Senior Library Assistant

West Sussex County Council; Arundel; On-site; GBP 10,000 - 40,000; Part time

Job summary

A local government authority in Arundel seeks a passionate Casual Senior Library Assistant for its Ford Prison Library. Responsibilities include delivering customer service and supporting prisoners and staff with library enquiries. Ideal candidates should hold 4 GCSEs, have strong communication skills, and be proficient in digital tools. You’ll engage with children and families and play a crucial role in promoting literacy. This casual position offers a pay rate of £15.33 to £15.58 per hour with benefits including a pension scheme.

Benefits

Local government pension scheme

Access to discounts and offers

Qualifications

• 4 GCSEs with 9-4 / A-C passes including Maths and English, or equivalent qualification/experience.
• Experience working with the public, delivering information and advice.
• Proficient digital skills for operating library equipment and applications.

Responsibilities

• Deliver a customer-facing library service and high-quality enquiry service.
• Support day-to-day library enquiries and assist Library Orderlies.
• Engage with children and families through activities like story time.

Skills

Customer service

Communication skills

Digital proficiency

Interpersonal skills

Engaging with children and families

Education

4 GCSEs including Maths and English

European Computer Driving Licence or equivalent

Tools

Library management systems

Job description

Overview

Do you have experience of providing a high level of customer service?

Are you motivated by making a difference to communities?

Do you have great communication skills to help you be a trusted point of information and guidance when it matters most?

If so, we would love to hear from you!

West Sussex Library Service provides the library service at Ford Prison, funded by the Ministry of Justice. Our busy library at HMP Ford delivers a wide range of library services including a book, CD and DVD lending service and an enquiry service for prisoners and prison staff. It also provides access to newspapers, magazines, puzzles, and library activities including 'Raising Readers' and a 'Book Chat' session to promote literacy.

Salary: £15.33 to £15.58 per hour (If you are on a casual contract your annual leave will be included in the hourly pay.)

Contract Type: Casual

Working Pattern: Casual

Location: Ford Prison Library Ford Rd, Ford, Arundel BN18 0BX

Interview Date: Monday 9 February 2026

At West Sussex County Council, we promote flexible working, and a casual contract is a perfect fit for that!

About the Job

We are looking to recruit a Casual Senior Library Assistant who is passionate about the important role that libraries play in society to join our Prison Library Team and work effectively alongside a range of prison staff, prisoners, and colleagues across the Library Service.

You will have the confidence to work in a unique environment where you can really make a difference, the successful candidate will receive support from the Prison Library Manager and will respond to day-today library enquiries and provide support to a small team of Library Orderlies (recruited from the prison population).

The duties of a Casual Senior Library Assistant are wide ranging across many areas of the library service and include delivering a customer-facing library service and high-quality enquiry service.

Required Qualifications and Skills

• 4 GCSEs with 9-4 / A-C passes including Maths and English, or equivalent qualification/experience.
• European Computer Driving Licence or an equivalent qualification, or relevant experience demonstrating solid proficiency in digital systems and procedures.
• Experience working with the public and delivering a service that provides basic information, advice, and guidance.
• Proficient digital skills to effectively operate various library equipment, including the library management system, library-related applications (including electronic resources), photocopiers, and internet functionalities.
• Excellent communication and customer service abilities to effectively engage with the public and serve as a reliable source of information, advice, and guidance.
• Good interpersonal skills with the confidence to engage effectively with children, families, and customers of all ages. This includes supporting family fun days at the prison and reading to groups of children during story time sessions.

For more information on the Key Skills as well as the Qualifications and/or experience required, please refer to the Job Description attached.

Rewards and Benefits

From access to our Employee Assistance Programme to training and development opportunities, we aim to create a supportive and dynamic working environment where employees can achieve their full potential, achieve a healthy work-life balance and are rewarded for the work they do.

We think libraries are great places to work, where you can make a difference to local communities every day. Find out more about the variety that comes with working in a library and hear first-hand from some of our library staff here: Library Jobs - West Sussex

You will benefit from an excellent local government pension scheme as well as a range of discounts giving our staff access to hundreds of offers.

For more information about the wide variety of benefits you can take advantage of please visit our Rewards and Benefits page.

Further Information

The reference number for this role is CPP01267.

Does this sound like the opportunity for you? Click apply below, upload your CV, and complete the application form, explaining how you meet the key skills in the attached job description and experience you can bring to the role. Please ensure all that any gaps in employment are covered in your CV.

Please ensure you have saved the job description attached to the main advert on our website as, once the job has closed, you may not have the opportunity to download again.

Struggling to apply? Book onto a Digital Support Session in a library near you to get help navigating our application form (subject to availability)

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults. This post is subject to satisfactory references, health check and HMPS Vetting.

Equity, inclusion and accessibility is very important to West Sussex County Council. We welcome and encourage applications from everyone, as this helps us build a diverse and talented workforce, that reflects the communities we serve. We ensure our approach to recruitment is flexible and supportive to enable all applicants to be at their best and to ensure they have the best possible chance of success.

We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for applicants that have a disability, are a veteran or are a care leaver. More information can be found on our application help page.

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