Jobs · Free State · Office of the Chief Justice
Principal Librarian
Closes Monday 9 November 2026
The circular is the only authoritative source. Open the PDF at page 144 (opens in new tab)
Free to use · independent of the DPSA · applications go to the department, never to us
Saved on this device. Sign in to keep saved posts across devices and track applications.
AI summary — always check the official circular
Principal Librarian at the Supreme Court of Appeal. Manages the court library, its collection and digital resources, supports legal professionals, and supervises staff. Suits library professionals wit
- Manage the court library's collection, catalogue, subscriptions, and digital resources, and select materials to buy.
- Help judges, lawyers, court staff and the public with research, and run training sessions on legal research and databases.
- Coordinate library administration, budgets, procurement with supply chain management, asset records, and staff meetings. Supervise staff.
- Must have a National Diploma in Library Science, Information Science or an equivalent NQF level 6 qualification (360 credits), recognised by SAQA.
- Must have at least two years of relevant library experience. Experience in a legal or law library is an added advantage.
- Based in Bloemfontein, at the Supreme Court of Appeal. The successful candidate must sign a performance agreement.
- Applications are sent by email to 2026/151/OCJ@judiciary.org.za. No closing date is stated in the advert text.
Generated by claude-haiku-5-5 from the text below; it may be wrong or incomplete. Original wording, page 144 (opens in new tab)
Requirements
- Applicants should be in possession of a National Diploma in Library Science, Information Science or equivalent qualification at NQF level six (6) with 360 credits as recognised by SAQA.
- A minimum of two (2) years’ relevant experience in library services.
- Experience in a legal/law library will serve as an added advantage.
- Knowledge and skills:
- Knowledge of library and information science matters, library prescripts, legislation, procedures and processes, knowledge of online databases, understanding of information management and retrieval of information.
- Skilled in research and analytical skills, communication (written and verbal), computer literacy (MS Office), planning and organising, accuracy and attention to detail.
- Interpersonal skills; problems solving; report writing, ability to work under pressure and independently.
Duties
- Monitor the collection, cataloguing and publications of library materials within the court, identify and select the relevant material to be procured at the court library in accordance with library policies and guidelines; assess the relevance and currency of the library collection and make recommendations for additions, removals, or updates, organise and catalogue legal materials to ensure easy retrieval by legal professionals; apply appropriate classification systems and metadata to enhance the accessibility of the collection and barcoding of library material; monitor the usage of library information resources both hard copies and soft copies (online resources), monitor serial publications, receiving of amendments and updating of loose-leaf subscriptions and binders.
- Facilitate the submission of standing orders for the court, monitor the rendering of library and information services to judiciary, monitor circulation desk services and helpdesk roster, implement digital tools and technologies to enhance information retrieval processes, keep updated on emerging technologies relevant to legal research and library management and integrate into the library's operations, monitor the digital resources, including electronic databases, legal research tools, and online subscriptions, facilitate interlibrary loans to ensure access to materials not available within the court's own collection, monitor the circulation of delivered judgments in both PDF and Word version to publishers and external stakeholders on request, ensure the circulation of finalised judgments of interest to other judges; provide reference assistance and library awareness within the court, provide reference assistance to judges, lawyers, court staff, and the public, provide support with legal research, citation verification and locating relevant legal precedents, conduct training sessions for legal professionals on effective legal research methods and the use of legal databases, keep legal professionals informed about recent developments in the law through newsletters, alerts, and other current awareness services, advocate for the importance of the library within the court system and promote awareness of its resources and services.
- Coordinate and monitor effective library administration, coordinate library services staff meetings, provide support in the coordination of Library Committee meetings, provide support in the facilitation of online trainings by Juta, LexisNexis and Sabinet for judges, judges’ secretaries, registrars and law researchers, monitor quarterly budget allocations for the library; coordinate and monitor the procurement process with supply chain management for new purchases, monitor internal asset verification schedule and assets register, coordinate and monitor the disposal of approved library publications for donations.
- Supervision of staff.
How to apply
Applications can be sent via email to 2026/151/OCJ@judiciary.org.za
New to the Z83 form? Read the application guide.
Enquiries
Technical related enquiries: Mr. V.Z.J Zwane Tel No: (051) 492 4623 HR related enquiries: Ms D.S.J Peters Tel No: (051) 492 4523
Notes from the department
The Organisation will give preference to candidates in line with the Employment Equity goals.
As printed in Circular 38 of 2026 · page 144 · open the PDF (opens in new tab)
POST 38/213: PRINCIPAL LIBRARIAN REF NO: 2026/151/OCJ SALARY: R413 001 – R486 501 per annum (Level 08). The successful candidate will be required to sign a performance agreement. CENTRE: Supreme Court of Appeal: Bloemfontein REQUIREMENTS: Applicants should be in possession of a National Diploma in Library Science, Information Science or equivalent qualification at NQF level six (6) with 360 credits as recognised by SAQA. A minimum of two (2) years’ relevant experience in library services. Experience in a legal/law library will serve as an added advantage. Knowledge and skills: Knowledge of library and information science matters, library prescripts, legislation, procedures and processes, knowledge of online databases, understanding of information management and retrieval of information. Skilled in research and analytical skills, communication (written and verbal), computer literacy (MS Office), planning and organising, accuracy and attention to detail. Interpersonal skills; problems solving; report writing, ability to work under pressure and independently. DUTIES: Monitor the collection, cataloguing and publications of library materials within the court, identify and select the relevant material to be procured at the court library in accordance with library policies and guidelines; assess the relevance and currency of the library collection and make recommendations for additions, removals, or updates, organise and catalogue legal materials to ensure easy retrieval by legal professionals; apply appropriate classification systems and metadata to enhance the accessibility of the collection and barcoding of library material; monitor the usage of library information resources both hard copies and soft copies (online resources), monitor serial publications, receiving of amendments and updating of loose-leaf subscriptions and binders. Facilitate the submission of standing orders for the court, monitor the rendering of library and information services to judiciary, monitor circulation desk services and helpdesk roster, implement digital tools and technologies to enhance information retrieval processes, keep updated on emerging technologies relevant to legal research and library management and integrate into the library's operations, monitor the digital resources, including electronic databases, legal research tools, and online subscriptions, facilitate interlibrary loans to ensure access to materials not available within the court's own collection, monitor the circulation of delivered judgments in both PDF and Word version to publishers and external stakeholders on request, ensure the circulation of finalised judgments of interest to other judges; provide reference assistance and library awareness within the court, provide reference assistance to judges, lawyers, court staff, and the public, provide support with legal research, citation verification and locating relevant legal precedents, conduct training sessions for legal professionals on effective legal research methods and the use of legal databases, keep legal professionals informed about recent developments in the law through newsletters, alerts, and other current awareness services, advocate for the importance of the library within the court system and promote awareness of its resources and services. Coordinate and monitor effective library administration, coordinate library services staff meetings, provide support in the coordination of Library Committee meetings, provide support in the facilitation of online trainings by Juta, LexisNexis and Sabinet for judges, judges’ secretaries, registrars and law researchers, monitor quarterly budget allocations for the library; coordinate and monitor the procurement process with supply chain management for new purchases, monitor internal asset verification schedule and assets register, coordinate and monitor the disposal of approved library publications for donations. Supervision of staff. ENQUIRIES: Technical related enquiries: Mr. V.Z.J Zwane Tel No: (051) 492 4623 HR related enquiries: Ms D.S.J Peters Tel No: (051) 492 4523 APPLICATIONS: Applications can be sent via email to 2026/151/OCJ@judiciary.org.za NOTE: The Organisation will give preference to candidates in line with the Employment Equity goals.