​Local Studies Librarian

Berkshire

£30,000 Pro Rata

Permanent – 18.5 hours per week

ASAP start

About the company

Sue Hill Recruitment are delighted to be working with this Berkshire based client, who has recently undergone a fairly significant and disruptive Library Transformation process and are now looking to add a Local Studies Librarian to their team. You will have the opportunity to help mould the service going forward and will be able to make a significant impact if you wish to do so.

The purpose of this role is to provide professional library and information management services in general, and in particular, the curation and professional stock development and maintenance of a high-quality Local Studies, Local History and Community Information collections, ensuring resources are accessible to all residents. To also develop links with local studies groups and organisations maximising the use of resources and stock available in the libraries

One late night per week and 2 weekend days per month need to be worked.

What you’ll be doing

•         Curation and professional stock development, including maintenance and development of high-quality collections that are accessible to all residents.

•         Working alongside library supervisors, develop opportunities for structured and unstructured forms of interaction and engagement within libraries to encourage maximum take-up of local studies collections.

•         Develop a programme of activity both digital and physical that promotes the Local Studies collections.

•         Ensure children have access to local history for learning and enjoyment.

•         Keep up to date and anticipate the release of new publications and trends in reading, in order to select and promote library resources that meet demand without delay.

•         Maintain awareness of and stay abreast of developments in the Book World and develop professional relationships with contacts in the books, reading and publishing world.

•         Contribute to suitable project working as necessary.

•         Develop positive relationships with stakeholders, partners and potential customers to increase opportunities to promote the service.

•         Under the direction of Library and Resident supervisors, undertake direct customer service delivery for a specified proportion of the working week, including weekends and evenings.

•         Use appropriate new technologies and methods to promote events, activities and services to reach new customer groups.

•         Act as the senior officer on duty to ensure customer complaints, comments and queries can be resolved as quickly as possible, responding to difficult customers when escalations occur.

•         Ensure buildings are secured after an event or at the end of a shift.

•         Deliver a programme of training for all staff to ensure they are equipped and competent to meet the local studies and community information needs of customers.

•         Promote and support all libraries in their role as community hubs, that operate as a gateway to physical and digital information and are used by a range of partners to bring people together, giving them access to a greater breadth and depth of services and support.

•         Promote library stock, including use of displays, and creating and maintaining promotions to encourage maximum use of stock and library services for residents.

•         Maintain up to date contact lists for authors/speakers/groups to contact for future events, and ensure they are relevant and likely to meet demand.

•         Update webpages and using social media and other platforms to promote libraries, library services, library activities and stock.

•         Actively contribute to the development and delivery of the library service, and to anticipate and respond to customer expectations by identifying and delivering additional strands of service to ensure customers’ needs are met in advance of being expressed.

•         Take advantage of library design which has ensured maximum flexibility to facilitate multiple potential uses of the space for cultural activities, educational services, health and wellbeing events, community support and volunteering opportunities.

•         Help residents navigate access to digital and physical information sources and books.

•         Make every effort to ensure the digital offer is inclusive to all and fully blended with the physical offer.

Why you will be hired

To be considered for this role you will require:

•                      Qualified in Library and Information Science beneficial

•                      First degree or equivalent library knowledge and experience gained through work related training

•                      Experience of working in public libraries or community information delivery / enquiry locations

•                      Experience in developing & leading enquiry service activity for customers

•                      Demonstrable delivery of enquiry service projects to improve services

•                      Awareness of the value of library, community information & enquiry services

•         Good skills in use of ICT for delivery of modern working practices

•         Excellent customer service skills

•         Ability to form partnerships to enhance delivery of enquiry services

•         Ability to train others

•         Good levels of oral and written communication skills

•         Specialist knowledge of books, authors and reading beneficial

•         Experience in event planning, organisation and review

•         Ability to monitor and manage allocated budgets

•         Experience of working in and ability to identify and form productive internal and external partnerships to enhance delivery of service

•         Excellent levels of library stock management expertise

•         Ability to write reports for senior staff and elected Members

•         Available to work weekend and evening shifts

•         Ability to be flexible in terms of working patterns and working locations

The job is very physical in its nature therefore the following is required: The ability to lift and carry boxes of craft materials and books, to assemble and dismantle shelving units, to move laden trolleys, display units and shelving on castors, to move tables and chairs and other similar items of furniture, to walk up and down stairs and to stand on your feet for extended periods of time.

​

Additional Information

This is a fantastic opportunity for someone to help mould the library service going forward