Library Assistant

Part Time / 12 Hours Per Week / Fixed Term for 12 Months

Are you passionate about promoting literacy and reading?

Neighbourhood Services provide library and community services across Leicester City. We provide key reading, health information, digital and cultural offers, and work closely with our partners to deliver an exciting programme of events and activities to engage people from all communities and of all ages.

Our aim is to ensure there is access to library services and reading programmes by encouraging engagement and promoting a love of language, learning and books within the prison. Liaising on a day-to-day basis with the Service Delivery Manager, you'll work amongst a small team based in the prison library.

This is a part-time, fixed term post for 12 months working 12 hours per week. You'll be based at the HMP Leicester.

What you'll be doing

You'll encourage the use of the library service within the prison. You'll be responsible for providing access to service users to books, DVD's, mandatory publications, and paper-based activities. You'll promote events and projects like art workshops and storybook dads. An important part of the role is to encourage participation from our service users to engage with all library activities. You'll undertake stock maintenance including adding new stock, removing old stock, and scanning books. You'll ensure the library is kept tidy, clean, and safe by carrying out routine cleaning tasks. You'll open and close the library, carrying out basic health and safety checks, reporting any issues to the relevant team.

What you'll need

With experience of working in a customer facing role, you'll be able to confidently communicate with a wide range of service users and prison staff. You'll have good customer services knowledge and abilities, ensuring you can adapt this to the relevant demographic. With empathy and understanding, you'll be able to effectively engage with service users and encourage positive attitudes towards books/library services. You'll be able to physically to lift and carry stocks of books, do routine cleaning and health and safety checks. You'll have a strong passion for books and reading with a keen interest in providing education for all, to be able to create a welcoming environment.

Appointment will be subject to prison vetting and you'll need to go through the Prison System vetting process before you are eligible to work in the Prison.

What we can offer you

As well as the satisfaction of helping to improve the lives across Leicester, you can look forward to a work environment that encourages a healthy work/life balance. You'll enjoy generous annual leave, membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme and the option of flexible working. We'll also give you the chance to develop your skills and expertise with a variety of training and development opportunities. In addition, you can choose from a number of flexible benefits discounts on city buses and trains. For an illustrative value of your benefits package, take a look at our benefits calculator.