Library Assistant

Newham Council; Stratford-upon-Avon; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 31,000; Part time

Job summary

London Borough of Newham is seeking a Library Assistant to join our libraries service. The role offers a pro rata salary of £30,408–£30,843 for 30 hours per week and involves delivering a broad range of library services across ten libraries.

As a Library Assistant you will help customers with transactions, shelve books, provide digital assistance, support events including Under 5s, promote reading, and sometimes assist outreach or act as a duty manager. Closing date 27th September 2026.

Qualifications

• Libraries or similar customer-focused experience.
• Love reading and talking about books.
• Good literacy, numeracy and IT skills.
• Experience running activities with the public.

Responsibilities

• Assisting customers with transactions.
• Shelving of books and book displays.
• Providing digital assistance and basic digital skills sessions.
• Information provision and sign-posting.
• Running or supporting events and activities including Under 5s storytimes.
• Promoting books and reading.
• May support outreach activities or resident forums.
• Duty managers may open/close buildings, take bookings/payments, oversee staff and handle cashing up.

Skills

Customer service

Digital literacy

Reading promotion

Tools

Library catalog system

Job description

Library Assistant

£30,408 - £30,843 pro rata

30 hours per week

Newham Libraries is an ambitious library service that plays a pivitol role in improving the quality of life of our residents. Prior to the pandemic the number of visits to libraries and the number of books borrowed were increasing year on year and are now bouncing back again. The service is well placed within the Council and works closely with Public Health and other services. Key priorities for the service are ensuring that our book stock is representative of and relevant to our communities; encouraging Reading for Pleasure for all; developing our Digital Lending offer; building on our innovative approach to the Summer Reading Challenge; developing our Under 5s offer; and delivering a high quality library offer. There are 10 libraries across the borough delivering a high number of opening hours and a large number of events and activities.

Library Assistants have an essential role in delivering this ambition. They carry out a range of tasks including but not limited to:

• assisting customers with transactions
• shelving of books and book displays
• providing digital assistance and basic digital skills sessions
• information provision and sign-posting
• running or supporting events and activities including Under 5s storytimes
• promoting books and reading

On occasions Library and Senior Library assistants may also be required to support outreach activities or resident forums. As duty managers, Senior Library Assistants may be required to open and close buildings; take bookings and payments; oversee staff activity; and carry out cashing up / banking functions.

The candidate will have excellent customer care skills and experience, will enjoy helping people and be genuinely passionate about the role of libraries in providing a range of opportunities for our residents. They should have libraries or similar customer focused experience, love reading and talking about books, enjoy STEM and digital engagement, have a good level of literacy, numeracy and IT skills, experience of running activities, and enjoy working with the public.

Closing date 27th September 2026

Additional Information

We are committed to creating an inclusive, anti-racist environment for all. When you apply for a job at Newham, your application is considered on its merits regardless of your age, disability, ethnicity, faith, gender identity or sexual orientation. If you share our vision and values, and you bring the experience and skills we need, that’s all that matters to us.

The London Borough of Newham has important responsibilities for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. If you are appointed to a job that involves working with these groups, you may be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

ABOUT US

The London Borough of Newham is located only 5 miles east of London. It is well positioned with access to all major networks in London and the south east. It is well connected by public transport with, bus, tube and DLR. When the Crossrail service opens it will call at Custom House close to our council offices and also Stratford station and from there to central London. The London City Airport which serves major European cities is located at Royal Albert Dock. Newham has the youngest overall population in the country. It was one of the six host boroughs for the 2012 Summer Olympics and contains most of the Olympic Park including the London Stadium. It has a thriving arts quarter with the both the Theatre Royal Stratford East and Stratford Circus Arts Centre offering excellent entertainment for all the family. There is the University of East London which has two campuses in Newham, one in Stratford and another next to the regenerated Royal Albert Dock. It also has a large Westfield shopping Centre in Stratford which has all the major retailers there.

Newham has a large housing regeneration programme that will build over 1,000 new council homes by 2022.