview the online questions that you will answer in Step 4. You may wish to customize your USAJOBS resume to ensure that it supports your responses to these questions.
Step 3: Click on the "APPLY ONLINE" button to the right of this announcement. Follow USAJOBS' instructions to access your account and submit your resume. You will be redirected to the Hiring Management website to complete the application process. If this is your first time in Hiring Management, you will be asked to answer questions related to your eligibility for Federal employment. You will be able to update this information and save it to our account for future announcements.
Step 4: Once you have completed the eligibility questions, you will be taken directly to the vacancy application questions. Answer all questions honestly and thoroughly.
Step 5: Hiring Management offers three options that will electronically attach your documentation to your online application once you finish answering the questions in the job announcement.
(1) You may select a document that you have already uploaded to USAJOBS for a previous announcement.
(2) You may electronically upload a document directly from your computer to your application. Be certain to review your complete application for confirmation of the document uploaded and click on "Finished" to be returned to USAJOBS.
IMPORTANT NOTE: If you have multiple documents of the same kind, e.g. 2 undergraduate transcripts from different schools or 2 SF-50s, etc., be sure that they are all in the same file on your computer or in your USAJOBS profile before uploading them. If you try uploading them individually, only the last one sent will be visible in our system. If you have any questions about this information, please contact the person on this announcement BEFORE the closing date.
Step 6: Click on "Finish" after you have completed your application. Once you have submitted your application, you can check your status online through your Hiring Management or MY USAJOBS account. Your complete online application and any required supplemental documentation (e.g., SF-50, etc.) must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) on the closing date of the announcement. It is your responsibility to ensure that all documents are received on time and that the materials are readable. Failure to do so will result in your application being excluded from consideration for this announcement.
If you are experiencing any technical difficulty with the online process, you MUST CONTACT THE POINT OF CONTACT FOR THIS ANNOUNCEMENT BEFORE THE CLOSING DATE. For all technical issues please contact jobhelp@loc.gov , no later than 4:30pm EST of the Closing Date. REQUESTS FOR EXTENSIONS WILL NOT BE GRANTED.
Please review our evaluation process under Evaluation. You may check the status of your application for this position at any time by logging onto the USAJOBS "My USAJOBS" tab and clicking on "My Applications." You will receive final notification via e-mail when the vacancy has been filled.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/833684900. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.