Library Assistant, Education Library Service

Hours: 19.5 Hours Per Week

Interview Date: 10th July 2025

Closing Date: 20th June 2025

Salary: Grade 3 (£24,790 - £25,584 FTE)

**Once you have submitted your application, please email recruitment@inspireculture.org.uk with your name, vacancy title and application reference so that we can check that your application has been received**

An opportunity has arisen to join the Education Library Service playing a key role in delivering our resource and advice services to schools supporting pupils’ curriculum needs and promoting reading for pleasure. Our Library Assistants are vital, providing a welcoming first point of contact for customers. Day to day you can expect to be responding to a range of enquiries, discharging and shelving books, stock editing and selection and assisting with financial administration. There is an element of manual handling in this post.

We’re looking for an individual with excellent communication and customer service skills with the ability to deal with a variety of customers both in person, via email and on the phone.

You will be an enthusiastic, self-motivated, organised and energetic individual who is able to work alone as well as part of a team. You will have an interest in children’s literature and education.

Working 19.5 hours per week. Hours of work are Tuesday & Wednesday 9.30am – 5pm and Thursday 10.30am – 6pm (9.30am – 5pm in school holidays) each week.

This role is a great opportunity to join our friendly, supportive and expert team and make a real difference to the lives of children and young people in the local area.

For an informal discussion about the role please contact Hazel Sisson, Library Manager Operations on Tel:  0115 804 4338. 

To find out more about life with us, have a look at Education Library Service | Inspire - Culture, Learning, Libraries

Interviews will be held at Inspire HQ, Glaisdale Parkway, Nottingham, NG8 4GP

Job Description

Library Assistant: Education Library Service

Grade 3

Job Purpose

To contribute to the effective day to day delivery of the Education Library Service, providing a consistent high-quality service to customers.

Key Responsibilities

1. To ensure the highest possible customer experience by providing direct specialist help, guidance and support to school staff and children.
2. To carry out library service duties to support customer service including user enquiries, issue and return of library materials, maintenance of appropriate records and stock editing with guidance.
3. To respond appropriately to customer comments and complaints, being clear where these should be dealt with personally or be referred to a manager.
4. To provide a welcoming, friendly and accessible environment, as well as promoting reading and the use of library resources by displays, locating specific items and ensuring that stock presentation is high.
5. Promoting the ELS Service to existing, new and potential customers.
6. To ensure that all library equipment is always in full working order and, in the absence of the Library Manager, be responsible for the management of the Base, reporting any building/operational problems to appropriate colleagues. Assist management with contractors visiting the site.
7. To contribute to the ELS Business Plan and the achievement of targets, participating and contributing ideas in order to shape the service and achieve a high level of personal performance.
8. To make up book collections, to satisfy school’s needs, requests and enquiries, using their book knowledge and the ELS resources appropriate for specific age groups to meet individual needs.
9. Carry out financial administrative tasks including preparing quotes, raising of invoices, responding to invoice queries and scheduling vans and liaising with drivers.
10. Maintain and operate efficient and effective record keeping and filing systems both computerised and manual and collate, maintain and present statistical information as required.
11. The post holder will work in accordance with all Inspire policies and procedures, Inspire Brand guidelines, contractual requirements, and professional best practice.
12. The post holder will perform any duties or tasks assigned by management required to meet service needs as appropriate to the role.
13. The post holder will assume the role of Appointed Person and/or First Aider as required. 

Education and Knowledge Required for the role

1. Knowledge of the principles and practices of excellent customer service.
2. An interest in children’s books, the library service and education.

Skills and Experience

1. Experience of working in, and contributing to, a team and an understanding of team working.
2. Experience of working with the public, as paid employee or as a volunteer in a customer facing role.
3. Experience of working independently as the roles requires
4. Experience of using IT e.g. Microsoft office or equivalent

Role Dimensions

1. Responsibility for ensuring a welcoming and customer focused library environment.
2. Ensure accurate clerical, administrative tasks and creation of book collections are completed to support the Education Library Service. Completion of approximately 200 book collection items weekly. 
3. The role requires a substantial amount of bending and stretching to shelve books, handling heavy library materials and pushing heavy trolleys.
4. A readiness to carry out work that can be repetitive and routine as well as the ability to work autonomously (for example, issuing, discharging and shelving books).

Inspire Competencies

Customer Service (Competency Level 3) 

1. Demonstrates effective customer service skills – in person, online, email or on the phone - identifies and satisfies customer needs, adjusting their style with a friendly and professional approach as appropriate for the customer, respecting confidentiality, equality & diversity and prioritises the customer over tasks where appropriate
2. Responds positively to customer concerns, acts to resolve or reassure customers as needed, agrees solutions with the customer or hands over to an appropriate colleague
3. Responds positively to any complaint or suggestion and seeks to resolve it within limits of their authority or hands over to a more senior manager as appropriate

Deliver the service offer (Competency Level 3) 

1. Knows and/or accesses information to advise and promote the Inspire Service Offer to all customers – to meet their immediate needs and other services that could be of interest or benefit them
2. Embraces any changes to the offer and any associated changes to processes or working practices positively, takes responsibility for their own development and engages with and makes the most of development opportunities provided
3. Shares feedback about the Inspire offer with their line manager and contributes to meetings, discussions and related activities to ensure service delivery and/or improve our offer

Communicating well (Competency Level 3) 

1. Communicates clearly and effectively in person, on the phone and in writing respectfully and in a style appropriate to the person and situation and uses and engages with Inspire’s online communications
2. Communicates effectively in a meeting or other group situation, respectfully and in a style appropriate to the group and situation with a solutions-based / can-do approach
3. Debates, positively challenges and/or discusses issues with colleagues and line manager, sharing views and acknowledging and respecting the views of others, seeks to reach agreement and respects the final decision made

Working together (Competency Level 2) 

1. Adopts a friendly, helpful, supportive and respectful manner when working with others
2. Acts in a way that shows they are trustworthy, reliable and transparent in their dealings with others, respecting privacy and confidentiality as appropriate

Managing others (N/A) 

Leading the way (Competency Level 1) 

1. Incorporates the spirit of Inspire’s mission, vision and values in the work they do with customers, colleagues and stakeholders, plays their part in implementing Inspire policies and procedures and management decisions

Working efficiently & cost effectively (Competency Level 2) 

1. Uses Inspire resources and their time effectively to meet service demand, objectives and/or targets
2. Plans ahead, making best use of time and resources available to achieve service delivery, maximising the use of technology available, minimising unnecessary travel or waste, prioritising work and working within spending limits.

Skills and qualifications (Competency Level 2) 

GCSE (Grades 4-91 [previously A-C]) Inc. English and Maths or Level 2 Diploma (1st Diploma)

Including: Demonstrable IT Skills (Inspire Recruitment Activity/test)

• Use of Internet – information searching
• Microsoft Office – Basic Skills

Good verbal and written communication skills

**Once you have submitted your application, please email recruitment@inspireculture.org.uk with your name, vacancy title and application reference so that we can check that your application has been received**