Library Assistant
Post Introduction
The purpose of the Library Assistant role is to support the vision and mission of the Library by describing the Library's collections and by helping readers to access them.
About the role and department.
Lambeth Palace Library, founded in 1610, is the historic library and record office of the Archbishop of Canterbury. It is freely open for public use, serving as a research centre specialising in ecclesiastical history, but with far wider-ranging archive, manuscript and printed collections, dating from the 9th century to the present day and encompassing everything from medieval manuscripts and early printed books through to modern archives and digital records. The Library's vision is to collect, preserve and make accessible the memory of the Church of England, so that its cultural and religious history can be explored and enjoyed by all.
You’ll be supporting visitors to the Library by welcoming them, answering their enquiries, by ensuring that they get the material they require and by supporting the operation of the reading room.
Your core responsibilities will include:
- Answering enquiries and advising readers on sources in the Library.
- Supervising visitors to the Library including researchers, maintenance contractors and tour groups.
- Cataloguing and classifying a range of printed books, including rare books and more complex modern material.
About you
The Church of England is for everyone and we want to reflect the diversity of the communities we serve across the whole country. Therefore, while of course we welcome all applications from all interested and suitably experienced people, we would particularly welcome applicants from UK Minoritised Ethnicities (UKME)/Global Majority Heritage (GMH) and other under-represented groups.
You will be organised, able to work under pressure and independently. You’ll have the ability to deal politely, confidently and efficiently with members of the public with excellent verbal and written skills.
You will also need:
- Demonstrable commitment to a career in library work
- Experience of working in a public service environment
For a full person specification, please see the attached job description.
Closing date: 22 September 2024.
Interviews are expected to be held on 4 October 2024.
About the NCIs
The National Church Institutions comprises a wide variety of teams, professions and functions that support the mission and ministries of the Church of England in its vision to be a church, centred on Jesus Christ, for the whole nation - a church that is simpler, humbler, bolder.
We Include. You Belong.
Our Belonging and Inclusion Strategy aims for everyone in the National Church Institutions (NCIs) to feel that they belong and are valued for who they are and what they contribute. Together, our people contribute in different ways towards our common purpose, whichever NCI they work in and whatever their background.
Living out our values in all that we do, we:
- Strive for Excellence
- Show Compassion
- Respect others
- Collaborate
- Act with Integrity
We believe our commitment to belonging and inclusion fuels our progress and drives us forward. The NCIs are a safe, inclusive workplace for people of all backgrounds and walks of life. We welcome applications from people of all faiths and of no faith. We want to encourage applications from a diverse group of people who share our values. Even if you have never thought about working for us before, if you have the skills and experience, we’re looking for then we would like to hear from you.
What we offer
Our benefits include:
- A salary of £29,189 plus age-related pension contributions between 8-15% of salary. We will also match any pension contributions you make up to an additional 3% of salary.
- 25 days annual leave (increasing to 30 days within 5 years) plus three additional days
- Structured induction programme and access to a range of development opportunities including apprenticeships
- Access to Occupational Health, and an Employee Assistance Programme
- Opportunity to the Civil Service Sports & Social Club, and get involved in a range of staff networks, groups and societies
We try to be as flexible as we can in your work pattern to support you with other commitments, and to give a good work-life balance.
