Collections Assistant (Library)

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 31,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Continuous learning

Annual leave entitlement

Flexible working

Job summary

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew is seeking a Collections Assistant (Library) to join the Library and Archives team. The post holder will support access to the world’s botanical literature collection and respond to enquiries from staff, students, volunteers, external researchers and the public.

The role involves assisting with Reading Room bookings, invigilation, retrievals, shelving and copying services, as well as delivering visits, tours and inductions.

Qualifications

• Experience working in a library, ideally in a research, academic, or other specialised library.
• Excellent communication skills and customer service experience.
• You must be able to work constructively and flexibly within a team, have excellent IT skills and demonstrate attention to detail.
• Time-management and organisational skills are essential.

Responsibilities

• Assist with Reading Room bookings, invigilation duties, retrievals and shelving.
• Provide a copying service and deliver visits, tours and inductions.
• Support collection management and care to preserve the collections for the future.
• Respond to enquiries from staff, students, volunteers, researchers and the public.

Skills

Communication skills

Customer service

IT skills

Attention to detail

Time management

Organisational skills

Job description

We have an exciting opportunity for a CollectionsAssistant (Library)tojoin the LibraryandArchives’ team. The post holder will support access to one of the world’s most comprehensive collections of botanical literature, ranging from the 14th century to the modern day. The CollectionsAssistant (Library)will respond to enquiries from Kew staff, students and volunteers, external researchers and the public to help users access Library and Archives’ collections relevant to their research. A large part of this varied role will be supporting access and engagement, including assisting with Reading Room bookings, invigilation duties, retrievals and shelving and providing a copying service. The role also delivers visits, tours and inductions and supports collection management and care to help preserve our collections for the future.

This permanent, full-time role will suitan individual with experience workingin a library, ideally in a research, academic, or other specialised library. Youwill haveexcellent communication skills and customer service experience.You must be able toworkconstructively and flexibly within a team,haveexcellentIT skillsanddemonstrateattention to detail.Time-management and organisational skills are essential. A demonstrable interest in rare book/special collections and/or Kew’s collections of botanical literature is desirable.

Due to the collections-based nature of the role,the successful applicant willbe expected to work on site. You must have the ability tohandle largeobjectsand boxes and to work at height.

Working hourswill be 36 hours/week,worked from Monday-Friday each week.

Interviews are due to take place w/c 2 November.

The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (RBG Kew) is a leading plant science institute, UNESCO World Heritage Site, and major visitor attraction. Our mission is to understand and protect plants and fungi for the well-being of people and the future of all life on Earth.

We are working to end the unprecedented extinction crisis and to help create a world where nature is protected, valued by all and managed sustainably. We will achieve these goals by drawing on our leading scientific research, unrivalled collections of plants and fungi, global network of partners, inspirational gardens at Kew and Wakehurst, and our 260 years of history.

Join us on our journey as protectors of the world’s plants and fungi.

The salary for this position is£29,692 - £31,434 per annum, depending on skills and experience [Band B]

Our fantastic benefits package includes opportunities for continuous learning, a generous annual leave entitlement, flexible working to help you maintain a healthy work-life balance, an Employee Assistance Programme and other wellbeing support such as cycle to work scheme and discounted gym membership. We also offer a competitive pension, an employee discount scheme and free entry into a wide range of national museums and galleries, as well as access to our own beautiful gardens at Kew and Wakehurst.

We are dedicated to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from all sections of the community. We are committed to interview disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post.

No agencies please.