Junior School Librarian

School Talent; City of Edinburgh; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 26,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free school lunches

Sports club membership

Moving day allowance

Pension contributions (up to 8%)

Family friendly policies

Discount scheme access

Employee assistance service

Cycle to work

Job summary

Erskine Stewart Melville are currently recruiting a Librarian to join the Junior School on a permanent basis. The role is term-time only, working 37.5 hours per week, with a salary of £23,574.38.

The Librarian will select and recommend age-appropriate, curriculum-aligned books to support Year Groups P4–P7, including Accelerated Reader, and will engage with pupils, teachers and reading initiatives.

Qualifications

• Experience with database administration and managing library collections.
• Passion for literature and ability to engage with pupils.
• Strong organisational and budgeting skills for library operations.

Responsibilities

• Maintaining a large stock of 8000-9000 titles.
• Supporting reading for pleasure by organising events and initiatives (Book Week Scotland, World Book Day, Scholastic Book Fair).
• Managing the Library budget, including planning, cost-effective resource acquisition, and financial documentation.

Skills

Database administration

Love of literature

Pupil engagement

Job description

Number of Positions:

1

Contract Type:

Permanent, Full Time, Term Time

Working Hours:

Location:

Edinburgh

Closing Date:

19/11/2026

Department:

Library

Region / Division:

ESMS

Job Role:

Operational/Professional Services

The Role

Erskine Stewart Melville are currently recruiting for a Librarian to join the Junior School on a permanent basis. The role is term-time only, working 37.5 hours per week, with a salary of £23,574.38.

The Librarian is responsible for selecting and recommending age-appropriate, curriculum-aligned books - including those on the Accelerated Reader programme - to support Year Group Leaders and Class Teachers in meeting the reading and learning needs of pupils in P4–P7 and will include such duties as:

• Maintaining a large stock of 8000-9000 titles.
• Supporting reading for pleasure by organising and promoting special events and initiatives, such as Book Week Scotland, World Book Day, the annual Scholastic Book Fair, Library Book Sales, book and library-related competitions for the children, author visits and reading programmes such as the Scottish Book Trust Reading Schools Accreditation.
• Managing the Library budget, including planning, cost-effective resource acquisition, and financial documentation.

The successful candidate must have experience of database administration, a love of literature and the ability to engage with pupils and nurture and encourage a positive relationship.

ESM is unable to sponsor the employment of international workers in this role. International applicants will therefore be unable to apply for and secure a Skilled Worker visa. The successful candidate will only be able to take up this role if they can demonstrate an alternative right work in the UK.

Employees get access to a range of benefits including:

• Free school lunches
• Free Sports’ Club membership, including access to pool and fitness suites
• Paid moving house day
• Employer pension contributions of up to 8%
• Family friendly policies, including enhanced maternity leave
• Membership of the ESM Discount and Benefits Scheme, including a range of discounts at 130,000 retail and entertainment locations
• Employee Assistance Service
• Cycle to work scheme
• Car leasing salary sacrifice scheme
• Annual professional review process
• Regular salary reviews
• Funding towards professional qualifications

Values

We are looking for individuals who can embody and promote ESM values of Kindness, Confidence, Resilience, Integrity, and Curiosity while role modelling behaviours in line with our school pillars of Ambition, Innovation, and Community.

ESM is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. Applicants must undergo child protection screening, including checks with past employers and Disclosure Scotland.

All staff working at ESM have direct access to young people therefore all posts within the school are considered exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

The deadline for applications is Thursday 19th November at 12 noon. We anticipate that interviews will take place shortly after.

About ESM
Welcome to Erskine Stewart Melville, a school for 3-18 year olds, in the heart of Edinburgh, where innovation thrives. We are committed to the individual ambitions of every student by pushing the boundaries of traditional academia.
Our school cultivates creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration. We empower our learners to dream big and surpass their own expectations, using progressive teaching and learning. Our approach provides an expansive range of academic and extra-curricular opportunities, as well as a dedicated wellbeing programme that supports the whole child.
The people that work for us are passionate, pioneering and strive for excellence in everything they do. We value the incredible contributions they make to school life, we invest in their careers and we support their ambitions so that they flourish professionally and personally.