[KATALIST] Opportunity to Intern with the REC, Szentendre, Hungary

[Jerome Simpson]

Knowledge Manager/Information Professional
Part-time Internship with the REC
Application Deadline: Nov. 17, 2006

Background
The Regional Environmental Center (REC) for Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) is an international organisation located in Szentendre, Hungary. It was established in 1990. One of its mission objectives is to provide access to environmental information on the CEE region.  Over its 16 years of existence, its library has accumulated more than 10,000 grey literature items.  By the mid 1990's it handled more than 800 information requests per year, although today demand is significantly less.  Among the future prospects for its library is a possible relocation and re-launch within REC's new Energy Efficiency Centre. 

Task Description
>From January 2007, the REC seeks an innovative knowledge manager/information professional with ambition to map a future vision for the REC library.  Their work is envisaged to proceed in several stages, the first until end March 2007: 

-	Familiarising themselves with the library collection via a broad inventory of its information resources, and subsequently overseeing a clean-up via discard of duplicates, foreign-language materials, UN working docs etc. 
-	Acquainting themselves with the library's cataloguing system, and keywording policy (currently handled by a retired keywording specialist).  
-	Implementing a short survey of REC staff to test assumptions on the future possible composition of the library collection and services;
-	Drafting a strategy together with the Information Programme Head that explores the following scenarios for the library and makes a recommendation for one in particular:
1)	Closure and auction/donation of library materials to neighbouring institutions;
2)	Maintenance of a REC-funded archiving service and limited resource collection (both physical and digital);
3)	Cost recovery through internal and external referral/information services besides collection management/development; and
4)	Development of REC as an information portal and hub for a CEE environmental information centres' network with a corresponding funding strategy.

>From April 2007 the chosen strategic direction would be implemented.

Qualifications Required
The task would ideally suit a recent library graduate/post-grad student, and/or a dynamic-yet-patient individual with experience and interest in special libraries. There is opportunity, contingent on funding, for the position to evolve into a part or full-time project officer position within the Information Programme, an international and highly dynamic team. 

The following skills and qualifications are required (but not all are pre-requisite):
*	Knowledge/library management qualification and/or experience; 
*	Knowledge in environment issues; 
*	Excellent communication skills; and
*	Ability to think strategically, write and work proficiently in English.
 
*	Hungarian language a plus.

Internship conditions:
*	The internship is envisaged to involve 2 ½ days/week of work.
*	Interns are expected to cover their own travel, accommodations and personal expenses (ideally through already secured sponsorship), though the REC will assist the intern with accommodation and travel arrangements, including the acquisition of a visa for Hungary, and is often able to offer interns inexpensive accommodation on its premises. Very limited remuneration can also be offered for the work undertaken.
*	The REC will provide the intern with a workstation suitable for the performance of tasks. The REC will also provide the intern with the necessary guidance and supervision to ensure a mutually beneficial learning and working process.

The application procedure to be followed is outlined on the general REC Internship Programme Webpage (http://www.rec.org/REC/Programs/Internship.html). If you are interested in this position, please refer to it in your letter of interest!


For more information on this internship opportunity, contact:

Jerome Simpson
Head of Information Programme
jsimpson at rec.org 
Todd Schenk
Internship Programme Project Manager
todd at rec.org 

The Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe
Ady Endre ut 9-11 
2000 Szentendre, Hungary
Telephone: (36-26) 504-000
Fax: (36-26) 311-294
http://www.rec.org

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