Library Assistant

Richmond and Wandsworth Councils; Greater London; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

Richmond and Wandsworth Councils is seeking a friendly Library Assistant to support our borough-wide library service. You'll deliver excellent customer service, assist with issuing and returning items, and help visitors access resources and computer services.

You will work across three libraries, on Sundays, travel between sites as needed, and contribute to events while maintaining a welcoming, safe environment.

Qualifications

• Experience in fast-paced, service-focused environments.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and tasks with minimal supervision.
• Strong customer service skills and a professional, confident manner.

Responsibilities

• Deliver outstanding customer service
• Assist with the issue and return of books and other resources
• Help customers use public computers, e-resources, and self-service kiosks
• Support events and activities
• Maintain a safe, welcoming environment for all

Skills

Customer service

Teamwork

Problem solving

Multitasking

Microsoft Office

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

We operate a high-performing library service that is highly regarded by the community. As a Library Assistant, your role will be to support the delivery of this borough-wide service by ensuring excellent customer service and carrying out a range of administrative duties to facilitate the day-to-day operations.

Modern public libraries are vibrant and inclusive spaces, open to all members of the community. Our staff must be resilient, confident, and resourceful in order to manage the often complex and challenging situations that can arise in such dynamic customer facing environments.

Most of your work will involve frontline customer service, including issuing and returning items, maintaining and caring for resources, assisting with information searches and enquiries, supporting events, and helping visitors access the full range of services offered by the library.

About the Role

Are you passionate about helping people and creating welcoming community spaces? Richmond upon Thames Libraries are looking for a friendly, confident, and resourceful Library Assistant to join our high-performing team.

Our libraries are vibrant, inclusive spaces that serve a wide range of community needs. As a Library Assistant, you'll be at the heart of this service-providing excellent customer support, helping visitors access resources, and ensuring the smooth day-to-day running of the library.

What you’ll do:

• Deliver outstanding customer service
• Assist with the issue and return of books and other resources
• Help customers use public computers, e-resources, and self‑service kiosks
• Support events and activities
• Maintain a safe, welcoming environment for all

You will be required to work at any of the three libraries open on Sundays within the borough. As such, you must be able to travel to and undertake duties at any library, occasionally at short notice.

Experience in Fast-Paced, Service-Focused Environments- You should have experience working-either in a paid or voluntary capacity-in a high‑pressure environment where high standards of service delivery are expected.

Team work - You should be able to demonstrate your contribution to the success of an effective team.

Problem solving- You should have experience responding to queries and resolving problems effectively.

Managing Multiple Priorities- Your ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously in a fast‑paced setting, with minimal supervision, is essential.

Customer Service- You should be able to demonstrate confidence and strong resilience by maintaining composure and responding effectively and professionally when dealing with challenging or difficult service users., Test/Presentation: As part of the selection process, there will be a test to assess your proficiency in Microsoft Office, and your ability to retrieve information from the internet.

Richmond & Wandsworth Better Service Partnership are committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a culture that values differences, recognising that employees from a variety of backgrounds bring important and positive contributions to the Councils and can improve the way we deliver services.

We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer. If you require any reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment and selection process, please let us know.

We are also committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Some posts may be exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such appointment to these posts will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory response to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

We offer a wide range of benefits designed to attract, develop, and reward our employees such as 40 days annual leave (including Bank Holidays), flexible working and a generous pension plan.

Richmond and Wandsworth Councils