Location
East Ham, Forest Gate, Green Street, Plaistow, and Custom House Libraries, London Borough of Newham

Hours
8 Vacancies at 4.5 hours per week (East Ham, Forest Gate, Green Street Libraries)
2 Vacancies at 4 hours per week (Plaistow Library)
2 Vacancies at 16.25 hours per week (Custom House Library)

Salary
£29,436 - £29,856 per annum, pro-rata

About the Role
Newham Libraries is an ambitious service dedicated to improving the quality of life for residents. Following a period of growth prior to the pandemic, library visits and book borrowing are increasing again. The service works closely with Public Health and other council departments to deliver key priorities including ensuring book stock reflects community diversity, encouraging reading for pleasure, expanding digital lending, enhancing the Summer Reading Challenge, developing the Under 5s offer, and providing a high-quality library experience. Across 10 libraries borough-wide, a wide range of events and activities are delivered alongside extensive opening hours.

Library and Senior Library Assistants play a vital role in achieving these goals. Responsibilities include assisting customers with transactions, shelving books and creating displays, providing digital support and basic digital skills sessions, offering information and sign-posting, running or supporting events such as Under 5s storytimes, and promoting books and reading. Occasionally, assistants may support outreach activities or resident forums. Senior Library Assistants may also act as duty managers, opening and closing buildings, managing bookings and payments, overseeing staff activities, and handling cashing up and banking functions.

The role requires excellent customer care skills, a passion for libraries, and enjoyment in helping people. Candidates should have experience in libraries or similar customer-focused environments, a love of reading and discussing books, enthusiasm for STEM and digital engagement, good literacy, numeracy and IT skills, experience running activities, and enjoy working with the public.

Experience
Experience in libraries or similar customer-focused roles is required. Experience running activities is desirable.

About you
Excellent customer care skills and a genuine passion for the role of libraries in the community. Enjoy helping people, love reading and discussing books, and have enthusiasm for STEM and digital engagement. Good literacy, numeracy, and IT skills. Enjoy working with the public.

Qualifications
No specific qualifications are stated; however, relevant experience and skills are essential.