Casual Library Resources Officer

Overview

Buckinghamshire Library service is looking to recruit additional Casual Library Resources Officers to work in our libraries, particularly across the south of the county.

You will work ad hoc hours as and when cover is required for library staff, at different locations within Buckinghamshire - this will typically be to cover annual leave, sickness, and vacancies. You will be required to work as part of a team to maintain the efficient delivery of library services.

The main duties in this post are to welcome customers into the library, give them the help they need to find books and information, and make full use of the libraries' ICT facilities. In addition, Casual Library Resources Officers have a role in promoting libraries to local communities, and working effectively with volunteers.

We are looking for people with customer facing library or retail experience, who have excellent communication and ICT skills, including good research skills. You must be willing to join in with activities involving adults and children, and have a positive, outgoing attitude.

This is a casual appointment and you will be paid an hourly rate of £14. Holiday entitlement is 12.07% on top for every hour worked.

About us

Buckinghamshire Libraries are responsible for delivering a modern library service through 29 libraries to communities throughout the county, using a mixed model of staffed, volunteer-supported and volunteer-led community libraries.

We are currently in the process of launching Library Flex, an enhanced out-of-hours service which will allow library users self-service access to facilities in 8 of our county libraries in addition to a regular staffed service.

Buckinghamshire Council is a relatively new organisation that combines the strengths and expertise of the previous five councils in the county to create positive change for local people, communities, and businesses. We are firmly focused on the future and have made a clear commitment to serve residents better and to provide stronger representation for Buckinghamshire, both locally and nationally. 

About the role

This is a customer-facing role.

This role will involve working as part of a library group across multiple sites, so applicants must be willing and able to work at multiple locations. We are particularly looking for people who are prepared to work in our libraries in the south of the county, including but not limited to Marlow, Burnham, Iver Heath, Bourne End, Burnham Library and Micklefield but there will also be a need for travel to libraries across Buckinghamshire.

As part of this role, you will:

• Supervise a team of dedicated volunteers and support them to serve library users and maintain the library collections.
• Directly deliver library services to customers and resolve complex enquiries escalated by volunteers, for example by signposting to council services under the library’s role as a Council Access Point.
• Be responsible for opening and closing the library, ensuring the building is in good order and carrying out regular health and safety checks.
• Support with overseeing the volunteer rota, depending on the library you are working at,  and plan ahead to ensure the library has sufficient coverage, and training new volunteers in accordance with library service policies and procedures.
• Work with service colleagues to maintain a diary of planned activities and partner events to develop the library as a community hub, particularly around the areas of cultural participation and health and wellbeing.

Please see the attached job summary for further details.

Fixed

As a ‘fixed’ worker, you’ll spend most of your time in the same location, which will likely be a fixed office or location where your role is performed. Typically, you’ll be based in the same location as the rest of your team, because you provide a particular service from that fixed location or need access to information there. 

About you

We are looking for somebody passionate about libraries and the role they can play in transforming the lives of children, young people and families, and who is keen to promote wellbeing in the community by combating loneliness and social exclusion.

If you're brilliant at helping customers with enquiries, with skills to promote and help access to digital services, and you’re keen to develop the library as a community hub with access to information, then we want to hear from you.

You should also have experience in supervision and supporting staff or volunteers in delivering professional and knowledgeable customer service to residents and visitors.

Other information

Please see the attached job summary for further information on this role and person specification.

Interview date: TBC

Interview-type: In person

If you would like to have an informal conversation with the recruiting manager, please contact Roberta Stephens [email protected]

This post is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare:

• All unspent cautions and/or unspent convictions

For further information on how long it takes for cautions and convictions cautions to become spent, please refer to our guide on the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (updated 2023) | Nacro

We reserve the right to close the vacancy once we have received sufficient applications, so please be advised to submit your application as early as possible.

Our values and culture

We have a set of values, which our employees have chosen, that represent what we are – Proud, Ambitious, Collaborative and Trustworthy.

By joining Buckinghamshire Council, you can expect:

• a fair and inclusive culture
• the chance to really make a difference to those around you
• health and well-being initiatives including an Employee Assistance Programme, Mental Health First Aiders and mindfulness workshops
• a unified voice through our Employee Representative Group
• ongoing support, and the opportunity to develop and progress in your career with us
• opportunities to take part in fun activities such as fundraising and social events

At Buckinghamshire Council, we know that our biggest strength comes from the people that work for us, and that’s why we’re working hard to ensure we continue to be an accessible and inclusive organisation.

From dedicated staff networks overseen by our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Steering Group, to proudly standing as a Disability Confident employer, it’s important to us that all our colleagues feel engaged, listened to, and valued. Our offer of flexible working empowers a productive and happy workforce and allows employees to combine work with other responsibilities and commitments.

We believe our workforce should reflect the diverse communities we service in Buckinghamshire, and are looking for like-minded individuals to join us in promoting equality, fairness, and inclusion for everyone.

About the Business Unit

Our Communities directorate works across the county to deliver a number of the key customer-facing services that our residents, businesses and visitors rely on every day. 

This directorate includes a wide range of services, including:

• collecting and disposing of waste and recycling
• maintaining our roads and Rights of Way network and parking
• ensuring the delivery of school transport, and supporting sustainable travel including public bus services and School Crossing Patrollers
• managing Country Parks
• leisure facilities, museums, theatres and libraries, as well as developing our Cultural Strategy
• Licensing, Environmental Health and Trading Standards
• Cemeteries and Crematoria

The customer is central to how we develop and deliver all of these services, which help promote our rich and vibrant culture and special environment. 

We are looking for enthusiastic, ambitious and committed individuals to join our team and help us to continue to make Buckinghamshire a great place to live, work and visit. This is an exciting time for us as we bring together the services previously run by five separate councils before Buckinghamshire Council was created. Whilst making major changes to contracts affecting residents across Bucks, we continue to focus on delivering great customer service. You will join us on our journey of continuous improvement - whether that’s through developing strategies and ways of working or delivering services on the ground, every person in Communities is a valued member of the team.

We recognise and reward you

Hard work and success deserves recognition. That’s why we pride ourselves on the benefits we give our people. We actively encourage a good work-life balance and promote flexible and agile working arrangements. We provide discounts on various Cafés, restaurants, shops and auto enrolment onto our generous Pension Scheme. In addition to the opportunity to gain membership to Costco, we have discounted gym memberships, travel discounts with Arriva and much more.

https://jobs.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/working-buckinghamshire-council/