Library Assistant (Acquisitions & Metadata) (Fixed Term)

University of Cambridge; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 12,000 - 18,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible hours

Part-time options

Job shares

Staggered hours

36 days annual leave

Parental leave

Professional development

Job summary

The Squire Law Library at the University of Cambridge is seeking a customer-focused Library Assistant (Acquisitions and Metadata) to join one of the UK’s leading academic law collections. You will organise print book purchases, record them on Alma Acquisitions, catalogue print materials and donations, and classify print material.

You will staff the enquiry desk across the Squire Law and Radzinowicz Criminology Libraries.

Qualifications

• Customer-focused individual
• Team-player
• Library or administrative experience
• Attention to detail and accuracy

Responsibilities

• Organise all print book purchases for the Squire.
• Record all book purchases on Alma Acquisitions.
• Catalogue all print book purchases, legal deposit material and donations.
• Classify print material.
• Staff the enquiry desk in both the Squire Law and Radzinowicz Criminology Libraries.

Skills

Customer focused

Team player

Library experience

Attention to detail

Job description

Ever wanted to work in an institution that is home to one of the world's great collections of cultural treasures and research materials?

Spanning thousands of years of human thought and discovery, Cambridge University Libraries and Archives house unique treasures and research materials made up of nearly ten million books, maps, manuscripts, photographs and priceless objects.

The role

The Squire Law Library is seeking to appoint an enthusiastic and customer-focused library colleague to the role of Library Assistant (Acquisitions and Metadata). This is an exciting opportunity to join our dedicated team and to play an important part in the operation of one of the largest libraries in the University and one of the leading academic law collections in the UK.

As Library Assistant (Acquisitions and Metadata) you will

• Organise all print book purchases for the Squire.
• Record all book purchases on Alma Acquisitions.
• Catalogue all print book purchases, legal deposit material and donations.
• Classify print material.
• As part of a team, staff the enquiry desk in both the Squire Law and Radzinowicz Criminology Libraries.

What we are looking for

• An extremely customer-focused individual.
• A team-player.
• Someone with library or administrative experience.
• And has attention to detail and accuracy.

What we offer

• Flexible opportunities such as part-time hours, job shares, and staggered hours.
• Generous annual leave allowance of 36 days - if worked across 5 days.
• Exceptional parental leave (including maternity, paternity / co-parent, adoption and shared parental leave).
• Discounts on major retailers.
• Professional development opportunities such as apprenticeships and access to a variety of training courses.

Applications are welcome from internal candidates who would like to apply for the role on the basis of a secondment from their current role in the University.

We welcome applications from individuals who wish to be considered for part-time working or other flexible working arrangements.

We particularly welcome applications from candidates from a BME background for this vacancy as they are currently under-represented at this level in our department.

For informal enquiries please contact Kate Faulkner, Acting Squire Law Librarian at [e-mail] or 01223 330064.

Application closing date: Sunday 8 November 2026. Interview date: Friday 20 November 2026

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 18 months in the first instance.

Please quote reference VH51477 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.