Leading Library Assistant

The British Library; Greater London; On-site; GBP 13,000 - 18,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days holiday + 2.5 privilege days

Civil Service pension

Flexible working

Benefits page

Job summary

The British Library at St Pancras is seeking a Leading Library Assistant to join our Reader Services team, delivering excellent support for access to our extensive collections. You will contribute to a range of Reading Room duties and member services, helping readers and maintaining accurate records.

You will work 20 hours per week, Monday to Friday, 10:00–14:00, with duties including issuing materials, handling enquiries, and supporting training and service improvements as needed.

Qualifications

• Reading Room duties and handling materials.
• Responding to reader enquiries and maintaining records.
• Supporting training and service improvements.

Responsibilities

• Reading Room duties including issuing and returning materials.
• Respond to reader enquiries with accurate information.
• Maintain records on Library systems and support operational priorities.

Skills

Customer service

Communication

Teamwork

Attention to detail

Job description

Leading Library Assistant

Location: St Pancras

Contract: Fixed Term for 6 months

Hours: Part time for 20 hours

Grade: D

Salary: £15,393 Pro rata (FTE £27,706 per annum)

This is the starting salary for this role unless the successful candidate is able to evidence being in receipt of a higher salary in which case this may be reviewed

About the role

We are looking for a Leading Library Assistant to join our Reader Services team at St Pancras, working within the Humanities Reading Rooms.

This is a varied, customer-focused role supporting access to the British Library's collections and helping to deliver an excellent service to our Readers. You will undertake a range of Reading Room duties, including issuing and returning collection material, responding to reader enquiries, maintaining accurate records on Library systems and helping to ensure the security and integrity of the collections.

The role requires someone who can work confidently as part of a team while also using their own initiative. You will need strong communication and customer service skills, good attention to detail, and the ability to respond positively to changing operational priorities. As a Leading Library Assistant, you will also support colleagues, contribute to training and service improvements, and may take the lead on operational activities in the temporary absence of a manager.

This is a part-time post working 20 hours per week, Monday to Friday, 10:00-14:00, based at St Pancras.

About us

We are the national library of the UK and we are here for everyone. Our shelves hold over 170 million items - a living collection that gets bigger every day. Although our roots extend back centuries, we aim to collect everything published in the UK today, tomorrow and far into the future. Our trusted experts care for this collection and open it up for everyone to spark new discoveries, ideas and to help people do incredible things.

What we can offer you

• 25 days' holiday plus 2.5 privilege days.
• Access to a defined benefit Civil Service pension scheme.
• Flexible working arrangements, including flexi-time.
• Full details of employee benefits can be found on our Careers: Benefits page.

Things you need to know

• We are unable to provide sponsorship under the UK Skilled Worker visa for this role.
• Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check (DBS check).
• Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn.
• We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian, Mixed Race and other ethnically diverse candidates and disabled candidates. Creating an inclusive workplace is the core of our business and a way to engage the diversity of thought that is essential to achieve our aims.

Closing at 23:59 on Friday 18 September 2026

Contact

If you have any questions, please contact [e-mail]