Librarian (Culture, Health & Reader Development)

North Somerset Council; Weston-super-Mare; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A local council in England is seeking a passionate and community-focused Librarian to lead libraries services, focusing on health, culture, and reader development. Responsibilities include delivering community health services, planning events, and overseeing stock management. The ideal candidate will have a recognized qualification in librarianship, experience in customer service, and strong communication skills. This role offers a hybrid working environment and various employee benefits, promoting an inclusive and supportive workplace.

Benefits

Competitive salary and benefits

Flexible working arrangements

Local Government Pension

Opportunities for professional development

Inclusive Staff groups

Salary sacrifice Cycle to Work scheme

Qualifications

• Experience managing library services or related sectors.
• Ability to oversee stock management and ethical disposal.
• Proven record of delivering excellent customer service.

Responsibilities

• Deliver services that support the health and wellbeing of communities.
• Plan and promote events and activities for library users.
• Enable access to arts and cultural experiences.

Skills

Community engagement

Event planning

Communication

Problem-solving

ICT skills

Education

Professional qualification in librarianship

Job description

About Us

North Somerset Council is committed to providing high-quality services to our community. We are committed to creating a fair, green, and more inclusive environment for all our residents. Join us and contribute to making a positive impact on our community.

The Role

We are seeking a passionate and community-focused Librarian (Culture, Health & Reader Development) to join our libraries services team. This role will lead on key areas of service delivery aligned with the Universal Library Offers, including Health & Wellbeing, Culture & Creativity, and Reader Development. A key aspect of the role will be contributing to projects stemming from the library transformation consultation. This may include supporting service redesign, implementing new delivery models, and developing community partnerships.

In this role, you will:

• Deliver services that support the health and wellbeing of our communities.
• Promote access to trusted public health information and facilitate creative and social reading activities.
• Enable access to high-quality arts and cultural experiences through library programming.
• Plan and promote events and activities from the Universal Offers calendar.
• Oversee stock management, rotation, and ethical disposal in line with service priorities.

Key Responsibilities

Health & Wellbeing

• Deliver and promote services that support community health and wellbeing in partnership with Public Health.
• Upskill library staff to enable them to provide access to trusted health information, signposting, and referrals, including supporting residents to access the NHS app and website.
• Facilitate activities such as warm spaces and wellbeing groups.

Culture & Creativity

• Enable access to arts and cultural experiences through library programming.
• Collaborate with local artists, cultural organisations, and community groups to deliver inclusive events and exhibitions.

Reader Development

• Plan and promote events and activities, including national campaigns, festivals, and themed reading weeks.
• Champion inclusive reading experiences for all ages and abilities.

Stock Management

• Oversee stock selection, rotation,eding in line with service priorities.
• Ensure ethical disposal and reuse of withdrawn stock.
• Monitor usage data and community needs to inform stock decisions.

Leadership

• Line manage a Community Services Supervisor, supporting them to manage their teams ensuring high-quality service delivery across multiple library locations (Portishead and Pill libraries).
• Provide guidance and support to team members to ensure high-quality service delivery.
• Contribute to the development of library policies and procedures to enhance service delivery.

This position is exempt under the provisions of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions) Order 1975 and is subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check.

Valid driving licence and own transport, or be able to provide alternative, suitable method of travel is an essential condition for this role.

Work Style

At North Somerset Council, we offer a hybrid working environment based on four distinct work styles. Depending on the role and personal circumstances, you will fall into one of these categories. However, please note that during the induction period, it may be necessary to spend more time in the office to support your learning and development. We are flexible and open to discussions about your preferred working style, and if you wish to be in the office more frequently, this can be negotiated.

This role falls into the category of Flexible Worker which means you can expect to work in the following way:

• 2-3 days in the office (pro rata)
• Works both from home and libraries across North Somerset, depending on the task at hand.
• Training is provided to help balance work-life and manage time effectively, with an emphasis on communication for team touchpoints and planning in-office days for collaboration.

About You

We are looking for an individual who is a passionate advocate for libraries, with a good understanding of the role that libraries play in supporting the health and wellbeing needs of people in all sections of society. You must have significant experience of working in libraries or related services where the delivery of excellent customer service is a priority. You should also have achieved, or be working towards, an approved professional qualification relevant to one or more service areas e.g. library and information studies, information management, or CILIP accredited qualifications.

Experience in managing projects from initiation to completion, ensuring objectives are met on time and within scope is essential. Formal project management training is not required.

You will need to be adaptable, work well under pressure and be able to solve problems with innovative solutions. You will have experience of managing others and be a good communicator with excellent ICT skills, including being a proficient user of spreadsheets, word processing, Microsoft Teams and OneDrive. You will need to manage, organise and prioritise your own work. We’re seeking a dynamic team player who thrives in collaborative environments—both within libraries and across wider Council teams—demonstrating a supportive management style, a positive attitude to change, and a proactive, “can do” approach to challenges.

You will be expected to become a chartered member of the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP). Active involvement in professional networks within the sector or commitment to joining and engaging with (if not already a member) is expected.

Essential Criteria

• A recognised qualification in librarianship or equivalent experience in library or cultural services.
• Strong understanding of the Universal Library Offers and their impact.
• Experience in community engagement, event planning, and partnership working.
• Excellent communication and organisational skills.
• A commitment to inclusive access to information, culture, and wellbeing.
• Supervisory experience and people management skills.

Desirable Criteria

• Chartered membership of CILIP (or working towards it).
• Experience in stock management and data analysis.
• Knowledge of public health initiatives and digital health literacy.
• Experience of managing budgets.

What We Offer

At North Somerset Council, we value our employees and provide a supportive and inclusive work environment. We offer:

• Competitive salary and benefits
• Flexible working arrangements
• Local Government Pension
• Opportunities for professional development
• Inclusive Staff groups including Carers, Disabled, LGBTQ+, REACH (Race, Ethnicity, and Cultural Heritage), and Young Staff Forums
• Opportunity to purchase up to an additional 10 days annual leave each year
• Dedicated in-house Wellbeing Team
• Salary sacrifice Cycle to Work and Electric Vehicle schemes