At a Glance
- Tasks: Engage with the community, support readers, and deliver fun activities at Warboys Library.
- Company: Join a friendly team at Warboys Library, a valued community space.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible hours, wellbeing packages, and opportunities for personal growth.
- Other info: Dynamic role with creative opportunities and supportive colleagues.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in your community while fostering a love for reading.
- Qualifications: Great customer service skills and a passion for libraries are essential.
The predicted salary is between 20000 - 25000 £ per year.
About the role
Are you passionate about community spaces, lifelong learning, and helping people connect? We're looking for a friendly, proactive Community Library Assistant to join our welcoming team at Warboys Library. Warboys Library is a valued local space with a strong community focus. It is single-staffed but supported by a dedicated group of volunteers, creating a close-knit and collaborative environment. From supporting readers and digital learners to delivering activities to both children and adults, no two days are the same and your work will make a real difference. We are passionate about creating a warm and welcoming space and developing a lifelong love of reading within our community. This post is based at Warboys Library for 15.50 hours pw. This role involves some weekend and evening working. Travel may be necessary from time to time.
Our benefits
- A comprehensive wellbeing package to cover all aspects of wellbeing, both in and out of work, which can also be accessed by your family.
- Buy up to 4 weeks additional annual leave (pro-rata) through our salary sacrifice scheme.
- Take your bank holidays flexibly to better suit your personal circumstances.
- Make Additional Voluntary Contributions (Shared AVCs) to your pension with tax and National Insurance savings.
- Access to development opportunities, apprenticeships and qualified coaches to support your personal and professional growth.
- Paid volunteering hours each year so you can make a positive impact on our community during your normal working day.
- Access to Peer Support Groups through our IDEAL staff equality, diversity and inclusion network.
- Opportunities to nominate and receive Employee Recognition Awards.
- An Our Cambs Rewards account, giving you access to in-store and online discounts as well as our Car Lease and Cycle to Work schemes.
What will you be doing?
This is primarily a customer-facing role working in the library, dealing with enquiries, creating and maintaining a welcoming space, supporting customers to access online services and promoting the Library offer in the community. Confidence to work on your own is essential as are excellent communication skills. There are opportunities to support and deliver Library events for both adults and children, including Rhymetime, Storytime and Engage events. Although there is plenty of routine work, there are also many opportunities to be creative. Library experience is an advantage; however, we would love to hear from candidates who have demonstrated exceptional customer service skills in other contexts. Training will be given on specific library systems, but an ability to work with IT is essential. The successful candidate will be passionate about what public libraries can offer and able to promote our services both within the library and in the wider community. Please note that library work is physically demanding.
About you
Please refer to the job description and person specification for full details about this job role. The supporting statement is the most important part of your application. This will be used in the shortlisting process to assess whether you meet the essential requirements for the role. When completing the supporting statement for this position, please tell us how your skills, experience, capability and potential match each of the criteria in the person specification. Think carefully about the criteria and provide practical examples of how and when you have used the particular knowledge, skill or experience:
- Demonstrate your understanding of delivering good customer service.
- Interpersonal skills, including patience and listening skills with an ability to establish exactly what the customer requires.
- A good knowledge of the Internet and a demonstrable capacity to assess the value of the information found there.
- A pleasant, helpful manner with customers of all ages and abilities.
- A strong team player, able to work with colleagues on projects and contribute to team goals.
- Flexibility and adaptability in all areas of work.
- An ability to work under pressure.
- An ability to work with limited supervision.
About us
Cambridgeshire is a great place to work and live with a diverse population, an urban centre in Cambridge, historic Isle of Ely, Huntingdon and St Ives as well as more rural landscapes. Our four values are central to our culture, driving everything we do. We are proud to serve the diverse communities of Cambridgeshire and want our workforce to be reflective of this diversity, which we firmly believe benefits our colleagues, the organisation and our communities. If you don't meet every single requirement in the job role but think this could be you, please don't be put off. We are committed to building a workplace that is compassionate and inclusive as well as diverse, so if you think you could be a good candidate for this role please consider applying and speak to the recruiting manager if you have any questions.
We collect relevant diversity data for monitoring as part of the recruitment process to understand the diversity of our applicants and monitor any trends throughout the recruitment processes so that we can take meaningful action. We are proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We fully support providing reasonable adjustments throughout our recruitment process, as well as when you join us, and we encourage candidates to contact the Hiring Manager to discuss any adjustment needs. Through a Guaranteed Interview Scheme, we will offer an interview to all applicants who disclose a disability and meet the essential criteria for a job vacancy.
Community Library Assistant in Warboys employer: Cambridge County Council
At Cambridgeshire County Council, we pride ourselves on being an excellent employer, offering a supportive and inclusive work culture that values community engagement and personal growth. As a Community Library Assistant at Warboys Library, you'll enjoy a range of benefits including a comprehensive wellbeing package, flexible annual leave options, and opportunities for professional development, all while making a meaningful impact in a vibrant local space. Join our dedicated team and help foster a lifelong love of reading within our diverse community.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Community Library Assistant in Warboys
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the library and its community! Spend some time visiting Warboys Library, chat with the staff and volunteers, and understand what makes it special. This will help you connect with the role and show your genuine interest during interviews.
✨Tip Number 2
Practice your customer service skills! Think of examples from your past experiences where you've gone above and beyond for someone. Being able to share these stories will demonstrate your ability to create a welcoming environment for library users.
✨Tip Number 3
Show off your creativity! The role involves delivering activities for both children and adults, so think about fun ideas you could bring to the table. Whether it's a new storytime theme or an engaging event, having a few ideas ready can set you apart.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, you’ll find all the info you need about the role and the team. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you have questions – we’re here to help!
We think you need these skills to ace Community Library Assistant in Warboys
Some tips for your application 🫡
Craft a Compelling Supporting Statement:Your supporting statement is the star of your application! Make sure to highlight how your skills and experiences align with the criteria in the person specification. Use real-life examples to show us what you can bring to the role.
Show Your Passion for Libraries:We want to see your enthusiasm for community spaces and lifelong learning. Share why you love libraries and how you can contribute to creating a welcoming environment at Warboys Library. Let your passion shine through!
Tailor Your Application:Don’t just send a generic application! Tailor your CV and cover letter to reflect the specific requirements of the Community Library Assistant role. Highlight relevant customer service experience and any creative ideas you have for library events.
Apply Through Our Website:Make sure to apply through our website for the best chance of success! It’s the easiest way for us to keep track of your application and ensures you’re considered for this fantastic opportunity at Warboys Library.
How to prepare for a job interview at Cambridge County Council
✨Know Your Community
Before the interview, take some time to research Warboys Library and its role in the community. Understand the types of activities they offer and how they engage with local residents. This will show your genuine interest in the position and help you connect your experiences to their mission.
✨Showcase Your Customer Service Skills
Prepare specific examples from your past experiences that highlight your exceptional customer service skills. Think about times when you went above and beyond to assist someone or resolved a challenging situation. This is crucial for a role that involves direct interaction with library users of all ages.
✨Demonstrate Flexibility and Creativity
Since no two days are the same at Warboys Library, be ready to discuss how you've adapted to changing situations in previous roles. Share instances where you’ve used creativity to solve problems or enhance user experiences, especially in a community-focused environment.
✨Prepare for IT Questions
As the role requires working with IT, brush up on your digital skills and be prepared to discuss your experience with online services. You might be asked about how you would assist customers in accessing digital resources, so think of practical examples to illustrate your tech-savviness.