Librarian

The Librarian is responsible for the strategic development and day-to-day management of library services at St Leonards for Senior School pupils (Years 7–13). Housed within the historic and beautiful Queen Mary’s Library, which sits at the very heart of school life, the post holder plays a central role in fostering a lifelong love of reading, promoting intellectual curiosity, and embedding a vibrant culture of inquiry across the school.

Working closely with academic departments, IB Programme Coordinators and pastoral teams, the Librarian will support research skills, information literacy and independent learning. The role also contributes to the wider cultural and intellectual life of St Leonards through literacy initiatives, author visits, collection building and support for the Alumni and Development team through the promotion and presentation of the school’s historical archives. The role is dynamic, highly visible and collaborative. The successful candidate will create an inspiring, inclusive and purposeful learning environment for Senior School pupils.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategy
  • Contribute to the strategic development and continuous improvement of library services across the school, ensuring Queen Mary’s Library aligns with academic priorities, Senior Management Team objectives and the IB inquiry framework.
  • Formulate and implement forward-thinking collection development policies for print and digital resources, ensuring diverse, contemporary and balanced representation tailored to Senior School pupils (Years 7–13).
  • Stay informed of national and international developments in librarianship, literacy education and digital research tools.
• Leadership and Management
  • Oversee the daily operations, administration and stock management of Queen Mary’s Library, maintaining a warm, welcoming, organised and accessible study environment.
  • Manage the Library Management System (LMS), cataloguing, lending processes, stock control and routine collection audits.
  • Manage and monitor the annual library budget effectively, maximising resource quality, diversity and value.
• Academic and Pastoral Provision
  • Lead reading initiatives across Years 7–13 that promote a genuine love of reading for pleasure, working closely with academic departments, while supporting whole-school literacy and Junior School library events.
  • Collaborate with teaching staff to integrate library resources directly into the curriculum and deliver or assist with lessons focused on research methodologies, academic integrity, citation and information literacy.
  • Provide tailored guidance to Senior School pupils undertaking independent study and extended research projects as part of IB or GCSE programmes, particularly around the Extended Essay and Reflective Project in the Sixth Form.
  • Maintain a calm, purposeful and inclusive study space throughout the school day, including supervision of independent study periods.
  • Ensure Queen Mary’s Library is a safe, welcoming and inclusive hub that actively promotes pupil wellbeing and scholarship.
• Child Protection
  • Maintain full compliance with the St Leonards Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy across all library spaces and activities.
  • Exercise high levels of emotional intelligence and professional discretion when liaising with pastoral teams, House staff and academic leaders regarding pupil welfare.
  • Ensure a safe, secure and supportive environment for all pupils using Queen Mary’s Library.
• Community, Archives and Events
  • Plan, organise and execute engaging literacy events, including World Book Day, Book Week, reading challenges and visiting author sessions.
  • Design vibrant, high-quality physical and digital displays highlighting diverse authors, topical themes and cross-curricular initiatives.
  • Work collaboratively with the Alumni and Development team to support archival promotion, including sourcing, preparing and curating historical items and displays for alumni reunions, development publications and school heritage events where appropriate.
• Data and Digital Resources
  • Oversee the acquisition, integration and user access for digital platforms, online databases, e-books and academic journals supporting IB learning and independent research.
  • Monitor and analyse library usage statistics, borrowing trends and resource engagement to inform stock purchasing and measure the impact of literacy initiatives across year groups.
• Additional Responsibilities
  • Participate in relevant whole-school academic committees, staff briefings and professional development days.
  • Support wider co-curricular activities, clubs or societies linked to literature, creative writing or research where appropriate.
  • Undertake reasonable additional duties as required by the Deputy Head Academic or Senior Management Team.

Person Specification

The successful candidate will demonstrate the following qualities and experience.

• Education, Training & Qualifications
  • Essential: Degree-level education or equivalent standard.
  • Strong IT literacy, including digital resource platforms and library management systems.
  • Desirable: Additional qualifications in library management. Familiarity with the International Baccalaureate (IB) framework (MYP/DP/CP).
• Experience
  • Essential: Proven experience working directly with young people in an educational or youth setting. Demonstrable track record of promoting reading, literacy and research skills. Experience managing collections, budgets or physical learning spaces.
  • Desirable: Experience working in a secondary or independent school library environment. Experience supporting archival promotion, alumni engagement or heritage displays. Experience organising author visits or whole-school literacy events.
• Skills
  • Essential: Highly organised, proactive and creative in approach. Strong ability to foster and maintain a calm, purposeful study environment. Excellent command of digital research tools and information retrieval techniques.
  • Desirable: Working knowledge of modern Library Management Systems (e.g. Accessit, Oliver, Heritage). Deep knowledge of contemporary young adult literature and non-fiction.
• Interpersonal & Personal Qualities
  • Passionate about literature, research and pupil development. Outstanding communication skills to build strong relationships with pupils and staff. High emotional intelligence, professional warmth and discretion. Collaborative, flexible and enthusiastic team player. Enthusiasm for school heritage and assisting the Alumni team with archival materials.

What Success Will Look Like

Queen Mary’s Library is a popular, welcoming, organised and purposeful hub of learning at the heart of Senior School life. Pupils develop a stronger love of reading, confidence in research and information literacy, and greater independence in their learning. Library collections and digital resources are contemporary, diverse, balanced and aligned with curriculum and pupil needs. Teaching and pastoral colleagues see the Librarian as a collaborative partner in curriculum delivery, inquiry and pupil development. Literacy events, author visits, displays and co-curricular activity create visible energy around reading, literature and intellectual curiosity. The school’s heritage and archive collections are used thoughtfully to support alumni engagement and the wider life of the School.

St Leonards is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive culture, where all members of the community - colleagues, pupils and families - are seen and valued. This culture ensures that St Leonards delivers an outstanding global education in a multi-cultural living, learning and working environment. Applications should be made via St Leonards. The closing date and time for applications is Noon on 13th September 2026. We reserve the right to close the vacancy earlier. Please note: St Leonards cannot offer visa sponsorship therefore applicants must have the right to work in the UK. Any questions may be directed to in the first instance. All successful applicants will be required to be accepted for membership of the Disclosure Scotland Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme.

About St Leonards: St Leonards is a friendly and forward-looking independent, coeducational, boarding and day school situated on an historic campus at the heart of the university town of St Andrews. The school enjoys an unrivalled location - there are sandy beaches, world-class Links golf courses, and historic sites on its doorstep. St Leonards delivers the inspiring, globally-recognised International Baccalaureate curriculum for pupils aged five to 18, and was the first school to be accredited as an all-through IB school in Scotland. It is one of just two schools in the UK to actively offer all four IB programmes, ensuring a seamless learner journey. The youngest pupils follow the Primary Years Programme, which goes hand-in-hand with the vibrant Outdoor Learning programme at St Leonards. This is followed by the Middle Years Programme and (I)GCSEs. In the Sixth Form, pupils choose between the Career-related Programme and the Diploma Programme. St Leonards enjoys a rich sporting heritage, and continues to boast a strong record of achievement with pupils representing the school nationally in golf, rugby, lacrosse, hockey, horse riding, and small-bore rifle shooting. The leading five-tier Golf Programme continues to go from strength to strength, the Duke of Edinburgh Award is the fastest growing of all Scottish independent schools, and an exciting calendar of trips and activities ensures pupils leave St Leonards equipped with the skills required to succeed in today’s ever-changing world.