At a Glance
- Tasks: Create a welcoming library space and assist customers with their needs.
- Company: Join the vibrant team at Bar Hill Library, part of Cambridgeshire County Council.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible holidays, wellbeing support, and professional development opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a positive impact in your community while gaining valuable experience.
- Qualifications: Friendly, enthusiastic individuals with strong communication and IT skills.
- Other info: Opportunities for overtime and growth across multiple library locations.
This role is based at Bar Hill Library. Bar Hill is a busy, modern library situated in the heart of the community. There may be opportunities for overtime within other libraries in the cluster, Cottenham, Histon, Papworth and Willingham. We are currently recruiting for a 12.00 hour a week Community Library Assistant. Please see attached timetable for details of working hours.
We are looking for friendly, enthusiastic, and versatile people. You will have high standards of customer care and be able to work using your own initiative. The successful candidates will be responsible for creating a friendly and welcoming library space for all customers and volunteers. You will be able to multi-task, be flexible and enjoy working under pressure. There will be scope for working in other locations, so flexibility and adaptability is a must. IT skills are essential for this role and full training will be given on library specific systems and processes. The role involves a significant amount of standing, bending, carrying books and pushing heavy trollies.
Responsibilities- You will be confident using your initiative.
- Have excellent communication and digital skills.
- Be able to work with volunteers.
- Be able to quickly master the varied aspects of library routines, including front line customer care, using the library management system, the self-service machines, handling cash, stock requests and stock circulation procedures.
- Demonstrate a mature and professional attitude.
- Be able to work collaboratively with partners in the building.
This is a permanent post of 12.00 hours. The salary is pro rata to reflect this. Interviews will be held on Wednesday 17th December.
For more information or to chat about this opportunity please contact Karen Foster, Area Library Manager, at: karen.forster@cambridgeshire.gov.uk or call 07484 475539.
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.
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.
Visit our jobs and careers section to find out more about our wide range of learning and development opportunities; apprenticeships; our wellbeing package; staff benefits; our commitment to equality, diversity and Inclusion.
Community Library Assistant in Bar Hill employer: Cambridgeshire County Council
Contact Detail:
Cambridgeshire County Council Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Community Library Assistant in Bar Hill
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the library and its community! Before your interview, take a stroll around Bar Hill Library and chat with some locals. This will help you understand the vibe and show that you're genuinely interested in being part of the community.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your IT skills! Since digital skills are essential for this role, be ready to discuss any relevant experience you have with library management systems or similar tech. We want to see how you can adapt quickly to new systems!
✨Tip Number 3
Be prepared to demonstrate your customer care skills. Think of examples where you've gone above and beyond for customers or worked well under pressure. This is key for creating that friendly and welcoming library space we all love!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, if you have any questions, reach out to Karen Foster directly – she’s super helpful and can give you more insights about the role.
We think you need these skills to ace Community Library Assistant in Bar Hill
Some tips for your application 🫡
Read the Job Description Carefully: Before you start your application, take a good look at the job description. Make sure you understand what we're looking for in a Community Library Assistant and how your skills match up. This will help you tailor your application to stand out!
Highlight Your Relevant Experience: In your supporting statement, don’t forget to showcase your experience that aligns with the role. Whether it’s customer service or IT skills, let us know how you've used these in past roles. We want to see how you can create that friendly library space we’re after!
Be Yourself: We’re looking for friendly and enthusiastic people, so let your personality shine through in your application! Share your passion for libraries and community work, and don’t be afraid to show us what makes you unique.
Apply Through Our Website: Make sure to submit your application through our website. It’s the easiest way for us to keep track of your application and ensures you don’t miss any important information. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Cambridgeshire County Council
✨Know the Library Inside Out
Before your interview, take some time to familiarise yourself with Bar Hill Library and its services. Understanding the community it serves and the resources available will show your enthusiasm and initiative, which are key traits for a Community Library Assistant.
✨Show Off Your Customer Care Skills
Prepare examples of how you've provided excellent customer service in the past. Think about situations where you’ve gone above and beyond to help someone, as this role requires high standards of customer care. Be ready to discuss how you would create a welcoming environment for all library users.
✨Demonstrate Flexibility and Adaptability
Since the role involves working in various locations and adapting to different tasks, be prepared to share experiences that highlight your flexibility. Talk about times when you successfully managed multiple responsibilities or adapted to unexpected changes in your work environment.
✨Brush Up on Your IT Skills
As IT skills are essential for this position, make sure you’re comfortable discussing any relevant software or systems you’ve used before. If you have experience with library management systems or self-service machines, mention those specifically to show you’re ready to hit the ground running.