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Job Introduction

Do you want to work in the valued community setting of a library in Staffordshire Libraries? Newcastle-under-Lyme is a market town in Staffordshire with a library in the heart of the town. This will be a customer facing role, you will be dealing with customers either face to face, via email or by telephone to help answer day to day library enquiries.

With a high standard of customer service, you will help us to provide a range of services that support the delivery of all that the library offers, including the provision of IT support and information and activities for all ages. Activities will include children's rhyme times, craft sessions and book-related events. You will help people to access the full range of library resources and will contribute to people’s positive experience of using our service.

You will be based at Newcastle Library but may be required to work at other libraries in the district, including Kidsgrove, Biddulph and Leek libraries in Staffordshire. The library is open daily Monday to Saturday.

Library Assistant 17.5 hours

The post operates on the following timetable

Week One

Mon: 8:30am-17:00pm

Wed: 9:00am-18:00pm

Week Two

Mon: 9:00am-17:00pm

Wed: 8:30-18:00

Sat: 10:00am-14:00pm

Main Responsibilities

To give you an idea, some of the key things you’ll do will include:

• Helping customers find the information and resources they need
• Providing essential digital support to customers using computers within the libraries or accessing e-services
• Supporting projects and activities for all ages
• Promoting library stock, services and events through social media and outreach events
• Sales and cash handling

The Ideal Candidate

It is essential for this role that you have:

• Qualifications: GCSE English and Maths (Grade C/4+) or equivalent, or relevant customer service experience
• Customer Service Experience: Proven experience delivering high quality service in a public-facing or public service environment
• Library and Data Knowledge: Understanding of public library services, with experience handling confidential information accurately and securely
• Team and IT Skills: Strong teamwork abilities, with experience using computer systems, data entry, and attention to detail
• Communication and Engagement: Excellent verbal and written communication, with the ability to engage people of all ages, backgrounds, and needs
• Adaptability and Resilience: Flexible, calm under pressure, and able to manage challenging situations while maintaining a positive customer experience

Due to the numbers of applications we are currently receiving, please note we reserve the right to close this advert early.

Interview date(s): Potential dates 17th and 18th August 2026

For any further information about this role, which has not already been supplied in the advert or job description please contact Sam Mellenchip samantha.mellenchip@staffordshire.gov.uk and Esther Williams esther.williams@staffordshire.gov.uk

Our Recruitment Process: We anonymise applications during shortlisting to ensure only relevant information is considered. Please complete your application fully, especially the supporting statement, to highlight what you’ll bring to the role.

About Staffordshire County Council

We are no ordinary county council:

Our Values:

The core of who we are as an organisation. Just like we all have personal values that shape our thoughts and behaviour, organisational values drive how we think and act collectively.

Our values were created and shaped by colleague feedback and national best practice and they sit at the heart of People Strategy:

We have a real sense of community spirit that brings our people together. This feeling of belonging means we are all connected to what we do and take pride in the difference we make every day for Staffordshire people. We are ambitious and our sights are set firmly on a better future.

We look forward and race ahead - that goes for your career too.

Our benefits:

We recognise that it is our employees that are central to everything we do. We aim to create a supportive working environment where employees can achieve their full potential and achieve a healthy work-life balance.

In addition to your salary, as a member of staff, you will have access to Our rewards and benefits - Careers at Staffordshire

Our recruitment process:

As an Authority we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Staffordshire County Council is an equal opportunities organisation and Disability Confident employer. We encourage applications from all background and communities

As part of our commitment as a Disability Confident employer, a Gold Award Armed Forces employer and our commitment to supporting care leavers - we offer a guaranteed interview as long as your application meets the minimum criteria for the post.

As you’ll know safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our children and young people/vulnerable adults is important to us and that’s why this position is subject to a criminal record check from the Disclosure and Barring Service. If applicable you should disclose details of unspent and unfiltered spent reprimands, formal warnings, cautions and convictions in your application form.