Application
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to analyse and describe information resources in a range of formats so customers can easily retrieve information.
It applies to individuals who possess significant technical skills and knowledge to analyse and describe information materials according to national and international standards. Work is undertaken autonomously, within established guidelines.
No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENT | PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
Elements describe the essential outcomes. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. |
1 Identify description requirements | 1.1 Identify scope and likely use of resources 1.2 Assess customer requirements and expectations, including special needs 1.3 Determine appropriate type and structure of descriptions |
2 Analyse resources | 2.1 Use analysis and description tools and standards, precedents and techniques appropriate to the nature of the resources, including indexes 2.2 Analyse subject content of resources to clearly distinguish significant information from minor references 2.3 Integrate established general concepts and principles of description and knowledge of relevant standards, authorities and legislations. 2.4 Ensure concepts derived from analysis of resources are appropriate in context of the subject field |
3 Describe resources and format descriptions | 3.1 Create descriptions that represent concepts appropriately and reflect the overall purpose and intended use of the description 3.2 Conform format of description to general conventions 3.3 Develop a reference structure of descriptors to display relationships to assist customers 3.4 Enhance description to meet identified customer needs |
4 Review description practices and procedures | 4.1 In consultation with colleagues, review description practices and procedures to ensure they take account of industry developments and meet customer needs 4.2 Take appropriate action within scope of individual responsibility to enhance description practices and procedures 4.3 Check descriptions regularly for internal consistency and compliance with established structure, rules and authorities |
Evidence of Performance
Evidence of the ability to:
use tools, standards and communication skills to analyse and describe resources appropriately and satisfy customer requirements
demonstrate use of current industry systems to analyse and describe a range of different resources.
Note: If a specific volume or frequency is not stated, then evidence must be provided at least once.
Evidence of Knowledge
To complete the unit requirements safely and effectively, the individual must:
apply principles of subject access to a specific resource
demonstrate application of principles of thesauruses used in indexing
compare and contrast types of indexes and abstracts
demonstrate application of abstracting and indexing standards and methods, including descriptions and cross
describe methods for allocating major and minor descriptors to information resources
describe methods for matching reference structure to suit customer needs
describe methods for enhancing subject access through indexing
evaluate monitoring and review processes for indexes and abstracts.
Assessment Conditions
Assessment must be conducted in a safe environment where evidence gathered demonstrates consistent performance of typical activities experienced in the Library – Information Management field of work and include access to:
relevant policies and procedures manuals
relevant thesauruses and database programs and resources to index and abstract
industry software packages.
Assessors of this unit must satisfy the requirements for assessors in applicable vocational education and training legislation, frameworks and/or standards.
Foundation Skills
This section describes language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills incorporated in the performance criteria that are required for competent performance.
Skill | Performance Criteria | Description |
Reading | 1.1-1.3, 2.1-2.4, 3.2-3.4, 4.1, 4.3 | Critically organises, analyses, evaluates and applies content from a wide range of potentially complex information, and distinguishes significant information from minor references |
Writing | 3.1-3.4, 4.1-4.3 | Utilises sophisticated writing skills to summarise information from multiple sources and express precise meaning appropriate to audience and context |
Oral Communication | 1.1, 4.1 | Interacts effectively in verbal exchanges, using active listening and questioning, to convey and clarify information |
Numeracy | 2.1 | Selects and interprets mathematical information embedded in work with indexing concepts |
Navigate the world of work | 2.1, 2.3, 3.2, 4.1-4.3 | Works independently and collectively in making decisions to achieve organisational outcomes Takes full responsibility for following policies, procedures and cataloguing standards Seeks to improve policies and procedures to better meet organisational goals |
Interact with others | 1.1, 4.1 | Collaborates and cooperates with others to achieve joint outcomes |
Get the work done | 1.1-1.3, 2.1-2.4, 3.1, 3.3, 3.4, 4.1 | Plans, organises and implements work activities in line with organisational policies and procedures Evaluates effectiveness of systems and processes to inform decisions on how to implement improvements Systematically gathers and analyses all relevant information and evaluates options to make informed decisions Applies analytical processes to resolve technical or conceptual problems Uses analytical and lateral thinking to create descriptions that anticipate and accommodate ways in which customers may search for resources Uses main features and functions of digital tools to complete work tasks and access information |
Sectors
Library – Information Management