Section 1

Contemporary salary standards 2009-2011

The following salary standards are those set under the Crown Employees (Public Sector - Salaries 2008) Award in New South Wales. Since 2002, NSW has upheld the Equal Remuneration Principle relating to librarians, library technicians, library assistants and archivists, established by the NSW Industrial Relations Commission. ALIA recommends that the same principle and salary standards be followed throughout Australia.

The 2008 wage case in NSW has resulted in the following salary scales for State Government library workers being set for the next three years, based on a 4% increase each year.

These salaries do not include superannuation.

Librarian grade 1

A professional practitioner at this level:

1. Provides professional library and information services and/or assists in the development of library and information services and systems. May co-ordinate discrete library and information management projects or assist in the operations and systems of a unit, team or library service.
2. Requires sound knowledge of library and information service concepts, principles and theory, and a sound understanding of library systems, practices and procedures.
3. Exercises judgment in dealing with a range of operational and/or conceptual tasks and problems with reference to established standards, practices and procedures. Is able to adapt systems, standards or priorities and deviate to a limited extent from precedent. With experience may solve non-routine problems by applying principle and theory with reference to precedent.
4. Works under general supervision of a senior professional or manager. Works either individually or co-operatively as a member of a team or as the leader of a small non-hierarchical team.
5. The outcome of work is usually direct or short-term to intermediate, but may be long-term in its effect on clients, collections and co-workers. Work may assist in the formulation of procedures or policies and contribute to the body of professional knowledge.

Librarian grade 2

An experienced professional practitioner and/or developing specialist at this level:

1. Provides complex or specialist library and information services. May co-ordinate/supervise a discrete library and information management project, or the operations and systems of a unit, team or library service.
2. Requires a well-developed knowledge of library and information management concepts, principles and theory, and well-developed skills in the application of library and information systems, collections, services or subject knowledge.
3. Exercises judgment and initiative in dealing with a wide range of complex tasks and problems, with reference to established standards, practices and procedures. Is able to adapt systems, standards or priorities and deviate substantially from precedent.
4. Works under general direction of a senior professional or manager. Works either individually as a specialist or co-operatively as a member of a non-hierarchical team, or as a leader or supervisor of a team or discrete project.
5. The outcome of work including decisions is direct, but may be long-term in its effect on clients, collections and co-workers. May assist in the formulation of policy and advice to senior management. Work often contributes to the body of professional knowledge.

Librarian grade 3

A senior professional practitioner, manager and/or specialist at this level:

1. Manages and/or provides complex or specialist library and information services. May manage substantial library and information management projects, or the operations and systems of a unit, team or library service.
2. Requires substantial knowledge of library and information management concepts, principles and theory. Has a high-level of proficiency and expertise in specific systems, collections, services or subject knowledge. Requires either management expertise or standing as a recognised internal authority in an area of the discipline of significance to the organisation.
3. Exercises judgment and initiative in dealing with a range of complex and detailed operational or conceptual problems and tasks that may extend beyond the immediate work area. May develop and/or introduce enhancements to practices, systems and procedures with limited reference to precedent. Demonstrates a sound understanding and ability to interpret professional standards, practices and theory.
4. Works under guidance of a senior professional or manager. Work may be reviewed periodically or at key stages for soundness of judgment and adherence to organisational objectives and policies.
5. The outcome of work including decisions is usually intermediate to long-term, and may have considerable effect and impact on the objectives and performance of service delivery for clients, collections and co-workers within the legal, library and information management context. May formulate policy and advice to senior management. Work often contributes to the body of professional, subject or policy area of knowledge.

Librarian grade 4

A principal professional practitioner and/or senior manager and/or senior specialist at this level:

1. Leads and manages significant organisational service/s, project/s or program/s, and/or provides authoritative highly-specialised advice to senior management, the organisation as a whole, or external parties. May initiate and implement a major library and information management project or program, or oversee the operations and systems of a significant unit, team or library service.
2. Requires and applies significant knowledge of library and information management concepts, principles and theory extending across multiple aspects of the profession. Also requires either significant management expertise or standing as a recognised internal or external authority on systems, collections, services or subject knowledge, or an area of the discipline of significance to the organisation, industry or profession.
3. Exercises independent or interpretive judgment and initiative in dealing with a range of highly-complex and detailed operational or conceptual problems and tasks. Is able to create new systems, standards or approaches and interprets information where there is little or no precedent. Demonstrates an extensive understanding of professional standards and multiple aspects of library and information services that may require new or unique solutions.
4. Works with occasional managerial or professional review or independently as a recognised specialist. Work is primarily reviewed for effectiveness and progress towards agreed organisational objectives.
5. The outcome of work including decisions has significant long-term effect, and usually contributes substantially to organisational performance, and/or to the body of professional or subject knowledge. Work is expected to have significant policy, legal or service delivery implications at the organisational level and may also have an impact at the state or national level.

Librarian grade 5

A principal professional manager and/or principal specialist at this level:

1. Leads and directs a branch or program or library service of strategic significance to the organisation and/or provides authoritative advice of the highest order in an area of specialist expertise of significance to the organisation, industry or profession.
2. Requires extensive knowledge of library and information management concepts, principles and theory extending across multiple aspects of the profession. Requires extensive management expertise and detailed knowledge of service delivery and development issues, and/or standing as a recognised authority on systems, collections, services, or subject knowledge, or an area of the discipline of significance to the organisation, industry or profession.
3. Exercises critical or managerial judgment and initiative to anticipate, conceptualise and resolve sophisticated problems that have strategic organisational impact. Is able to independently conceive of, and implement program objectives and strategies, or new systems or approaches in the absence of precedent.
4. Work is primarily guided by organisational policies and administrative controls.
5. The outcome of work, including decisions is strategic, and contributes substantially to organisational performance, or to the body of professional or subject knowledge. Work has significant legal, policy or service delivery implications at the organisational, state or national level.

Library technician grade 1

A paraprofessional practitioner at this level:

1. Performs and/or assists in co-ordinating activities required for the operation and maintenance of library and information services and systems.
2. Requires sound knowledge and skill and the ability to develop expertise in library and information management concepts necessary to undertake a varied range of tasks in library procedures and operations.
3. Exercises judgment in dealing with a range of general or specialist tasks and problems, with reference to established standards, practices and procedures. Some adaptation of systems, standards or practices may be undertaken.
4. Works under general supervision of a senior paraprofessional or a professional or manager. Works either individually or co-operatively as a member of a team, or as the leader of a small non-hierarchical team.
5. The outcome of work is usually direct or short-term to intermediate, but may be long-term in its effect on clients, collections and co-workers. Work may assist in the formulation of procedures or policies.

Library technician grade 2

An experienced paraprofessional practitioner or specialist at this level:

1. Performs and co-ordinates activities required for the operation and maintenance of information services and systems at a comprehensive level. May manage discrete library and information management projects or coordinate the operations and systems of a unit or team.
2. Requires substantial knowledge and skill, as well as a high level of proficiency and expertise in library and information principles and theory necessary to undertake a wide range of tasks in library procedures and operations.
3. Exercises judgment in dealing with a range of complex or specialist tasks and problems, and in the application of principles and theory. Is able to adapt systems, standards or priorities, and deviate substantially from precedent.
4. Works under minimal direction of a senior professional or manager, and is reviewed occasionally or at key stages. Work may be undertaken individually as a specialist or co-operatively as a member of a non-hierarchical team, or as a leader or supervisor of a team.
5. The outcome of work may have a long-term effect on clients, collections, co-workers or other agencies. Develops or applies work practices, procedures or policies in their area of responsibility. Work may contribute to the body of knowledge in library and information services, or area of specialisation.

Library assistants

A practitioner at this level:

1. Performs routine activities to gain practical experience required for the operation of information systems and services to clients.
2. Requires ability to develop skills in, and knowledge of library and information standards, procedures, practices and operations, and specific library collections obtained from formal course work and/or workplace training.
3. Exercises judgment, where a choice of action is available within the application of clearly-established standards, practices and procedures.
4. Works under direct supervision of a senior paraprofessional or a professional, but exercises increasing autonomy in prioritising and completing tasks. This may involve working co-operatively in the organisation of work.
5. The outcome of work undertaken is usually of direct, but short-term effect on clients, collections and co-workers.