Saturday Library Assistant - Horsham Library

West Sussex County Council; Horsham; On-site; GBP 4,800 - 5,200; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee Assistance Programme

Training and development opportunities

25 days annual leave pro rata

Job summary

West Sussex Libraries is hiring a Saturday Library Assistant at Horsham Library to provide exceptional customer support and help visitors access resources. The role focuses on delivering friendly service, assisting with the self-service system and ensuring the library runs smoothly on Saturdays.

The position requires 4 GCSEs including Maths and English, strong teamwork, and good digital, numeracy and literacy skills.

Qualifications

• 4 GCSEs with 9-4 / A-C passes including Maths and English, or equivalent qualification/experience.
• Experience working collaboratively within a team to complete shared tasks.
• Digital skills to effectively assist customers, including navigating emails and accessing the library website, app, and eLibrary.
• Strong communication and customer service skills to engage effectively with the public.
• Excellent numeracy and literacy skills to organise resources alphabetically and numerically, as well as to process payments for books at the helpdesk.
• Able to meet set deadlines such as organising and shelving books in a timely manner.

Responsibilities

• Accurately shelve, organise and maintain library stock, ensuring resources are easy to find and accessible to customers.
• Deliver excellent customer service, responding to enquiries in person, by telephone and via email.
• Support customers in using self-service system and provide guidance on library services and procedures.
• Input straightforward information into the library management system.
• Resolve routine customer queries confidently, using sound judgement and a proactive approach.
• Help create a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment by identifying and reporting health and safety concerns.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues to ensure the smooth day-to-day running of the library.

Skills

Customer service

Teamwork

Digital skills

Communication

Numeracy and literacy

Deadline adherence

Education

GCSEs including Maths & English

Equivalent qualification/experience

Job description

Are you a friendly and approachable individual who enjoys engaging with people from a range of diverse ages and backgrounds?

West Sussex Libraries are looking for a friendly, confident, and resourceful Library Assistant to join our high-performing team at Horsham Library.

Our staff make great things happen in libraries every day - inspiring readers of all ages, helping people get online safely and bringing communities together.

As a Saturday Library Assistant, you will be at the centre of this service, providing excellent customer support, helping visitors access resources, and ensuring the smooth day-to-day running of the library.

Salary: £13.28 per hour - £25,614 per annum, £4,845 per annum (pro rata for part time)

Contract Type: Permanent

Working Pattern: 7 hours per week (Saturdays only: 8.50am to 4.50pm)

Location: Horsham Library, Lower Tanbridge Way Horsham RH12 1PJ

Interview Date: week commencing Monday 05 October 2026

We reserve the right to close this advertisement early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications. This is to ensure our teams can manage application levels while maintaining a positive candidate experience. We encourage you to submit your application at your earliest convenience.

About the Job

Horsham is a busy, friendly library in a spacious building on two floors, right in the town centre close to shops and services.

Step inside Horsham Library with our 360 degree tour.

We are looking for friendly, enthusiastic, and resourceful individuals who have exceptional digital skills and a genuine passion to make a difference to the local community.

It's not just about the books! We are looking for someone who understands the power of community and the importance of fostering a love for reading in people of all ages.

Saturday Library Assistants welcome everyone with a positive attitude and a resilient approach to every request. Providing excellent customer service is central to our library service, creating dynamic and engaging environments. Flexibility, creativity, and initiative are essential qualities for success.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Accurately shelve, organise and maintain library stock, ensuring resources are easy to find and accessible to customers.
• Deliver excellent customer service, responding to enquiries in person, by telephone and via email.
• Support customers in using self-service system and provide guidance on library services and procedures.
• Input straightforward information into the library management system.
• Resolve routine customer queries confidently, using sound judgement and a proactive approach.
• Help create a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment by identifying and reporting health and safety concerns.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues to ensure the smooth day-to-day running of the library.

The variety of our work means that no two days are the same. We get huge job satisfaction from helping everyone who comes through our doors, and you could too!

Required Qualifications and Skills

• 4 GCSEs with 9-4 / A-C passes including Maths and English, or equivalent qualification/experience.
• Experience working collaboratively within a team to complete shared tasks.
• Digital skills to effectively assist customers, including navigating emails and accessing the library website, app, and eLibrary.
• Strong communication and customer service skills to engage effectively with the public.
• Excellent numeracy and literacy skills to organise resources alphabetically and numerically, as well as to process payments for books at the helpdesk.
• Able to meet set deadlines such as organising and shelving books in a timely manner.

For more information on the Key Skills as well as the Qualifications and/or experience required, please refer to the Job Description attached.

Rewards and Benefits

• From access to our Employee Assistance Programme to training and development opportunities, we aim to create a supportive and dynamic working environment where employees can achieve their full potential, achieve a healthy work-life balance and are rewarded for the work they do.
• You will benefit from 25 days annual leave (pro rata for part time) rising to 28 days (pro rata for part time) after 5 years' service plus the opportunity to buy additional leave, an excellent local government pension scheme as well as a range of discounts giving our staff access to hundreds of offers.
• For more information about the wide variety of benefits you can take advantage of please visit our Rewards and Benefits page.

We think libraries are great places to work, where you can make a difference to local communities every day. Find out more about the variety that comes with working in a library and hear first hand from some of our library staff here: Library Jobs at West Sussex Libraries

Further Information

The reference number for this role is CPP01443.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. This post is subject to right to work within the UK, , satisfactory references, and health check.

Any candidates wishing to apply for this position, who would require sponsorship can determine the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) for the post by assessing their circumstances against criteria specified on the gov.uk website.

Equity, inclusion, accessibility and diversity is very important to West Sussex County Council. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all cultures, ethnicities, identities, backgrounds and lived experiences, as this helps us build a diverse and talented workforce, that reflects the communities we serve. We ensure our approach to recruitment is flexible and supportive to enable all applicants to be at their best and to ensure they have the best possible chance of success.

We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for applicants that have a disability, are a veteran or are a care leaver. More information can be found on our application help page.