Library Assistant

EMEA3 Recruitment; Steyning; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 27,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual leave

Local government pension scheme

Job summary

Steyning Library in Steyning, West Sussex, is seeking a welcoming Library Assistant to join our busy team. You will help visitors access resources, deliver engaging reading activities, and ensure smooth daily operations in a community hub.

The role offers a permanent part-time contract, 24.5 hours weekly, with opportunities to lead Rhyme Time and other sessions, while developing digital skills and delivering excellent customer service to all ages.

Qualifications

• GCSEs including Maths and English are required.
• Experience working in a team on shared tasks.
• Digital skills to assist customers with emails, the library website, app and eLibrary.
• Strong communication and customer service to engage the public.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with children, families and customers of all ages.
• Ability to meet deadlines and adapt to varied daily demands.
• Ability to take initiative while following library procedures.

Responsibilities

• Be the go-to person for customers and guide them to services.
• Undertake lone working or be supported by a volunteer.
• Support delivery of reading events, including Rhyme Times and author talks.
• Use library IT systems and enter data, such as registering new members.
• Respond to enquiries in person and over the phone.
• Assist with reading recommendations.
• Create new themes for book displays.
• Maintain, present and process book stock.

Skills

GCSEs incl Maths

GCSEs incl English

Teamwork

Digital skills

Customer service

Interpersonal skills

Deadline management

Education

GCSEs including Maths & English

Job description

Are you passionate about helping people and creating welcoming community spaces?

West Sussex 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 will be at the centre of this service, providing excellent customer support, helping visitors access resources, and ensuring the smooth day-to-day running of the library.

Salary: £26,427 to £26,487 per annum, £17,498 to £17,538 (pro rata for part time) and entitlement to Saturday Enhancement for working 4 hours 20 minutes, 1 in 2 Saturdays.

Contract Type: Permanent

Working Pattern: 24.5 hours per week

Location: Steyning Library, Church Street, Steyning, BN44 3YB

Interview Date: Tuesday 06 October 2026

Shifts

Week 1

Monday 12:45pm to 5:05pm

Tuesday 9:45am to 5:05pm

Wednesday OFF

Thursday 12:45pm to 5:05pm

Friday 9:45am to 5:05pm

Saturday OFF

Week 2

Monday 12:45pm to 5:05pm

Tuesday OFF

Wednesday 9:45am to 5:05pm

Thursday 9:45am to 5:05pm

Friday 9:45am to 5:05pm

Saturday 9:45am to 2:05pm

About the Job

Steyning Library is situated between the historic St Andrew & St Cuthman Church and Steyning Museum.

Step inside Steyning Library with our 360 degree tour.

We are looking for friendly, enthusiastic, and resourceful individuals who have exceptional digital skills and a genuine passion to make a difference to the local community.

It’s not just about the books! We are looking for someone who understands the power of community and the importance of fostering a love for reading in people of all ages.

Library Assistants welcome everyone with a positive attitude and a resilient approach to every request. Providing excellent customer service is central to our library service, creating dynamic and engaging environments. Flexibility, creativity, and initiative are essential qualities for success.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Being the dedicated go-to person for customers at the library, passionately helping them with their questions and sincerely guiding them to other services.
• Undertake Lone working or single staffing often supported by a volunteer.
• Supporting the delivery of a wide range of reading events, including Rhyme Times and author talks.
• Using a variety of IT systems and services confidently and effectively including entering basic data into the library system, such as registering new members.
• Responding to enquiries from customers and colleagues, both in person and over the phone.
• Helping with reading recommendations
• Creating new themes for book displays.
• Maintaining, presenting, and processing book stock.

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to lead engaging Rhyme Time and Toddler Time sessions lasting 30 minutes. We are looking for a confident individual who will play a vital role in inspiring a love of music and language in children through nursery rhymes, songs, action rhymes, musical instruments, and puppets. Watch this video to discover more about Rhyme Time: Libraries are for everyone: Rhyme Time

There will also be the opportunity to support and lead other regular branch activities, such as Melody for the Mind, Reading Friends and Silent Book Club.

The variety of our work means that no two days are the same. We get huge job satisfaction from helping everyone who comes through our doors, and you could too!

Required Qualifications and Skills

• 4 GCSEs with 9-4 / A-C passes including Maths and English, or equivalent qualification/experience.
• Experience working collaboratively within a team to complete shared tasks.
• Digital skills to effectively assist customers, including navigating emails and accessing the library website, app, and eLibrary.
• Strong communication and customer service skills to engage effectively with the public.
• Good interpersonal skills with the confidence to engage effectively with children, families, and customers of all ages.
• Capable of consistently meeting deadlines and adapting to the varied demands of each day, ensuring smooth and effective service.
• Skilled in taking initiative and applying sound judgment, while unwaveringly adhering to library practices and procedures.

For more information on the Key Skills as well as the Qualifications and/or experience required, please refer to the Job Description attached.

Rewards and Benefits

We aim to create a supportive and dynamic working environment where employees can achieve their full potential, achieve a healthy work-life balance and are rewarded for the work they do.

You will benefit from 25 days annual leave, rising to 28 days after 5 years’ service (pro rata for part time) plus the opportunity to buy additional leave and an excellent local government pension scheme.

We think libraries are great places to work, where you can make a difference to local communities every day. Find out more about the variety that comes with working in a library and hear first‑hand from some of our library staff here: Library Jobs at West Sussex Libraries

A range of discounts give our staff access to hundreds of offers; groceries, travel, cinema tickets, days out, leisure activities, high street retailers and the opportunity to save over £1,000 a year through our West Sussex Choices benefits platform.

For more information about the wide variety of benefits you can take advantage of please visit our Rewards and Benefits page.

Further Information

The reference number for this role is CPP01430.

For an informal conversation or for further information regarding the role, please contact Zoe Gaunt at [e-mail]

For issues or queries regarding your application please contact [e-mail]

Please ensure you have saved the job description attached to the main advert on our website as, once the job has closed, you may not have the opportunity to download again.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.This post is subject to right to work within the UK, , satisfactory references, and health check.

Equity, inclusion and accessibility is very important to West Sussex County Council. We welcome and encourage applications from everyone, as this helps us build a diverse and talented workforce, that reflects the communities we serve. We ensure our approach to recruitment is flexible and supportive to enable all applicants to be at their best and to ensure they have the best possible chance of success.

We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for applicants that have a disability, are a veteran or are a care leaver. More information can be found on our application help page.