Jamaica Government Librarian
What is a Government Librarian in Jamaica’s Civil Service?
Government Librarians in the PIDG/LB series manage Jamaica’s public sector libraries and information resource centres — from the National Library of Jamaica and Parliament’s library to specialist ministry resource centres and law libraries. Running from LB 1 to LB 5 (Pay Bands 5–9), the series covers cataloguing and reference services at junior grades through to collection management strategy, digital library development and knowledge management at senior levels. It is an intellectually rewarding career that sits at the intersection of information science, public service and digital transformation.
Official Grade Levels & Salary Scale (Effective 1 April 2024)
| Grade | Pay Band | Annual Salary | Monthly (÷12) | Typical Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LB 1 | Band 5 | J$2,190,302–J$2,945,712 p.a. | J$182,525–J$245,476/mo | Library Assistant — cataloguing, shelving, circulation desk, borrower queries |
| LB 2 | Band 6 | J$2,803,771–J$3,770,761 p.a. | J$233,647–J$314,230/mo | Librarian I — reference services, acquisitions, interlibrary loans, indexing |
| LB 3 | Band 7 | J$3,501,526–J$4,709,163 p.a. | J$291,793–J$392,430/mo | Senior Librarian — collection management, digitisation projects, staff supervision |
| LB 4 | Band 8 | J$4,266,270–J$5,737,658 p.a. | J$355,522–J$478,138/mo | Principal Librarian — library management, budgeting, public access services |
| LB 5 | Band 9 | J$5,198,035–J$6,990,779 p.a. | J$433,169–J$582,564/mo | Chief Librarian — strategic library leadership, knowledge management policy |
ⓘ Monthly figures are indicative (annual ÷ 12). Actual monthly pay depends on grade point within the band and standard deductions.
Typical Duties & Responsibilities
- Cataloguing and classifying library materials using Dewey Decimal or LC system
- Providing reference and research assistance to government staff and the public
- Managing acquisitions, subscriptions and digital databases
- Digitising archival materials and managing digital repositories
- Supervising library staff and volunteers
- Developing library policies, collection development plans and access guidelines
- Supporting the ministry’s knowledge management and information-sharing objectives
- Organising exhibitions, reading programmes and information literacy training
Qualifications & Entry Requirements
- LB 1: Diploma or Associate Degree in Library and Information Studies
- LB 2–3: Bachelor of Library and Information Science (BLIS) or MLIS from an accredited programme
- LB 4–5: MLIS or postgraduate qualification in Information Science or Knowledge Management
- Registration with the Library and Information Association of Jamaica (LIAJA) valued
- Experience with integrated library systems (Koha, Evergreen, ABCD) advantageous
- Digital library and metadata skills increasingly important
Key Skills & Competencies
Career Progression Path
How to Apply
Vacancies are advertised on the Jamaica Civil Service portal (publicservice.gov.jm), individual ministry websites, and major Caribbean job boards. Applications are submitted to the relevant Permanent Secretary or Human Resource Management department.
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