Rare Books and Special Collections Librarian

Royal College of Physicians; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 32,000 - 33,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

29 days holiday per year

Group personal pension with 7% contrib

Interest-free season ticket loan

Life assurance

Annual pay award

Flexible working hours

Employee assistance programme

Cycle to work scheme

Corporate eye care scheme

Professional training and development

Enhanced maternity/paternity pay

Staff discounts platform

Job summary

Royal College of Physicians seeks a Rare Books and Special Collections Librarian in London to manage the heritage library and collaborate with AMS and Education library teams. You will create catalogue records, develop finding aids, respond to inquiries, and support exhibitions and tours.

The role sits in a nationally significant collection, with hybrid working and a 35-hour week. The closing date is 30 November 2026 and interviews are 13 January 2027.

Qualifications

• Degree or postgraduate qualification in Information Science or Librarianship.
• Working knowledge of Latin sufficient to catalogue and interpret books.
• Experience of collection management activities in an academic, medical, healthcare or special library.
• Knowledge of historical bibliography.
• Experience of preservation and conservation of printed collections.

Responsibilities

• Create new catalogue records and improve existing records using standards (RDA, DCRM(B), MeSH, LCSH).
• Develop finding aids and manage heritage library content on the shared online library system.
• Respond to enquiries and facilitate research visits.
• Support the AMS public programme with displays, events, exhibitions and publicity.
• Deliver historical and architectural guided tours and contribute material to the tour programme.

Skills

Information Science degree

Latin knowledge

Collection management experience

Historical bibliography

Preservation and conservation

Education

Degree or postgraduate qualification in Information Science or Librarianship

Job description

Rare Books and Special Collections Librarian

London

£32,319 - £32,998

Working hours: 35 hours per week. Standard working hours between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday.

Working arrangements: The RCP operates a hybrid working model, with staff in the AMS team usually spending 10 days each month in the office. The exact working pattern for these days will be agreed with the Line Manager.

Role Profile

The Royal College of Physicians has had a library since its foundation in 1518. Built largely through donations from RCP fellows in its early centuries, its contents reflect the wide-ranging and changing interests of physicians. Today it is a nationally significant resource, with the rare book holdings complimented by modern works on the history of medicine.

As rare books and special collections librarian you will be responsible for managing the heritage library, working closely with other AMS staff, and with the education library team. You will: -

• Create new catalogue records and improve existing records, according to recognised standards including RDA, DCRM(B), MeSH and LCSH.
• Develop finding aids and standards relevant to the collection, including managing heritage library content on the online library management system shared with the Education library
• Respond to enquiries and facilitate research visits
• Support the AMS public programme, researching and delivering content for displays, events, exhibitions and related publicity
• Deliver historical and architectural guided tours and contribute material relating to the collection to the tour programme

How we ll measure your success

The success factors for the role will include:

• Development of the heritage library collection in line with professional standards and RCP values
• Integrated working with colleagues across all collection areas to support shared AMS objectives and goals
• Delivery of collaborative working with the education library to maintain a shared cataloguing system
• Delivery of your own objectives (which you ll agree with your manager) and your contribution to our values.

Key selection criteria

• Degree or postgraduate qualification in Information Science or Librarianship
• Working knowledge of Latin, sufficient to catalogue and interpret books.
• Experience of collection management activities in an academic, medical, healthcare or special library
• Knowledge of historical bibliography
• Experience of preservation and conservation of printed collections

Sometimes confidence can hold us back from applying for a job. However, we understand that there is no such thing as a perfect candidate. If you feel that you meet most of our selection criteria but will have areas to grow, we would welcome your application.

Our values

At the RCP we live our values everyday to ensure we create a workplace which is inclusive and respectful.

We understand that everybody plays a part and that by working to our values, we are creating an environment which best helps deliver on our mission: providing the best healthcare.

Discover more about our values by reading our Living Our Values Framework downloadable and the top of this page

Pay and benefits

Working at the RCP comes with lots of benefits designed to ensure that you feel valued and supported in your role. The benefits we offer include:

• 29 days holiday per annum, plus bank holidays
• Group personal pension plan with 7% employer contribution
• Interest-free season ticket loan
• Life assurance
• Annual pay award
• Flexible working hours
• Employee assistance programme 24/7 advice and support for any work-related issues as well as any problems affecting your home life
• Occupational health team includes employment and work-related health assessments, health checks and work station assessments
• Cycle to work scheme
• Corporate eye care scheme
• Holiday purchase scheme
• Professional training and development opportunities
• Enhanced maternity and paternity pay
• Staff discounts platform including access to instant vouchers, cashback, discount codes and Health Cash Plan.

Where you will be working

This role is based out of our London office, an iconic Grade I listed building overlooking beautiful Regent's Park in central London.

The RCP offers hybrid working. AMS staff usually spend a minimum of 10 days a month in the office. The exact working pattern for these days will be agreed with the Line Manager.

Closing date: 30 November 2026

Interview date: 13 January 2027

The RCP positively encourages applications for suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, transgender status, religion or belief, marital status or pregnancy and maternity.

The RCP is all about our people - our members, our staff, our volunteers and leaders. We educate, influence and collaborate to improve health and healthcare for everyone and know we can only do this by being inclusive, encouraging and celebrating diverse perspectives. that's why welcoming and having people who represent the 21st century medical workforce and the diverse population of patients we serve is so important to us.