Library Assistant - Ewell Library

The starting salary for this role is £15,541 per annum for working 27 hours per week on a 2-week rota including alternate Saturdays. The full-time equivalent salary is £20,722.

Surrey is one of the largest county councils in the UK and has over 50 libraries across the county. Our library teams deliver a range of services to all members of the public. Times have changed from when all that libraries offered was to lend books and access to a reference collection. Now, in addition to lending books and providing a range of online reference resources, we also hold computer classes, Rhymetimes and Storytimes and various other events such as Minecraft sessions and Code Clubs. We are able to offer a range of services including library services for the elderly or disabled. 

We are looking for a friendly and enthusiastic person, to help us promote and deliver a first-class library service for the people of Surrey. 

Library Assistants deliver children’s activities including Rhymetimes and Storytimes, and support other library events, for example class visits, author talks and IT sessions for customers. Educated to GCSE level or equivalent, you will have good computer skills, with the ability to support library customers with MS Office and other IT applications.  

In the absence of a senior member of staff Library Assistants take responsibility for the day-to-day delivery of the service, and the building. They also support weekend staff, volunteers and volunteer activities. This role will involve periods of lone working or single manning. 

We are looking for the following key skills from potential applicants:  

• Excellent customer care skills 
• Ability to use initiative and work under pressure with accuracy 
• A basic understanding of working in a library 
• Ability to manage time and workload 
• Positive working attitude towards training and development.  
• Knowledge of using Microsoft Office packages 

To be shortlisted to interview for this position your application will clearly evidence:

• Experience of working within a customer service environment. 
• An ability to work effectively under pressure in a busy multi-tasking environment, and independently as well as part of a team
• An interest in, and an enthusiasm for, books and reading, information delivery, and virtual services
• Flexibility towards work patterns

To be shortlisted for interview your CV and personal statement will clearly evidence how your skills and experiences match our job description. 

If you thrive on variety, have excellent customer care and communication skills, and are willing to have a go at a wide range of tasks, you will find this an enjoyable and satisfying role. 

At Surrey, our values and behaviours are just as important as our skills and abilities. They shape who we are as an organisation. Find out more about the values we follow.

The job advert closes at 23:59 on Sunday 27th November 2022.

Interviews will take place on Wednesday 14th December 2022.

Although based at Ewell Library, you may also be asked to work at Banstead, Ashtead and Epsom Libraries, which are in the same group, and will travel to other locations to support the wider library network as required.

There are no staff parking facilities at libraries in Surrey, however there are pay and display car parks close to most locations. If using public transport, please check what options are available for you to travel to individual locations, and when making your application, consider your travel costs and arrangements. 

For more information about these libraries please visit our website

Contact Details

For an informal discussion please contact Jan Howard on 07815 472484 or by e-mail at jan.howard@surreycc.gov.uk.

We look forward to receiving your application, please click on the apply online button below to submit.

Benefits

From flexible working to job sharing (where possible) we are committed to providing a healthy work life balance. You will benefit from 26 days annual leave, rising to 28 days after 2 years' service (pro-rata for part-time hours), a generous local government salary related pension, as well as the option to join our car lease scheme. For more information about the wide variety of benefits you can take advantage of please visit MyBenefits for Surrey County Council staff.