Teacher-Librarian or Library-based Teacher

What we seek:

The English College is looking for an enthusiastic, creative and reflective educationalist to lead the drive to bring our library right into the heart of the school. They will create a love of reading, and focus on whole-school literacy, curricular engagement and information literacy, while at the same time working alongside a library assistant to maintain the accessibility and integrity of our physical and online resources.

The school is looking to make a major investment into the physical library space within the next year to 18 months. We are looking for a decision-maker with bold vision, who will advise and guide the work of our designer and project manager, suggesting directions that this exciting project could take to support our school’s ambitious literacy aims and curricular engagement.

We have an open mind as to the exact background and qualifications that might be needed for this role, however we are looking for a charismatic, confident and dynamic individual who will feel comfortable working as equal partner to Departmental and Faculty Head leaders and effecting motivational change.

Ideally, the post would suit a dual qualified teacher-librarian, however the nature of the individual’s skills and personal presence is more important, so we would be happy to consider either a qualified librarian or a simply qualified teacher with the right professional experience and ambition. We would provide access to relevant supplementary professional training or qualifications as needed or desired.

Person Specification:

We are looking for someone who:

• Has a zeal for whole school literacy and is able to devise engagement strategies for literacy, either through departmental schemes of work, library promotions or school events
• Has knowledge of how to best improve students’ verbal and reading skills
• Has either a nationally-recognised library qualification, a Master's in Library or Information Science and/or simply a teaching qualification with relevant library, resource centre or literacy experience or enthusiasm
• Is confident in teaching library-based lessons to the full age range 13-19, either alongside or supported by regular class teachers
• Has a good understanding of the importance of information literacy and how best to deliver it
• Has a genuine understanding of the importance of establishing and maintaining good relationships in delivering effective learning and literacy leadership
• Can maintain and enhance a culture of student-library volunteerism
• Has a desire to participate holistically in the life of a busy and ambitious school, through pastoral support and co-curricular activities (such as supporting school clubs or student charity work).
• Is a team-player and collaborator, but also able to infuse their work with their own personality and style
• Has a passion for educating, inspiring and understanding children and a belief that every child can succeed beyond her/his expectations
• Has a commitment to professionalism and the desire to be part of an HMC school with a prestigious history and an important role to play in providing all students with an internationally-minded liberal education
• Has knowledge of library management systems, or a facility for learning ICT systems quickly
• Has flexibility and sense of humour required to work abroad, with both the great benefits and minor challenges that it presents
• Has an interest in getting to know Prague and the Czech Republic, its people, its culture and language.
• Some knowledge of Czech or Slavic languages would be advantageous but definitely not necessary

Job Specification Overview:

The ideal candidate will be confident to perform the following duties and responsibilities:

• Lead on an ambitious plan to physically transform the library, helping it become the heart of literacy education
• Continuously develop the library’s resources in collaboration with the teaching staff, maintaining its relevance t to the ever-changing demands of curricula, reading trends and technology
• Be able to advise on and/or amend curricular Schemes of Work to include planned library-usage time
• Develop and deliver one-off lessons or a bespoke lessons scheme with individual teachers or academic departments, including the preparation of resource materials
• Develop programmes, events and displays promoting reading and the library’s resources
• Update both the content and also the look and feel of the library’s social media sites, to be consistent with the school’s intranet and external website
• Prepare and maintain the library’s budget
• Lead (or support the library assistant - depending on skills and experience)
• in cataloguing the various library resources, both print and digital, using the Dewey Decimal System, MARC and RDA records, and use of a subject authority list
• maintain the library management system including the creation and administration of resource and user records
• purchasing, processing and managing resources for the library and the rest of the school.
• Enable and support the work of the library assistant and run a student library volunteer programme
• Assist students and staff with their research and referencing needs
• Maintain membership of a relevant professional library organisation (i.e. School Library Association) and professional relationship with library contacts including librarians both local and abroad
• Maintain a working knowledge of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme especially in relation to research and referencing

Criminal Records Bureau Disclosure and References Statement:

The English College in Prague is totally committed to safeguarding the welfare of children and young people and expects the same from its employees. All new staff will be subject to enhanced DBS clearance, or similar depending on their country of origin or previous employment. Identity checks, employment checks and qualifications checks all form a non-negotiable part of the recruitment process. Any gaps in employment will be examined, and we will require at least two references, including one from your most recent Headteacher. Safeguarding and child protection training is given on arrival and the induction process follows UK best practice in this regard too.

How to apply:

Email the Headmaster, Dr. Nigel Brown, at headmaster@englishcollege.cz with a short covering letter and a full c.v. Please include a complete career history as well as the names, addresses and telephone numbers of two referees, one of whom should be your current or most recent Headteacher or Director at your current place of work

Only applicants selected for interview will be contacted. Shortlisted candidates will be notified on or before 12th October. Interviews will be conducted by either Skype, or in person in Prague, possibly in London (travel expenses will be reimbursed), depending on the circumstances.