Assistant Librarian

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Salary: - £35,116 to £37,174 with progression to £45,413 per annum (pro rata)

Newcastle University is a great place to work, with excellent benefits . We have a generous holiday package; plus the opportunity to buy more, great pension schemes and a number of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.

Closing Date: 05 August 2025

The Role

This role presents an exciting opportunity to join the Academic Liaison team, based at the Philip Robinson Library. You will support the development of students’ information and digital skills by designing, developing and delivering a wide range of information literacy learning and teaching activities and materials to suit blended methods of delivery.

We are looking for people who have both enthusiasm and experience of delivering engaging information literacy teaching to different users. You will have excellent communication skills and good understanding of the information resources and tools, including reference management systems, for different levels of study. This role provides the opportunity to work with different staff and students and contribute to variety of projects.

This role is offered on a part-time basis (0.5 FTE), with required working pattern of Wednesday and Thursday all day, half day on Friday. If you would like to know more about the role, please contact Rob McEwen-Orr ( robyn.orr@newcastle.ac.uk ) or Louise Masson (Louise.Masson@newcastle.ac.uk ).

We offer a blend of place-based work on our Newcastle campus and elements of home working.

To apply please upload a copy of your CV, along with a cover letter evidencing how you meet the essential criteria as outlined in the person specification of the job description

Key Accountabilities

• To design and deliver high-quality and innovative information literacy teaching to students at all levels, using a variety of formats, and to evaluate the impact of this. This will include collaborating with colleagues from our Academic Skills Team on the development and delivery of academic and information literacies embedded teaching and online learning materials, in support of student learning and university education initiatives
• To develop, create and maintain high-quality teaching materials across a wide range of subjects and levels of study to support the library’s information literacy and academic skills programmes. This will include the development of high-quality online learning resources such as subject guides, videos, online tutorials, and blended learning materials for the university’s virtual learning environment
• To provide one-to-one support in the use of academic information resources such as specialist databases (e.g. Digimap, SciFinder-n) and information tools (e.g. Endnote)
• To support the Academic Liaison Librarians by acting as a key point of contact for members of Schools and institutes. This will include working in partnership with academic colleagues to ensure that information literacy provision needs of students and representing the service at School meetings
• To develop and maintain publicity materials, including digital and web ready content, with particular emphasis on relevant services and resources to academic staff and students. This includes planning and organising promotional events
• To contribute to Library wide and sectional objectives and projects, and Library groups, co-ordinating Liaison support for specific area(s) of library activity, including undertaking relevant user research and evaluation activities
• To identify and research new and emerging digital resources, platforms and tools and resources. This will include facilitating the Liaison team’s evaluation of their role in future service development
• To support the Academic Liaison Librarians with collection development related activities
• To work with the Library’s Education Officers to support the development of Library’s outreach activities; including information literacy activities
• To coordinate and supervise the work of the Liaison assistants and temporary staff mainly in activities related to information literacy teaching
• To participate in relevant networks and communities to ensure that work is informed by the latest developments in information literacy, research, academic practice and pedagogical research
• Any other duties within the scope and general nature of the grade which may be required

The Person

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Significant experience of working in libraries in an academic or other similar environment
• Experience of using and demonstrating information resources and tools, including discovery tools and reference management systems, appropriate for different levels of study and research
• Experience of designing and delivering in-person, online and non-synchronous information literacy teaching across a wide range of users
• Up to date knowledge of issues relating to teaching, learning and assessment in higher education, and specifically in the development of students’ digital and information literacies
• Experience of producing publicity and marketing to promote library resources and services
• Highly developed digital skills, including experience of critically evaluating digital tools and emerging technologies, and using web content management system e.g. LibGuides, virtual learning environments and Microsoft 365 applications
• Excellent team working skills, and demonstrable ability to establish and maintain effective networks both internally and externally
• Ability to manage own work and time effectively with minimal managerial supervision, and to facilitate the work of others
• Excellent communication skills, and the ability to convey complex information clearly and effectively to a range of audiences

Attributes and Behaviour

Gathering Information

• Liaises effectively with stakeholders, colleagues, and customers
• Looks for opportunities and impacts arising from external developments

Communicating

• Encourages and supports a free flow of communication and information across own area
• Tailors communication to the audience, changing style, tone and format accordingly
  

Team-working

• Operates effectively in a number of teams and groups
  

Planning and Organising

• Effective at organising and managing heavy and complex workload
• Sets own priorities in conjunction with team and area objectives
  

Finding Solutions

• Encourages creative and innovative thinking in self and others

Qualifications

• Educated to honours degree standard or equivalent
• Professional qualification in Library and Information Science or Chartered membership of the Chartered Institute of Library Information Professionals or or equivalent experience.

Newcastle University is a global University where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. As a University of Sanctuary, we aim to provide a welcoming place of safety for all, offering opportunities to people fleeing violence and persecution.

We are committed to being a fully inclusive university which actively recruits, supports and retains colleagues from all sectors of society. We value diversity as well as celebrate, support and thrive on the contributions of all of our employees and the communities they represent. We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing teams, we believe that success is built on having teams whose backgrounds and experiences reflect the diversity of our university and student population.

At Newcastle University we hold a silverAthena Swan award in recognition of our good employment practices for the advancement of gender equality. We also hold a Race Equality Charter Bronze award in recognition of our work towards tackling race inequality in higher education REC. We are a Disability Confident employer and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role as part of the offer and interview scheme.

In addition, we are a member of the Euraxess initiative supporting researchers in Europe.