Library Assistant (Local Studies and Archives)

Would you like to be a part of The London Borough of Hounslow, whose diverse workforce are committed to making a positive difference for our residents and visitors by ensuring the quality of our services are maintained to a high standard?

Hounslow Council is an outstanding council serving an outstanding borough. With brilliant, visionary leadership, a dynamic Cabinet and a can-do culture, we’ve built strong partnerships across the borough which have transformed how we serve one of London’s most diverse boroughs. Hounslow is the world in one place, full of potential, but a borough hit hard -socially and economically -by Covid-19. We have stepped up for our residents and businesses like never before.

Hounslow Library Service is seeking an enthusiastic library assistant to work alongside the Archives and Local Studies Manager as they begin a complete service review. The successful candidate will be expected to respond to local history enquiries and carry out research on behalf of our service users.

Hounslow’s Library Service consists of 11 libraries, an archives and local studies collection and specialist services serving discrete users e.g. those who are housebound and isolated and schools. We have 223,570 items available to customers excluding the specialist collections and 341,446 annual visits.

In June 2020 Hounslow Libraries joined The Libraries Consortium this gave our members access to more than 3 million items. Resident satisfaction with the service is high, but we are aiming to achieve much more. The service is being remodelled to deliver a good quality, comprehensive and efficient offer to all those who live, work and study within the Borough. This is your opportunity to contribute to this dynamic time for the Library Service.

1. Ensure the best possible service user experience and acting as the first point of contact for service user enquiries in person, by phone or email.

2. Put customers at the heart of service delivery in line with the core values of the service providing information to satisfy enquiries from the public, businesses, academic institutions and other users.

3.Take a positive role in promoting the Archives and Local Studies service, ensuring the departments are well-presented and tidy, with a high standard of display and promotional materials.

4. Management of Archive material, including organisation and accessioning of new acquisitions.

1. Ability to use a range of ICT software/hardware, including the MS Office suite, library information databases, internet search, and specialised equipment and software.

2. Ability to manage time and balance conflicting priorities.

3. Ability to work calmly, quickly and accurately under pressure.

4. Proven ability to show initiative when working alone and as part of a team, including carrying out research on behalf of services users.

English A-C GCSE or equivalent or able to demonstrate an equivalent level of attainment through qualification or experience in a relevant discipline.

Enhanced DBS check is required for the role.

This post is considered by the authority to be a customer-facing position; as such it falls within scope of the Code of Practice on English language requirement for public sector workers. The council therefore has a statutory duty under Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016 to ensure that post holders have a command of spoken English sufficient for the effective performance of the job requirements. The appropriate standards are set out in the employee specification.

We value diversity in its broadest sense. We're committed to creating an inclusive culture where everyone is able to be themselves, give of their best and reach their full potential. We believe that a diverse workforce helps us to better understand our communities and deliver the best services for our residents. We want to receive applications from all regardless of age, gender identity, disability, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, religion or belief, race or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status or social economic background. We want to harness the mix and ensure that everybody can apply and be part of our recruitment processes. We will therefore make reasonable adjustments to accommodate our candidates.