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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage libraries, deliver services, and develop community health and wellbeing initiatives.
- Company: Join South Gloucestershire Council, making a real difference in local communities.
- Benefits: Generous annual leave, employee wellbeing support, and staff discounts.
- Why this job: Be an advocate for libraries and impact lives through education and culture.
- Qualifications: Relevant degree or experience in library management and strong interpersonal skills.
- Other info: Flexible work-life balance and excellent training opportunities for career growth.
The predicted salary is between 28800 - 43200 £ per year.
As a Group Librarian, you will manage a small group of libraries to deliver their services. Liaising with local communities, you will ensure that the libraries are meeting local information, reading, wellbeing, cultural and educational needs.
As an advocate for libraries, you will have a good understanding of the role that public libraries play in supporting the health and wellbeing needs of people in all areas of society.
What you will be doing
Working closely with the Library Supervisors at Thornbury and Downend libraries, you will ensure you’re delivering high quality services across these locations. It will be your responsibility to develop health and wellbeing activities and initiatives, promoting and delivering these in libraries. It will be key for you to build and develop relationships within the community and your group of libraries.
What we need from you
We require you to hold or be working towards a relevant degree or postgraduate qualification such as a Master’s in Library and Information Science, or have equivalent relevant professional experience. It is essential that you have some experience of staff management, including experience of supervising, motivating and developing a team. You must have an understanding of health and wellbeing in public libraries, and an ability to develop this within the service. Given the elements of the role, you will have strong interpersonal skills to be able to persuade, influence and build relationships with employees and customers. It is essential you have good IT and digital skills, alongside the ability to use a range of software packages.
What you need to know
Your salary is pro-rata to hours worked. You will belong to a team delivering the services from Downend and Thornbury libraries although you will be expected to work in other libraries as and when required. As part of your normal working week you will be required to work approximately one Saturday morning in four. Interviews will be held on 16th February 2026.
How a career at South Gloucestershire Council is different
As part of our benefits package, you will receive generous annual leave (pro rata), employee wellbeing support and you will have access to a range of staff discounts, including eye tests, travel, shopping and leisure activities. We recognise that our diverse team of skilled and dedicated people make us a great place to work. We welcome applications from everyone and ensure that individuals are selected, promoted and developed on the basis of their merits and abilities. We know our team work best when they have balance in their lives, and we offer genuine flexibility to help them achieve that work/life balance. We value our staff as individuals, investing in their careers and we are recognised for the quality, breadth and depth of our training and development offer, which helps make the greatest long-term difference in work. Our teams at South Gloucestershire Council are making a real difference to the lives of people who live, work and learn here. We’re building and shaping communities which people are proud of. We’re planning for the future; building and improving the roads, railways, schools, green spaces, and houses. We’re providing essential services across our communities to ensure they are safe and well maintained. We’ve achieved a great deal, but we need talented and dedicated people to ensure we continue to make a difference. We’re making a difference, be part of it!
Group Librarian - Bristol employer: South Gloucestershire Council
Contact Detail:
South Gloucestershire Council Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Group Librarian - Bristol
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the library sector, attend local events, and connect with professionals on LinkedIn. Building relationships can open doors to opportunities that aren’t even advertised.
✨Tip Number 2
Show your passion for libraries! When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, share your ideas on how to enhance community engagement and wellbeing through library services. Let them see your enthusiasm!
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by researching the libraries you'll be working with. Understand their current initiatives and think about how you can contribute. Tailoring your approach shows you're genuinely interested in making a difference.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to engage directly with us.
We think you need these skills to ace Group Librarian - Bristol
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Libraries: When writing your application, let your love for libraries shine through! Share any experiences that highlight your understanding of how libraries support health and wellbeing in the community. We want to see your enthusiasm for making a difference!
Tailor Your CV and Cover Letter: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for this role. Highlight your relevant qualifications and experience, especially in staff management and community engagement. We’re looking for specific examples that demonstrate your skills and how they align with our needs.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application clear and to the point. Use straightforward language and avoid jargon. We appreciate well-structured applications that are easy to read, so make sure your key points stand out!
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way to ensure it gets to us directly. Plus, you’ll find all the details you need about the role and our team there. We can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at South Gloucestershire Council
✨Know Your Libraries
Before the interview, take some time to research the libraries you'll be managing. Understand their unique services and community needs. This will help you demonstrate your commitment and show how you can tailor initiatives to fit each library's specific context.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Be prepared to discuss your experience in staff management. Think of examples where you've successfully motivated or developed a team. Highlighting your interpersonal skills will be key, so practice articulating how you've built relationships in previous roles.
✨Emphasise Health and Wellbeing Initiatives
Since the role focuses on health and wellbeing, come equipped with ideas for activities or programmes you could implement. This shows that you're proactive and understand the importance of these initiatives in public libraries.
✨Demonstrate Your IT Savvy
Given the need for good IT and digital skills, be ready to discuss your experience with various software packages. You might even want to mention any specific tools you've used in past roles that could benefit the libraries' operations.
