Library Assistant

We are seeking to appoint a Library Assistant to join the Radcliffe Science Library Reader Services team, currently located at the Vere Harmsworth Library, within the Rothermere American Institute.

You will welcome readers and visitors, respond to routine and ad hoc enquiries, direct library users to appropriate services and collections, and provide security during opening hours through invigilation. You will also carry out a full range of other duties associated with front-line reader services, including issuing, returning and renewing library material, administering reserve collections, room bookings and inter-library loans, and act as the first port of call for any problems arising from these transactions.

As part of your everyday duties you will routinely transport material to and from reading rooms, sort and replace open shelf books according to the appropriate classification scheme, tidy shelf sequences, and participate in stock management projects.

The technical services aspect of your job will consist of checking reading lists and the availability and pricing of books and other material on suppliers’ web sites, ordering books and other material in accordance with library procedures, and adding/editing information on the library catalogue.

You will be expected to complete tasks under general direction, manage and prioritise your workload on a day to day basis, and may also be required to act as a point of reference for Grade 2 library assistants. You will work on some Bank Holidays and may be required to work at other library locations from time to time.

You will have a good general education, strong customer focus and communication skills, and be able to work under pressure. Punctuality and accuracy, good team work and IT skills are also essential. Previous experience in academic libraries and a familiarity with a library management system would be desirable.

This is a permanent, part-time position working 29 hours per week Monday to Friday, with at least one evening duty per week– until 10pm during term time, and 7pm in vacations.

This role requires lifting and carrying boxes of library materials, pushing trolleys, climbing ladders and kick-stools in order to access some of the library’s bookshelves and to re-shelve materials. You may also be required to carry out some lone-working and working at height.

You will be required to upload a supporting statement as part of your online application. Your supporting statement should list each of the essential and desirable selection criteria, as detailed in the job description, and explain how you meet each one. CVs will not be considered.

Our staff and students come from all over the world, and we proudly promote a friendly and inclusive culture. Diversity is positively encouraged, through diverse groups and champions, as well as several family-friendly policies, such as the right to apply for flexible working and support for staff returning from periods of extended absence, for example shared parental leave.

Only applications received online before 12.00 midday on Monday 20 February 2023 can be considered. Interviews are expected to take place during the week commencing 20 March 2023.