Library Assistant (18 Hours) - Central Library

Reading Borough Council; Reading; On-site; GBP 11,000 - 13,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous holiday entitlement - 25 days

Bank holidays included

Flexible working opportunities

Modern Civic Offices environment

Life Assurance - 3x salary

On-site day nursery

Season Ticket Loan

Lease car salary sacrifice

Job summary

Reading Borough Council's Central Library requires a part-time Library Assistant (18 hours) based at Central Library, with occasional shifts at other Reading libraries. You will greet customers, issue stock, help with IT access and member sign-ups, and support the library's services daily.

The role involves visa verification duties, a DBS check, and active engagement in events and team-based initiatives to promote reading across the community. A friendly, customer-focused approach is essential.

Qualifications

• DBS check required.
• Good physical fitness for an active front-line role.
• Customer-focused attitude and willingness to help.
• Ability to work in a team and support events.
• Careful with accuracy when processing documents.

Responsibilities

• Be the public face of the library service at desks, issue stock, answer enquiries, sign up new members and help customers access IT facilities.
• Work on visa verification service with high attention to detail; DBS check required.
• Maintain physical fitness for an active role including lifting and carrying books.
• Use ICT to learn library systems and assist customers with computers and self-service.
• Collaborate with teams to promote the service and participate in events.
• Deliver events and activities such as coffee mornings, Rhymetimes and Reading loves reading.
• Act as evacuation officer/fire warden and follow safety procedures.

Skills

Customer service

ICT skills

Teamwork

Physical fitness

Frontline service

Tools

Library systems

Job description

Library Assistant (18 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 – 18 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.

Hours of work are:
Monday: 9:30am – 2.00pm
Tuesday: 9:30am – 2.00pm
Thursday: 9:30am – 2.00pm
Friday: 9:30am – 2.00pm
Total: 18 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.

If you are looking for a job that offers you the opportunity to make a difference to people’s lives and are a resilient and friendly team player with a customer-focused attitude, we would love to hear from you!
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.