Part Time Assistant Librarian

Start Date: ASAP

Hours: 15.5 hours per week (Thursdays and Fridays). Weekly working arrangement for 2 days a week on a rota basis will be:

7.45am – 4.00pm

7.45am – 5.00pm

Term time plus 10 days during holidays.

1-hour unpaid lunch

Salary: Actual prorate salary from £11,541 per annum (dependent on qualifications, skills and relevant experience)

Closing Date: Wednesday 21st August 2024 at 9am

Interviews to be held: Week commencing 26th August 2024

Merchant Taylors’ School is a large Independent Boys’ School, situated in 286 acres of parkland in Northwood, Middlesex. The School was founded in 1561, is owned by the Merchant Taylors’ Educational Trust and moved to its present site in 1933. There are four distinct boys’ day schools on campus. The Nursery, the Pre-Prep & the Prep cater for 340 boys, while the Senior School has some 930 pupils. The School employs over 140 teachers and 160 Support staff across Merchant Taylors’ School.

We are seeking to recruit a Part Time Assistant Librarian (Thursdays and Fridays – Term-time plus 10 days during holidays). This appointment is part of a job share arrangement.

As a member of the Support Staff the incumbent will be accountable to the Bursar for the proper performance of duties. The incumbent’s day-to-day activities will be supervised by the Senior Librarian.

Duties Include

• Assisting the Senior Librarian in ensuring that Library and school-wide policies are enforced in matters pertaining to the Library.
• Membership of the School Senior Common Room.
• Attendance at appropriate staff INSET days, Open Mornings and official school events as required.

Managerial Responsibilities

• Deputise in the absence of the Senior Librarian.
• Assist in the day-to-day running of the Library and maintain an atmosphere conducive to study.
• Contribute and assist with the formulation of Library policy.
• Supervise the work of the Library Assistant as necessary.

Collection Management and Development

• Assist the Senior Librarian in the selection of book, multimedia, periodicals and other items.
• Manage and develop the periodical collection and other specific areas of Library stock as agreed with Senior Librarian.
• Assist with the processing of new stock, with specific responsibility for keywording.
• Assist as required in duties such as data inputting, labelling, shelving etc.

Reader Services

• Joint responsibility for the induction schedules for new and existing pupils.
• Undertake counter duties as required, including the issue, return, and reservation of Library stock.
• Assist pupils and staff with general enquiries.
• Assist and demonstrate to pupils the use of the library catalogue and other online resources.

Reader Development

• Work with the English department to foster an enthusiasm for reading along with developing literacy skills, specifically Years 7-9.
• Assist in developing a reading community and ethos within the School.
• Attend ad hoc reader events, launches, meetings etc.
• Lead the Year 7/8 reading club.
• Assist in running a programme of literary events including author/storyteller/poet visits, celebrating National Poetry Day, National Storytelling Week, World Book Day.
• Assist in promoting the major book awards to the school community.

Promotion and Marketing

• Create and manage promotional displays for the Library.
• Assist in creating and updating Library promotional material for classrooms and for the library management system (Accessit)

Teaching Responsibilities

• Assist in the delivery of Library skills lessons and the promotion of reading in regular classes and one-off teaching sessions in the Library as required.

Information & Communication Technology

• Assist in the development and updating of the library management system (Accessit) which incorporates our online resources and eBooks library.

·      Supervise pupils’ use of IT equipment and mobile devices in the Library and ensure that the school IT policy is enforced.

• Assist pupils with their IT enquiries pertaining to MS Office 365, PC, laptop and tablet use, printer etc.

Merchant Taylors’ School is an equal opportunities employer committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. As this role will bring you into contact with children you are expected to share this commitment. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Applicants will be required to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).