Library and Digital Support Officer

Barnsley Libraries serve as community and digital hubs which anchor the council’s presence across the borough, delivering a high-quality library service and developing a vibrant activities programme to attract and engage residents and visitors to the borough. Barnsley Libraries are regionally and nationally recognised through its National Portfolio status, awarded by Arts Council England from April 2023 being only 1 of 16 libraries to be awarded this in the country. In the past two years we have delivered new and innovative cultural experiences such as Barnsley Book Festival and Library Lates comprising craft workshops, author talks and live performances as well as a range of bespoke artist commissions.

The Library@TheLightbox represents one of the key pieces of the ‘The Glassworks’ project and the Council’s ambitious, transformative town centre redevelopment scheme. We have also refurbished twelve of the fourteen staffed branch libraries supported by both Arts Council England’s ‘Libraries Improvement Funding’ and ‘Shared Prosperity Funding’ from the UK Government.

To help us continue to deliver our exciting public offer, we have two part time vacancies for Library and Digital Support Officers based primarily in the Library@Lightbox. As a Library & Digital Support Officer you are one of the public faces of our service and the council. Our libraries are about books but also so much more. For our Library Information & Digital Support Officers no two days are the same – you may be helping customers with their reading choices, letting them know about our digital offers and helping them to get up and running with these, or doing something more creative, such as running a craft or activity such as story and rhyme sessions. You’ll work with partners across the authority in areas such as Communities, Public Health, Culture and Childrens Services to deliver exciting projects and initiatives for our customers. Part of the role will also involve carrying out customer service appointments with residents on behalf of our colleagues in other departments.

We are looking for people who engage well with others, are resilient, hard-working and can rise to a challenge. You’ll not be afraid to get involved and will have the skills to think on your feet dealing with whatever arises in the most appropriate manner. Although you will have a base library you could be asked to work across all our libraries, so you need to be flexible and willing to do this.

Barnsley Council is a high-performing council with clear and tangible ambitions for its residents, communities, and stakeholders. The council’s 2030 vision is for Barnsley to be the place of possibilities, if you think this may be the role for you, please fill in the application form online telling us how you meet the criteria within the attached job role.