Library Assistant (16 Hours) - Central Library

Reading Borough Council; Reading; Hybrid; GBP 9,000 - 12,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous holiday

Flexible working

Modern offices

Life Assurance

On-site nursery

Season ticket loan

Lease car scheme

Job summary

Reading Borough Council is seeking a part-time Library Assistant (16 hours per week) for Central Library in Reading. The role focuses on serving library customers, managing book stock, and supporting ICT access, with duties including DBS verification and event participation.

The post is based at Central Library with occasional work in other Reading Borough Libraries. It requires lifting, standing and teamwork to deliver public service.

Qualifications

• Experience in customer-facing roles such as libraries or public interfaces.
• Ability to assist customers with using ICT facilities and self-service machines.
• Willingness to perform active duties including shelving, lifting books and evacuation procedures.

Responsibilities

• Serve library customers at desks and issue library stock.
• Assist with visa verification service and maintain accuracy; DBS check required.
• Support ICT use and guide customers on computers, tablets and self-service machines.
• Assist with shelving and labelling, and keep books in correct order.
• Participate in events and activities to promote library services.
• Act as evacuation officer/fire warden and follow safety procedures.

Skills

Customer service

IT literacy

Teamwork

Attention to detail

Tools

DBS check

Job description

Library Assistant (16 Hours) - Central Library

The job requirements are detailed below. Where applicable the skills, qualifications and memberships required for this job have also been included.

Part time – 16 hours per week – Permanent

Reading has 7 libraries, 1 home library service, and a growing digital service, used by c.250,000 people every year.

We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and inclusion is the key to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities.

About the role:

You will be based in the Central Library, although from time to time may be required to work in other Reading Borough Libraries.

As a Library Assistant you will contribute to providing a best value public service by directly serving library customers and helping to meet their needs.

The primary purpose of the post is to serve library customers and Visa customers.

The secondary purpose is to carry out administrative tasks within the library which contribute to the provision of the public service. Such tasks will include returning books to the shelves and keeping the books in correct order. This may also include jacketing and labelling books, printing lists of requested books etc.

Hours of work are:

Mondays:12.00pm – 4.00pm

Tuesdays: 12.00pm – 4.00pm

Thursdays: 12.00pm – 4.00pm

Fridays: 12.00pm – 4.00pm

Total: 16 hours per week

Please note that due to frontline service needs, these working hours are non-negotiable.

Duties include:

• Being the public face of the library service, working on library desks, issuing library stock, answering enquiries, joining new members, and helping customers to access the library’s IT facilities.
• Working on the visa verification service. Maintaining a high level of attention to detail and accuracy when processing documents, a DBS will be required for this role.
• Good physical fitness is required as this is an active role, standing and serving customers and lifting and carrying piles of books.
• Using ICT skills to learn the library computer systems and provide guidance to customers on the use of computers, tablets and self-service machines.
• Working effectively within different teams to promote the service to all.
• Participating in and delivering events and activities such as coffee mornings, Rhymetimes and Reading loves reading.
• To act as an evacuation officer/fire warden – on hearing the fire alarm follow procedures in a calm, profession manner, clearing the library and ensuring customers are led to safety.

You’ll be part of a team that relies on everyone to play their part to the best of their ability. As well as the colleagues that you work closely with every day, you’ll also be part of Team Reading, playing your personal part in making Reading a successful and vibrant place.

Our vision is to ensure that Reading realises its potential as a great place to live, work and play, and that everyone shares the benefits of this success. Our values and behaviours guide how we will achieve this:

Work Together as one team - champion and inspire a culture which ensures that all employees across the organisation work together to provide excellent outcomes for Reading

Drive Efficiency - create an environment in which resources are used efficiently, and employees’ skills are developed and used effectively

Be Ambitious - aspire to deliver excellence and inspire and support others to reach their potential

Make a Difference to Reading - inspire a culture in which the customer is the focus and where change is welcomed as an opportunity

Our offer:

We offer a supportive environment to grow and develop your career with the opportunity to put your ideas across. Innovation and ambition are strongly encouraged, and you’ll get a great feel for that working in our friendly and collaborative environment.

A competitive salary alongside a range of benefits including:

• Generous holiday entitlement - 25 days holiday each year plus bank holidays - rising to 33 days after 10 years' service, with the option to buy additional leave
• A wide range of flexible working opportunities
• Modern working environment at the Civic Offices in the heart of Reading
• Life Assurance - three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS)
• On-site day nursery (Kennet Day nursery) rated outstanding by Ofsted
• Season Ticket Loan - a loan to help with the cost of your rail or bus journey, to and from work
• Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand new, greener car for three years. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax

Closing Date: Sunday 20 th September 2026

Interview Dates: Thursday 1 st , Friday 2 nd and Tuesday 6 th October 2026

Strong applicants who are not offered the post may be offered a casual contract.

We do not accept CVs submitted without a fully completed online application form.