Job title: Library & Digital Assistant
Salary: B3 £26,403 - £28,142 (pro rata for part time posts)
Hours: 3 part time posts available
Contract: Permanent
Location: Leeds Central Library
Did you know that, across the country, public libraries attract over 224.6 million physical visits each year, more than visits to Premier League football games, the cinema and the top 10 UK tourist attractions combined.
Leeds Libraries are looking for welcoming, proactive and motivated individuals to join our professional team. We currently have vacancies for Library & Digital Assistants. This role has a generic job description but the focus for these posts will be to support the delivery of a quality library service in the Leeds Central Library.
This role is key to our delivery of a high quality and customer focussed library service, providing excellent customer service and ensuring an attractive, safe and welcoming space for our customers. You will work directly with customers to support their digital, reading, information and learning needs. Our Assistants deliver a range of events, activities and learning sessions, including Digi Drop In’s, Story & Rhyme and Crafterwork to name a few!
The Central Library is open 6 days a week and evenings Monday to Wednesday.
We are looking for great communicators with good digital skills; previous experience of working in a public library and / or customer service environment and experience of assessing and meeting information or learning needs.
Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.
About you
As a Library & Digital Assistant:
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You have a passion for libraries especially their role in supporting reading and learning
- You have good digital skills, are confident using technology and maximising its benefits
- You are committed to customer service excellence, able to deal positively with feedback and difficult situations and to seek positive resolution
You have experience of working or volunteering in a library or customer service environment
- You have excellent communication skills, listening, written and verbal and are able to communicate clearly to a wide range of audiences
What we offer you
We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:
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a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
- membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
- flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
- a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
- a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further
How to apply
Please complete the online application form.
Read our guidance for further advice. Please check your information carefully and ensure you complete all sections before submitting your application.
If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role please contact CL Delivery Team
[email protected]
We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.
This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.
If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visa route before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Ensure you are eligible before applying.
Job Description
Job purpose
To provide a high quality, welcoming customer focused library service through:
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engaging directly with library users of all ages and supporting them with their information, learning and reading needs
- being proactive in providing excellent customer service and delivering a professional image of Leeds Libraries and the wider council
- ensuring a high standard of environment at all times – attractive, safe and welcoming spaces for citizens
- ensuring the provision of a high-quality relevant stock at all times, well maintained and attractively displayed
- engaging with new and existing customers through library events, activities and learning sessions
ensuring administrative, financial and routine library tasks are effectively implemented
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This is a generic job description, and you will also be expected to support with one or more of the specialised functions detailed below as well as front of house duties:
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cataloguing and indexing services
- library support and acquisitions services
School Library Service support
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Responsibilities
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You will be working directly with citizens, supporting with them with their information, learning and reading needs
- You will actively engage with customers both in the library setting and through outreach activities
- You will contribute to the development and promotion of the library service and its events and activities programme, including learning sessions, for all ages and sections of the community
- You will deliver a range of events, activities and learning sessions, including talks
- You will ensure that library resources are well maintained and creatively displayed to engage readers
- You will contribute to ensuring that performance standards and targets are achieved
- You will be proactive in delivering excellent customer care and maintaining a welcoming, tidy and safe environment
- You will liaise with schools and other partners and stakeholders
- You will support Leeds 100% digital campaign by supporting residents with their basic digital skills
- You will complete administrative functions such as rotas and timetables, maintain accurate financial, statistical, administrative and bibliographic records, monitor risk assessments and health & safety procedures
- You will engage in project groups and support the delivery of the annual business plan
- You will be responsible for the supervision of volunteers and work placements
- You will assist with audio-visual and digital support for library events and activities.
- You will undertake cataloguing duties, index, scan, digitise and input materials onto the relevant library databases
- You will work within multiple teams and at other venues as required, be flexible in working hours within your contracted hours and work evenings and weekends as required, including events outside of library open hours. The work is physical and involves standing, lifting and carrying
- You will be responsible for your personal health and safety and that of other people who use the library service. You will be expected to be vigilant for the safety of the building, opening and closing as required. Completing the duties of fire marshal, fire warden and emergency incident officer and shift supervisor as assigned. There may be occasions when you are working on your own
- This post involves direct work with the public in an open access setting, the post holder will need to display resilience to some demanding situations
- Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
- Participate in appraisal, training, and development activities as necessary to ensure up to date knowledge and skills.
- Improve own practice through observation, evaluation, discussion with colleagues and appropriate CPD programmes.
- Work collaboratively with colleagues, knowing when to seek help and advice.
- Contribute to the overall ethos, work, and aims of the service by attending relevant meetings, training days/events as requested.
- Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures e.g., child protection, health, safety and security, confidentiality, and data protection, reporting all concerns to an appropriate person
- Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, and promoting the values, standards, and equality & diversity policies of Leeds City Council.
- Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse of equal opportunities, ensuring compliance with relevant policies and procedures.
- The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.
- The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and this role will be expected to work within these parameters.
Qualifications
You have a good level of literacy and numeracy (GCSE or equivalent)
Personal Specification
Method of assessment will be through one or more of the following application form, test, interview, and certificate.
Essential requirements
It is essential that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post within the context of the specific role duties and responsibilities: Candidates will only be shortlisted for interview if they can demonstrate on the application form that they meet all the essential requirements.
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You are able and enthusiastic about supporting and encouraging customers to develop their reading choices, digital skills and to access information and learning opportunities
- You have good digital skills, are confident using technology and maximising its benefits
- You can connect readily and naturally with people
- You have excellent communication skills, listening, written and verbal. You are able to communicate clearly to a wide range of audiences
- You are committed to customer service excellence, able to deal positively with feedback and difficult situations and to seek positive resolution
- You have well developed organisational skills and show excellent attention to detail.
- You are able to work without supervision
- Able to work flexibly across different work locations and areas as appropriate.
- You have a good knowledge of the role of public libraries and services offered
- You have a good level of literacy and numeracy (GCSE or equivalent)
- You have experience of working or volunteering in a library or customer service environment
- You have experience of working as part of a team
- You have experience of assessing someone’s information or learning needs and using a variety of accredited resources to satisfy them
- You have experience of undertaking administrative tasks
- You have experience of working with others in a positive and constructive way.
- Committed to continuous improvement
- You have a passion for libraries especially their role in supporting reading and learning
- Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council equality and diversity policies.
- Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health and Safety Policies.
- Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities to ensure up to date knowledge, skills, and continuous professional development
- Understand and embrace our values, behaviours and codes of conduct.
Behavioural and other Characteristics required
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Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct.
- Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon
- Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council equality and diversity policies.
- Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health and Safety Policies.
- Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities.
- Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
- Participate in appraisal, training, and development activities.
- Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
- Be aware of and support difference ensuring equality for all, working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & diversity.
- Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person.
- The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters
Desirable requirements
It is desirable that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post within the context of the specific role duties and responsibilities: Candidates are not required to meet all the desirable requirements however these may be used to distinguish between acceptable candidates.
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You have knowledge of Leeds City Council Financial processes and procedures
- You have knowledge of MARC cataloguing, AACR2 and the latest edition of Dewey
- You have experience of creating library index or catalogue records.
- You have experience of delivering activities or events for a wide range of people
- You have experience of working with vulnerable people in community settings and people from diverse cultural backgrounds
