Senior Library Assistant - Aylesbury or Oxford Oxford, England
Job description
We are looking for aSenior Library Assistant tojoin our successful and supportive Oxford Health LKS team delivering high quality and much valued library services to Oxford Health NHS FT staff and stakeholders.
Could this be you?
This post offers an excellent opportunity for an experienced library assistant to develop existing and gain new skills to further their career, including taking advantage of the excellent links and collaborative opportunities offered through extensive NHS and academic LKS networks whilst incorporating the principles of Knowledge for Healthcare.
Knowledge for Healthcare - Mobilising evidence; sharing knowledge; improving outcomes (hee.nhs.uk)
As a Senior Library Assistant you will make a real difference to the lives of patients and service users, proving that proactive information services for staff can save them time and help them do their jobs better. These are just some of the additional benefits that can be realised by the successful applicant.
As a Senior Library Assistant you will provide high quality paraprofessional support, enabling all library users,to make best use of library services wherever they are based, supporting evidence-based practice, continuing education and research.
You will share responsibilities with another Senior Library Assistant to support the daily operation of Oxford Health Libraries, acting as the first point of contact for enquiries, introducing users to the library, maintaining membership systems, allocating and distributing tasks within the team, providing administrative support for specialist library services and carrying out basic searching to support users’ requests.
You will operate and maintain key library systems including the SWIMS library management system, KnowledgeShare (current awareness alerting and literature searches), the electronic document supply and interlibrary loan service and support OpenAthens administration.
You will assist with marketing/promotion and social media, including the creation of displays and exhibitions, contribute to the collection of activity statistics and feedback and support the library’s financial processes and general library administration, helping to ensure the physical library environment is safe and well-presented.
- You will work as part of our team of supportive, experienced information professionals and paraprofessionals providing library services to all NHS staff and students of OHFT based in primary care, mental health and community settings, as well as Commissioners and Public Health professionals where agreements exist. Library staff also work closely with NHS library colleagues across Thames Valley and Wessex and the South.
- You will be based at Whiteleaf Library (Aylesbury) or Warneford Library (Oxford) and may be required to work at other Trust Library sites (travel expenses may be available if appropriate).
- You will have the opportunity to gain experience in many areas of information work. In-house mentoring is available and the post is suitable for those who may want to develop a career in library and information fields with the chance to apply for financial support to undertake library qualifications.
- Excellent opportunities for career progression
- 27 days annual leave, plus bank holidays, with an increase to 33 days with continuous service
- NHS Discount across a wide range of shops, restaurants and retailers
- Staff accommodation
- Competitive pension scheme
- Lease car scheme
- Cycle to work scheme
- A vocational qualification in library and information studies (minimum NVQ level 3), together with experience of working in libraries. Candidates without a qualification may also be considered if they can demonstrate they have substantial experience of library work.
- Knowledge of training library users and of a broad range of library procedures including enquiry handling.
- Good IT skills, including MS Office software and library systems.
- An understanding of copyright and data protection.
- Strong skills in information retrieval, customer service, organisational and a methodical approach to work
- Excellent verbal, written and electronic communication skills
- Able to work flexibly in an environment, which may be busy or involve lone working, in a shared office or home
- Experience of working with a wide range of people with different skills and needs
- Be approachable and courteous, helpful and positive with the desire to deliver a quality service that meets users’ needs
- An adequate level of fitness
- New starters have a 6 month probationary period. This, together with the induction process aims to create a positive supportive working environment allowing new employees to learn key elements of their role over a reasonable timescale.
- Candidates not currently employed by the Trust who attend an interview for non-qualified Band 1-5 posts are required to undertake numeracy and literacy assessments.
- Appointment to this post is subject to the trust receiving satisfactory references covering 3 years of employment or study. Please ask your referees to respond promptly to reference requests.
- Employees are expected to undertake mandatory and statutory training related to their role.
- We positively encourage applications from all areas of the community, regardless of gender, race, faith, disability, age or sexual orientation and we encourage applications from users of mental health services. This is part of our commitment to equality and reflecting the diversity of our population.
- Oxford Health is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, we expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
