Archive Library Assistant

Job Title: Archive Library Assistants x 2
Starting Salary: £25,185 opportunity to progress to £28,142 per annum (pro rata for part time)
Hours: 37
Location: Hertford, Fixed base -majority of working hours will be onsite. Occasional travel.

Contract Type: 1 x Permanent and 1 x 2 years Fixed Term

Directorate: Resources

About the team

As an accredited service, Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies preserves and promotes resources for the study of Hertfordshire past and present.

Our vision is to deliver high‑quality heritage services that inspire discovery and lifelong learning, offering opportunities for people of all ages to explore, understand and enjoy the histories that shape Hertfordshire. We aim to reflect the county’s diverse people, communities and places, strengthening a shared sense of place and supporting creative health and wellbeing and provide access to authentic, trusted information and original records.

As we move forward with plans for our refreshed ‘Shared Heritage Strategy’ including preparing for a move to a purpose-built archive, we will exploit technology to improve services; progress digital online resources and work in partnership to increase opportunities for access and leaning.

About the role

You will be required to work some Saturdays and Tuesday evenings. We are open the first Saturday and Tuesday evening a month.

Both roles support HALS public service but the fixed term ALA role also includes dedicated time to work on preparing the collections to be re-located safely and securely.

Public Service

• Your role will be primarily providing high-quality customer service, including responding to enquiries both in person and remotely, ensuring customer care standards are met.
• Your role also supports customer service through completion of administrative tasks such as recording of user statistics, and projects such as digitisation of collection documents.
• You will be expected to retrieve books and documents from storage areas which will involve manual handling (including driving a lease van to retrieve those held off-site).
• You will assist with collecting and processing of archive and local studies materials and use catalogues and indexes.
• You will contribute to promotional events, including group visits; this may include occasional out of hours activity.
• You will provide support for volunteers.
• You will use ICT to provide services to customers and carry out collections work including for example, assisting with digitisation work to photograph, scan, process and preserve archive material.
• Flexibility, remaining calm under pressure and prioritising your workload are important for this role.

Move preparation project

Dedicated time will focus on work that supports the development of plans for new premises for Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies’ collections and services, and work preparing for a future move. Additional tasks will include:

• checking information and records survey
• organising, packaging, re-packing and labelling collections
• updating information on the collections management system
• other clerical tasks.
• liaison with archivists over document appraisal and retention, and with the conservator over packaging and preservation needs.

Involved in community facing activities relating to the move project e.g. gathering data on customer usage, contacting depositors, support for focus groups. There will be occasional out of office hours events.

Please indicate which role you are interested in on your supporting statement. If no preference is indicated candidates will be considered for both posts

About you

Essential:

• Friendly and confident person happy to work in a public facing role in a busy search room, with minimal supervision
• Able to communicate effectively in person, by telephone and in writing to answer enquiries; with the ability to converse fluently with external stakeholders/citizens and provide information in accurate spoken English
• Confident and competent using a range of computer software such as Microsoft Office, the internet and other computer-based information resources. You will be able to support and advise members of the public in their use of IT
• Organised and methodical, with an ability to pay attention to detail. Able to sort in alphabetical and numerical order
• Able to lift and carry awkward and heavy items, specialist equipment will be provided e.g. trolleys
• Able to promote the service at events both onsite and around the county
• Flexible and able to use initiative and work effectively without direct supervision
• Hold a full UK driving licence and able to drive a leased vehicle to retrieve documents from the out-stores and elsewhere.

Desirable:

• Interest in and knowledge of archives, and local or family history
• Experience of cash handling
• Experience of customer service

This post offers the opportunity to learn about our fascinating collections from 1060 to the present. You will enjoy helping customers and support access to our unique collections in both the archive reading room and local studies library. You will be able to promote the service and assist with learning events. You will be involved at an exciting and challenging time, preparing the collection to be re-located safely and securely whilst continuing to deliver the service to Hertfordshire residents.

We welcome applications from candidates who currently reside in the UK with established proof of right to work documentation. We are not able to offer sponsorship at this time for this role.

This job role is Level 6. Please locate the job profile here:

Job profiles - Community services

To hear more about this opportunity please contact Angela Ludlow or Gary Moyle on 0300 123 4049 Tuesday to Thursday for an informal discussion about the role.

Interview Date: Thursday 18th and Friday 19th June 2026.

Benefits of working for us
How to apply

As part of your application, please upload your most recent CV. Ensure your CV is up to date with your employment history (including any employment gaps), and including any training/qualifications. We encourage you to include examples of where you have demonstrated the requirements/criteria in the advert / job profile to allow the panel to fully recognise your skills and abilities. You will have the opportunity to include a short covering paragraph within your application to give us a little more information about your skills, knowledge, and experiences.

Secondment
This role is open to secondments for eligible employees who work for HCC. If you wish to apply on a secondment basis, you must have your line manager’s approval before submitting your application. You will be asked to confirm this within your application form. If you are not eligible for a secondment (e.g., you are currently on a fixed‑term contract that would end before this positions ends) or you indicate that your manager cannot support a secondment, your application will be considered on a fixed‑term contract basis instead.

Additional information

Disability Confident
We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer and guarantee an interview to anyone disclosing a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.

Driving required
You’ll need to have the ability to drive and/or travel around Hertfordshire, either using your own mode of transport or a company car to travel to other locations.

English Fluency
The ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post (for those whose language is a signed language the provision of a sign language interpreter who speaks English to the necessary standard of fluency will be required). Further information about the legal requirement can be found here.