Job Advertisement: Assistant Librarian

Job advertisement: Assistant Librarian

Job Title: / Assistant Librarian (1 year fixed term maternity cover)
About Balliol: / Balliol College is seeking to recruit an enthusiastic library professional to join the team responsible for maintaining the intellectual hub of the College – its Library. This fixed term maternity cover post would be suitable for a new professional, i.e. one who is newly qualified or has just completed a trainee year, wishing to gain further experience.
Balliol College is one of the largest and longest established colleges in the University of Oxford. It exists to advance education at both undergraduate and graduate levels, to facilitate and to encourage scholarship and research at the very highest levels, and to promote excellence in learning.
The Library supports the College’s aims by delivering 24-hour access to the resources and working environment to support undergraduate and postgraduate study and collecting, preserving and promoting the College’s intellectual heritage, at Balliol’s two library sites and online.
More information: http://www.balliol.ox.ac.uk/
Purpose of job: / The Assistant Librarian plays a pivotal role in Balliol’s library service, deputising for the Librarian in all areas of the Library’s running and leading in collections development and reader services.
Responsible to: / The Librarian
Department: / College Library
Hours of work: / The normal hours of work are are 9.00am-5.00pm, Monday-Friday to give a total of 37.5 hours per week. Some flexibility to staff occasional weekend events is expected.
Salary: / 26,792 per annum.
Holiday: / 30 days paid leave per year. 5 days are to be taken during the College’s Christmas closure. Except in exceptional circumstances, Library staff do not take holiday during term time.
Other Benefits: / A two-course hot meal when the College kitchens are open.
Pension Scheme (Universities Superannuation Scheme) - contributions being made by the post holder and by the College.
There is also a bus pass scheme available after the probationary period.
Principal Responsibilities: / Collection development: Lead on new stock selection, acquisition and assessment of stock for disposal. Help process new stock and maintain the condition of existing stock.
Cataloguing: on the ALEPH system using AACR2 and RDA.
Circulation: Manage circulation, including operation of the Aleph circulation module and D-Tech self-service borrowing system. Support the Early Career Librarian in administering overdue reports and charges, monitoring the security system, stock reshelving and tidying.
Reader services: Work with colleagues to organise reader inductions and information literacy training, and maintain the Library’s current awareness service through signage, the Library website, Facebook and other media as appropriate; ensure that Library rules are observed and the reading room facilities function smoothly; contribute to staffing the enquiry desk and answering remote enquiries.
The Assistant Librarian will also:
Deputise for the Librarian in all areas of Library management including budget, buildings and staff management.
Be involved in the curation of Balliol’s historic collections of early-printed books, manuscripts and personal papers including cataloguing, reader enquiries and invigilation, collections promotion, exhibitions and events.
Contribute ideas to improve the Library service.
Attend professional meetings and training.
Take on any other duties as agreed with the Librarian.
Requirements / Essential
·  A good first degree
·  A postgraduate diploma or Masters in Library and Information studies, or significant experience in a similar library environment
·  Excellent communication and customer service skills
·  Ability to work well in a small team
·  Accuracy and attention to detail
·  High level of information and computer literacy, including proficiency with catalogues, library management systems, word processing, email and spreadsheets
·  Ability to solve problems and take a creative approach to work
Desirable
·  Experience of working in an academic library
·  Experience of any of the principal responsibilities of the post
How to apply / Please submit an application letter, CV including details of two referees, and a completed recruitment monitoring form to:

Submission by email is preferred. Please send postal applications to the following address:
Charlotte Williams
The Senior Administrator
Bursar’s Office
Balliol College
Oxford
OX1 3BJ
The closing date is 12 noon on Wednesday 25 May.