Library Assistant (Sundays) (Part Time, Fixed Term)

University of Cambridge; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

36 days annual leave (pro-rata)

Parental leave options

Discounts on major retailers

Professional development opportunities

Training courses

Job summary

Cambridge University Libraries and Archives invites applications for 5 Library Assistant roles. You will welcome readers and visitors, assist with enquiries at busy desks, and use the Library Management System to issue and return items, print and electronic resources.

You may lead information skills activities and help train cover staff, documenting procedures. We seek enthusiasm, flexibility and a commitment to outstanding customer service.

Qualifications

• Excellent customer service skills and ability to communicate clearly with readers, students, researchers and international visitors.
• Strong IT skills and familiarity with electronic resources; ability to use library systems under pressure.
• Ability to work well both in a team and unsupervised, with a flexible approach to duties.
• Willingness to work Sundays and across a shift pattern when required.

Responsibilities

• Provide a welcoming point of contact to readers and visitors at busy service desks.
• Assist with enquiries in person, by email, phone and chat; advise on using print and electronic collections.
• Use the Library Management System for issuing and returning books and other routine tasks.
• Assist or lead information and library skills activities; support induction and training of cover staff; document procedures.

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.We are looking for 5 Library Assistants. If you are able to work Sundays, are customer focused and enjoy intellectual detective work, solving all sorts of queries from students, Cambridge academics and researchers, and international visitors, we would like to hear from you.As Reader Services Library Assistant you willProvide a welcoming point of contact to the Library's readers and visitors.Assist with enquiries in-person at busy service desks, and by email, phone, and chat service, advising readers on how best to use our collections, both print and electronic.Use the Library Management System to carry out all aspects of library work including the issuing and returning of books.Assist or lead library and information skills activities.Assist in the induction, training and supervision of cover staff; documenting procedures.What we are looking forEnthusiasm, flexibility, and a committed approach to the delivery of the highest possible level of customer service.Experience of working for a service that provided a high standard of customer service.Excellent communication skills.A thorough knowledge of IT and of electronic resources.The ability to work well under pressure.The ability to work unsupervised as well as part of a team.What we offerGenerous annual leave allowance of 36 days but this will be pro-rata depending on number of days worked across the week.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.Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 12 months in the first instance.We particularly welcome applications from women and /or 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 Steve Stacey, Customer Support Manager, [e-mail] closing date: Tuesday 24 November 2026. Interview date: Thursday 3 December 2026.For further details please refer to the Further Particulars.Please quote reference VE51640 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.Apply online