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- Tasks: Deliver outstanding customer service and support library operations on weekends.
- Company: Richmond Libraries, a vibrant community-focused organisation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, 40 days annual leave, flexible working, and a generous pension plan.
- Why this job: Join a passionate team and make a real difference in your community.
- Qualifications: Experience in high-pressure environments and strong customer service skills.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
The predicted salary is between 27781 - 32478 £ per year.
Salary Range: £27,781- £32,478 per annum (pro rata)
Location: Richmond Libraries and Twickenham Libraries
Employment Type: Permanent – Part Time (Saturdays: 5.5hrs; Sundays: 4hrs)
Standard Working Pattern: Working every Saturday 9:30 am – 4:00 pm, or every Sunday 1:00–5:00 pm / 1:15–5:15 pm.
Are you passionate about helping people and creating welcoming community spaces? Richmond upon Thames Libraries are looking for a friendly, confident, and resourceful Library Assistant to join our high‑performing team. Our libraries are vibrant, inclusive spaces that serve a wide range of community needs. As a Library Assistant, you’ll be at the heart of this service—providing excellent customer support, helping visitors access resources, and ensuring the smooth day‑to‑day running of the library.
Objective of the role
OUR VISION: How Richmond upon Thames Libraries see the future. ‘Communities within Richmond upon Thames will realise their potential through the personal, professional, social and cultural development opportunities provided by their library service.’ We operate a high‑performing library service that is highly regarded by the community. As a Library Assistant, your role will be to support the delivery of this borough‑wide service by ensuring excellent customer service and carrying out a range of administrative duties to facilitate the day‑to‑day operations.
About the role
Modern public libraries are vibrant and inclusive spaces, open to all members of the community. Our staff must be resilient, confident, and resourceful in order to manage the often complex and challenging situations that can arise in such dynamic customer‑facing environments. Most of your work will involve frontline customer service, including issuing and returning items, maintaining and caring for resources, assisting with information searches and enquiries, supporting events, and helping visitors access the full range of services offered by the library.
What you’ll do
- Deliver outstanding customer service
- Assist with the issue and return of books and other resources
- Help customers use public computers, e‑resources, and self‑service kiosks
- Support events and activities
- Maintain a safe, welcoming environment for all
You will be required to work at any of our libraries open on Saturdays (12 libraries) or Sundays (3 libraries) within the Borough. As such, you must be able to travel to and undertake duties at any library, occasionally at short notice.
Essential Qualifications, Skills and Experience
You should have experience working—either in a paid or voluntary capacity—in a high‑pressure environment where high standards of service delivery are expected. You should be able to demonstrate your contribution to the success of an effective team. You should have experience responding to queries and resolving problems effectively. Your ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously in a fast‑paced setting, with minimal supervision, is essential. You should be able to demonstrate confidence and strong resilience by maintaining composure and responding effectively and professionally when dealing with challenging or difficult service users.
Closing Date: Sunday 18 January (midnight)
Shortlisting Date: week commencing 19 January
Interview Date: week commencing 9 February TBC
Test/Presentation: As part of the selection process, there will be a test to assess your proficiency in Microsoft Office, and your ability to retrieve information from the internet. It is likely that we will close this vacancy early once a sufficient number of applications has been received. Please submit your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
Richmond & Wandsworth Better Service Partnership are committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a culture that values differences, recognising that employees from a variety of backgrounds bring important and positive contributions to the Councils and can improve the way we deliver services. We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer. If you require any reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment and selection process, please let us know. We are also committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
Some posts may be exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such appointment to these posts will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory response to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).
We offer a wide range of benefits designed to attract, develop, and reward our employees such as 40 days annual leave (including Bank Holidays), flexible working and a generous pension plan.
Weekend Library Assistant employer: London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and London Borough of Wandsworth
Contact Detail:
London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and London Borough of Wandsworth Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Weekend Library Assistant
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the libraries in Richmond! Familiarise yourself with their services and community events. This will not only help you during interviews but also show your genuine interest in the role.
✨Tip Number 2
Practice your customer service skills! Think of scenarios where you might need to handle difficult situations or queries. Being prepared will boost your confidence and show that you're ready for the dynamic environment.
✨Tip Number 3
Network with current library staff if you can. They can provide insights into the team culture and what it takes to succeed. Plus, a friendly face can make a big difference when applying!
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Don’t wait until the last minute—get your application in early to avoid disappointment!
We think you need these skills to ace Weekend Library Assistant
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: When writing your application, let your enthusiasm for helping people shine through. We want to see how much you care about creating welcoming community spaces and supporting library visitors.
Tailor Your Experience: Make sure to highlight any relevant experience you have in customer service or high-pressure environments. We’re looking for examples that demonstrate your ability to handle queries and resolve problems effectively.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, so make sure your skills and experiences are easy to understand and directly relate to the role of Library Assistant.
Apply Early!: Don’t wait until the last minute to submit your application. We might close the vacancy early if we get enough applications, so head over to our website and apply as soon as you can to avoid disappointment!
How to prepare for a job interview at London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and London Borough of Wandsworth
✨Know Your Library
Before the interview, take some time to familiarise yourself with Richmond Libraries. Understand their mission, the services they offer, and the community they serve. This will help you demonstrate your passion for creating welcoming spaces and show that you're genuinely interested in being part of their team.
✨Showcase Your Customer Service Skills
Since this role is all about providing excellent customer support, think of specific examples from your past experiences where you've gone above and beyond for customers. Be ready to discuss how you handled challenging situations and what you learned from them. This will highlight your resilience and resourcefulness.
✨Prepare for Practical Tests
As part of the selection process, there will be a test assessing your proficiency in Microsoft Office and information retrieval. Brush up on these skills beforehand. Practising common tasks like creating documents or searching for information online can give you the confidence you need to ace this part of the interview.
✨Ask Thoughtful Questions
At the end of the interview, don’t forget to ask questions! Inquire about the library's upcoming events, how they engage with the community, or what a typical day looks like for a Library Assistant. This shows your enthusiasm for the role and helps you gauge if it's the right fit for you.
