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Copyright Specialist (Documents)

Legislative Branch
Library of Congress
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is located in the Recordation Division, Office of Copyright Records, U.S. Copyright Office.

The position description number for this position is 463184.

The salary range indicated reflects the locality pay adjustment for the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan area.

This is a non-supervisory, bargaining unit position.

Relocation expenses will not be reimbursed for the person(s) selected for this position.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
06/30/2025 to 07/14/2025
Salary
$69,923 to - $90,898 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 09
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
Work schedule
Full-time - Flexitime. Compflex.
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
11
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Announcement number
VAR003110
Control number
839754200

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

INTERNAL EMPLOYEES - CONSIDERATION UNDER THIS VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT IS LIMITED TO THE PERMANENT AND INDEFINITE STAFF OF THE COPYRIGHT OFFICE, 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.)

Duties

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Within the United States Copyright Office (USCO), the Office of Copyright Records is responsible for establishing records policies and preserving, maintaining, and servicing copyright-related records. This Office records transfers of copyright ownership and notices of termination, makes copyright registrations and documents and related information available to the public, researches and provides certified and non-certified copies of copyright registration deposits, ensures their storage, retention, and security, and performs records management and safeguards the official records of the U. S. Copyright Office. The Office of Copyright Records oversees the world’s largest repository of records on copyright ownership.

Analyzes and examines section 205 documents submitted in paper-based form and through the electronic recordation system to determine whether requirements for recordation have been met. These include documents in English or foreign languages. Conducts research and takes action to resolve various problems or questions in the determination of whether the material meets the requirements for registration.

Independently reviews and examines all types of routine copyright documents submitted to the section. Assists members of the public and staff of other Copyright Office divisions in determining whether documents submitted for copyright are recordable. Determines whether the legal and formal requirements of the copyright law have been met for document recordation. Ensures submitted documents are in the proper form.

Independently creates a public record catalog for all types of recorded documents and catalogs significant features of a document in an organized manner with strict adherence to specific cataloging rules and Copyright Office policies and procedures. Research is sometimes necessary for consistency and compatibility with existing documents. Because of the variable nature of the individual documents and identifying information, the specialist must often devise his/her own methods for recording assigned material by evaluating various rules, conducting research when necessary, and contributing materially to the development of a systematic catalog of records. This information is presented in an organized manner and in strict adherence to specialized copyright rules.

The incumbent determines and inputs in final form all index terms and cross references for each document entry.

Communicates with attorneys, authors agents, and representatives of copyright related industries as well as members of the public through various methods, including letters, telephone, and email, to answer routine copyright-related inquiries relating to document recordation. Provides guidance in explaining Recordation policies and procedures and provides user acceptability testing for system modernization efforts.

Answers inquiries involving general advice concerning Copyright document recordation received through in-person meetings, telephone, or correspondence. Such answers generally are considered to express the opinion of the office and therefore require extreme discretion. Signs and forwards outgoing correspondence on own authority. Forwards most complex inquiries to higher level staff.

Performs various other duties as assigned.

Requirements

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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 research, analyze, and evaluate issues.**

Ability to plan, prioritize, organize and execute work.**

Ability to utilize computer technology/software applications.

Knowledge of copyright law, regulations, policies, procedures and practices.

Ability to meet and deal with others.

Ability to communicate in writing.

Ability to communicate effectively other than in writing.

Education

There are no education requirements for this posting.

Additional information

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.

A “Not to Exceed" (NTE) status is used to identify an appointment with a specific ending date. However, the Library has the right to separate a NTE employee at any time due to either performance issues or budget constraints.

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.
 

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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