At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage journal subscriptions and supervise library assistants while ensuring smooth access to resources.
- Company: LSE, a diverse and inclusive university committed to academic excellence.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, generous leave, pension scheme, and excellent training opportunities.
- Other info: Opportunity for career growth and professional development in a supportive environment.
- Why this job: Join a dynamic team and make a real impact on library services for students and researchers.
- Qualifications: Experience in library subscription administration and strong IT skills required.
The predicted salary is between 36513 - 41565 £ per year.
LSE is committed to building a diverse, equitable and truly inclusive university.
We are seeking to recruit a full-time Senior Library Assistant. Acquisitions and Subscriptions are separate teams within the Collections and Academic Services Group, who work together to provide a wide range of content via different platforms and models to LSE Library users.
This role involves work predominantly with journal subscriptions, both print and electronic, but there would also be some responsibility for other renewing resources such as databases, datasets, and other similar online resources.
The postholder also supervises the work of library assistants in the teams, creating training and process documentation in conjunction with the team and the Assistant Librarians. Working with colleagues across the Library, they also contribute to the maintenance of metadata for online resources, collect information and usage reports, and troubleshoot access enquiries. They handle the financial processing of these resources and liaise with the Finance division to ensure that payments are completed accurately and on time.
Candidates should have experience of journal and/or e-resource subscription administration in a higher education or research library, using a library management system to do so, and should be educated to ‘A’ level or equivalent, with a high level of IT literacy. You should be an excellent communicator with a proven ability to relate to a wide range of users and academic colleagues. You will be able to work on your own initiative as well as being an effective team member, and will have the ability to train, supervise and motivate other team members. Experience of supporting access to online resources, such as dealing with authentication and metadata queries, as well as experience of working with financial systems for invoice administration and payment processing, would be an advantage.
- Occupational pension scheme
- Generous annual leave
- Excellent training and development opportunities
For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Kevin O’Donovan (k.o-donovan@lse.ac.uk).
The closing date for receipt of applications is Sunday 23 August 2026 (23:59 UK time). Regrettably, we are unable to accept any late applications. We expect scheduled interviews to happen in the first or second week of September.
Senior Library Assistant (Acquisitions and Subscriptions) employer: The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)
The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters innovation and collaboration. With competitive salaries and the flexibility of hybrid working conditions, LSE prioritises employee growth through continuous learning opportunities and professional development. Working at LSE not only provides a chance to contribute to a prestigious institution but also to be part of a community dedicated to shaping future leaders in economics and social sciences.
Contact Details:
The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) Recruitment Team
