Library Assistant Apprentice

Fixed term 18 months, Apprentice rate - 80% London Living Wage in Year 1; 100% London Living Wage in Year 2.

Working Hours: 36

Location: Richmond Libraries

About Us

You will work to achieve a Level 3 qualification in Library, Information and Archive Services Assistant Apprenticeship. This will involve travel to Westminster Adult Education Service’s Lisson Grove Centre (which is near Marylebone), approximately once a month. You will be given an appropriate time allowance to undertake this qualification, which is projected to be on average 6 hours per week.

Objective of role

Our Library Assistants play a vital role in promoting reading, supporting learning, and encouraging our visitors to participate in the rich cultural and community life of Richmond upon Thames.

Do you want to help us deliver our strategies of:

• Inspiring a community of readers of all ages.
• Empowering learners and bridging the digital divide.
• Supporting health, wellbeing and inclusion.
• Opportunities for cultural and creative enrichment.
• Promoting sustainable choices.
• Instilling a sense of pride and belonging.

About the role

Day to day duties include:

• You will shelve and tidy stock, promoting it and helping customers choose books and ensuring that our collections are ordered, well-presented and accessible.
• You will also help to deliver a wide range of reading events, such as weekly Rhymetimes and author talks.
• You will use a range of IT systems and services at a high level.
• You will answer customer and colleague enquiries both in person, via email and on the phone.
• You will be required to work in any of our 12 libraries across the borough, so you will need to be flexible in your attitude to work.

This will be a full-time 36-hour post working 4 days every weekday and every other Saturday.

Weekdays from 9.15 – 6.15/7.15

Saturdays from 9.15 – 4.15

This post is fixed term lasting 18 months with the opportunity to apply for a permanent Library Assistant role while completing your apprenticeship depending on vacancies.

We offer a generous holiday allowance of 32 days plus bank holidays. In addition, we offer a range of staff benefits such as membership of the Local Government contributory scheme, new technology scheme, interest-free loans on annual travel cards, discounts at many leisure activities, restaurants, shops, and other establishments. A wide range of developmental opportunities are also offered.

Essential Qualifications, Skills and Experience

To successfully complete your apprenticeship, you must hold Level 2 qualifications in English and Maths. We can provide Functional Skills Level 2 support for you if you do not already have these qualifications.

Essential criteria for this post include:

• The ability to communicate clearly and effectively with a wide range of customers, including through telephone, email, and social media.
• The ability and confidence to handle challenging customer-facing situations in a calm, professional, and effective manner.
• An awareness of the range of resources and services provided by libraries, and an understanding of the important role libraries play within communities.
• Ability to work without close supervision, retain information and apply procedures as instructed.
• An interest in the broader areas of information management and information studies, including archives, cataloguing, copyright, and relevant legislation.

You will be required to work in any of our 12 libraries across the borough, so you will need to be flexible in your attitude to work.

Closing Date: End of day Sunday 30 August 2026

Shortlisting Date: Week beginning 31 August 2026

Interview Date: Week beginning 21 September 2026

All dates above may be changed. We may close this vacancy early once a sufficient number of applications have been received, so please submit your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. Due to the potential volume of applications, interview dates may be postponed to allow for shortlisting.

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.