Library Assistant

Birketts LLP; Ipswich; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading law firm in the UK is seeking a Library Services Coordinator to manage library resources and supplier relationships. Ideal candidates will have experience in library management and strong organizational skills. The role supports training and induction for new staff and oversees the library budget, with flexible working options available.

Benefits

25 days holiday plus Bank Holidays

Long Service holiday award

Private Healthcare with BUPA

Scottish Widows Pension Scheme

Staff Profit Share and Individual Performance Bonus

Life Assurance – 4× salary

Paid CSR Day

Enhanced Maternity/Paternity Leave

Subsidised gym membership

Electric car scheme

Agile/Hybrid Working Policy

Dress for your Day Policy

Qualifications

• Experience in library or information management.
• Strong organisational and communication skills.
• Familiarity with digital library systems and cataloguing.
• Ability to manage supplier relationships and budgets.
• Attention to detail and commitment to service excellence.

Responsibilities

• Maintain relationships with library suppliers and publishers.
• Audit and manage stock of physical and digital library resources.
• Update looseleaf encyclopaedias and other reference materials.
• Oversee the library budget to ensure cost-effective resource management.
• Assist with user queries and provide guidance on library systems.
• Support training and induction on library services for new staff.

Skills

Library management experience

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Familiarity with digital library systems

Supplier relationship management

Attention to detail

Job description

The firm

Birketts is a full service, UK Top 50 law firm. With a heritage spanning 160 years, we have more than 700 lawyers and legal professionals based in Bristol, Cambridge, Chelmsford, Ipswich, London, Norwich and Sevenoaks. We advise businesses, government and public sector organisations and individuals in the UK and internationally across four principal practice groups: Real Estate, Corporate Services, Dispute Resolution and Private Client.

We are defined by our Next Level Law proposition. We work with our clients as a proactive partner, horizon scanning and thinking ahead to the changes, challenges or opportunities that they may face.

Next Level Law is also applied to our people. Our collegiate culture means everyone is encouraged to achieve their next level in everything they do. RollOnFriday recently ranked us as the 5th best law firm to work at in 2024.

With our ambition to succeed, comes a strong desire to make a positive contribution to the communities we serve, and we are committed to delivering the objectives set out in our ESG strategy. Diversity plays an integral part in all that we do, with female partners comprising 40% of our partnership.

Purpose of job

To support the Head of Knowledge Management in delivering library services across the firm, ensuring efficient management of physical and digital resources, supplier relationships, and budget oversight.

Accountabilities

• Maintain relationships with library suppliers and publishers
• Audit and manage stock of physical and digital library resources
• Update looseleaf encyclopaedias and other reference materials
• Oversee the library budget to ensure cost‑effective resource management
• Assist with user queries and provide guidance on library systems
• Support training and induction on library services for new staff

The candidate

• Experience in library or information management
• Strong organisational and communication skills
• Familiarity with digital library systems and cataloguing
• Ability to manage supplier relationships and budgets
• Attention to detail and commitment to service excellence

Equal opportunities

At Birketts, our culture is driven by ambition and a commitment to positively impact all the communities we serve. We are dedicated to the success, development, and wellbeing of our colleagues, helping them achieve their goals and seize the opportunities that come with our growth. Alongside a flexible and inclusive work environment, we offer the following core benefits:

• 25 days holiday (FTE) plus Bank Holidays
• Long Service holiday award – 1 extra week every 10 years continuous service
• Private Healthcare with BUPA (offered after probation is passed)
• Scottish Widows Pension Scheme (5% employer / 5% Employee)
• Staff Profit Share and Individual Performance Bonus Scheme
• Salary sacrifice (Pensions, Staff Profit Share)
• Life Assurance – 4× salary / Permanent Health Insurance
• Paid CSR Day
• Enhanced Maternity/Paternity Leave
• Subsidised gym membership
• Electric car scheme
• Agile/Hybrid Working Policy
• Dress for your Day Policy

Birketts is a flexible business which has embraced a hybrid working model where our colleagues enjoy a mix of home and office working. We welcome applications from people looking for flexible, agile, and part‑time roles and we are happy to explore your preferred working patterns as part of your application.

Please note that this job profile is not an exhaustive list of duties but merely an outline of the key components of the role. You may be required by your line manager to take on additional responsibilities when requested.

Birketts is committed to being an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our policy is unequivocal: we do not tolerate discrimination based on age, disability, sex, race, religion or belief, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, or sexual orientation.

We pride ourselves on being an inclusive organisation that actively promotes equality of opportunity for all, valuing the right mix of talent, skills, and potential. We welcome applications from a diverse range of candidates, and selection for roles is based solely on individual merit.