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Senior Acquisition and Collections Librarian

Legislative Branch
Library of Congress

Summary

The Congressional Research Service (CRS), Knowledge Services Group (KSG) seeks a Senior Acquisition and Collections Librarian to join its Acquisition and Collections Section. The selectee will be responsible for a wide range of acquisitions and collection development activities related to the procurement, receipt, and management of research materials in various formats.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
01/27/2026 to 02/17/2026
Salary
$121,785 to - $158,322 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 13
Location
Washington, DC
1 vacancy
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent - Position
Work schedule
Full-time - Flexitime-Compflex.
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
13
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Bargaining unit status
Yes
Announcement number
VAR003237
Control number
855579600

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

U.S. Citizens

Duties

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This position is located in the Knowledge Management Group (KSG) within the Congressional Research Service (CRS) at the Library of Congress. The KSG responds to congressional requests and supports CRS analysts, attorneys, and information professionals by facilitating access to authoritative information resources; helps CRS users find solutions for their information needs; and captures, organizes, and manages information and data to facilitate future use.

Following federal, LC, and CRS regulations and procedures, the Senior Acquisition and Collections Librarian works collegially and collaboratively with staff across CRS research divisions and offices to fulfill acquisition requests via various purchase methods, including government purchase card, across a broad spectrum of subjects and formats, including electronic and print monographs, electronic and print serials, and government documents. The Senior Acquisition and Collections Librarian resolves highly complex acquisition issues; provides input on the negotiation of license terms; maintains accurate records in the integrated library system, the LC financial management system, and various Microsoft products; and effectively answers questions from CRS staff and external vendors. Serving as the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) for research materials contracts, the Senior Acquisition and Collections Librarian develops Statements of Work (SOWs), justification and approval statements, and other documents required to establish and maintain contracts.

The position also requires the evaluation of existing research collections to identify gaps and recommend the acquisition of research materials in accordance with the needs of CRS in its work for Congress. The Senior Acquisition and Collections Librarian maintains awareness of the availability of government documents and works with other LC service units to capture and preserve materials of interest to CRS and Congress.

The Senior Acquisition and Collections Librarian reviews acquisition records in CRS and Library systems to ensure that information is entered correctly and complies with federal acquisition regulations; reviews and updates work processes to improve efficiency or take advantage of new technologies; and may brief other CRS staff on processes and procedures related to acquisitions and collections development.

The Senior Acquisition and Collections Librarian also serves as a liaison for collaboration between KSG sections, other CRS divisions and offices, and other LC service units and offices, representing CRS in LC activities related to collection development and/or acquisitions and identifying opportunities for collaboration with other LC units to reduce costs and improve access to research materials.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

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.

Qualifications

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 acquire and manage access to research materials**
  • Ability to solve problems and make decisions**
  • Ability to develop research collections**
  • Ability to use integrated library systems (ILS), library applications, and other information technologies
  • Ability to communicate in writing
  • Ability to interact collaboratively with others
  • Ability to convey information and effectively communicate other than in writing

Education

All librarians must meet the requirements for professional education in library science or possess equivalent experience and education.

A. Completion of at least 1 full academic year of graduate study in library science in an accredited college or university, in addition to completion of all work required for a bachelor's degree;

Or

B. A total of at least 5 years of a combination of college-level education, training, and experience. To qualify on this basis, the applicant must establish conclusively that the education, training, and experience provided a knowledge and understanding of the theories, principles, and techniques of professional librarianship; a knowledge of literature resources; and the knowledge and abilities essential for providing effective library and information services.

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.

Additional information

The Congressional Research Service, within the Library of Congress, is part of the Legislative Branch of the federal government. As such, all positions are in the excepted service.

The salary range indicated reflects the locality pay adjustment for the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. 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 the minimum step of the grade.

This is a non-supervisory, bargaining unit position.

The tour of duty for this position is full-time.

The position description number for this position is 383286.

The selectee will work a 40-hour week.

The incumbent of this position is eligible to work a flexitime and/or compflex work schedule. RELOCATION EXPENSES ARE NOT AUTHORIZED FOR THE PERSON(S) SELECTED UNDER THIS VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT.

The Library reserves the right to fill a lesser or greater number of vacancies indicated during the life of this vacancy announcement.

Appointment/retention is subject to a favorable evaluation of an appropriate personnel security/suitability investigation.

Applicants who are referred for interview will be required to submit a completed OF-306, Declaration for Federal Employment.

Initial appointments, permanent or indefinite, to the Library of Congress require completion of a one-year probationary period.

This agency provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify this agency. The decision on granting reasonable accommodations will be made 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 certificate of disability may be issued by a State Vocational Rehabilitation Office, Disability Services or Career Services office of an applicant's college or university, or the Department of Veterans Affairs. The date of certification must be within one year of the vacancy closing date and must be submitted with your application. For more information view the directive on the Library's Selective Placement Program and/or contact the Library's Office of Equal Employment Opportunity at 202-707-3960 (voice or TTY) or email spp@loc.gov. FAILURE TO SUBMIT YOUR CERTIFICATION WILL CAUSE YOUR APPLICATION TO NOT BE CONSIDERED UNDER THE SELECTIVE PLACEMENT PROGRAM.

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, Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, and provide the required documentation listed on the back of the form. For more information regarding eligibility requirements, please see the Library's Merit Selection Plan, Section X.D. IF REQUIRED SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION IS NOT ATTACHED, VETERANS' PREFERENCE WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED IN THE APPLICATION PROCESS.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

How you will be evaluated

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.


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