Library Assistant

About the Library Assistant Role at South Lanarkshire Council

Join our team at St Leonard's Library in East Kilbride and help make a tangible difference in your community. South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture SCIO, a Scottish charitable incorporated organisation, is dedicated to delivering leisure and cultural activities on behalf of South Lanarkshire Council. We are seeking a friendly, motivated, and customer-focused Library Assistant to contribute to the smooth daily running of our library service, ensuring an excellent experience for all visitors.

As a Library Assistant, you will serve as the welcoming face of the library. Your role involves assisting customers in accessing our diverse services, discovering new books, utilizing digital resources, and enjoying the library as a safe and inclusive community space. You will play an active part in fostering a positive atmosphere, supporting various events, and enthusiastically promoting a love of reading.

What You'll Do

• Provide a warm and helpful first point of contact for all library users.
• Assist customers efficiently with borrowing, returning, and reserving library materials.
• Offer clear guidance on digital resources, computer usage, printing services, and online platforms.
• Support readers in choosing suitable books and actively promote new or recommended titles.
• Encourage reading through engaging reader-development activities, promotions, and special events.
• Maintain tidy, attractive shelves and appealing displays throughout the library.
• Handle enquiries in person, online, and by phone in a friendly and professional manner.
• Accurately carry out cash handling for library transactions.
• Actively contribute to library events, activities, and broader community programmes.

What You'll Bring

• Demonstrated experience working with the public in a customer-focused environment.
• Good computer skills and clear evidence of digital literacy.
• Clear and confident communication skills, both written and verbal.
• An enthusiastic, proactive attitude and a genuine interest in reading and books.
• Reliability, strong attention to detail, and proven accuracy in cash handling.
• A positive, adaptable attitude and a willingness to learn and grow within the role.

Why Join South Lanarkshire Council?

You’ll be an integral part of a supportive team that profoundly values creativity, community engagement, and lifelong learning. This Library Assistant role is perfectly suited for individuals who enjoy interacting with people, are passionate about equitable access to information, and are eager to contribute positively to a welcoming community service.

Please note: This position will involve manual handling, including the regular shelving and moving of stock.

As an employee of South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture SCIO, you would also receive a wide range of benefits, including:

• Enrolment in an award-winning local government pension scheme.
• Opportunity to join the Salary Sacrifice Shared Cost AVC scheme to enhance your pension pot.
• Up to 33 days annual leave, calculated into hours upon commencement of the role.
• Public holiday entitlement (up to 10 days).
• Occupational sick pay.
• Family-friendly policies, including flexible working, various leave options, and enhanced maternity/paternity leave.
• Employee discounts, including cinema tickets.
• A range of benefits designed to support your well-being, such as the Cycle to Work Scheme, Physiotherapy, and an Employee Assistance Program offering practical and emotional support.

Key skills/competency

• Customer Service
• Community Engagement
• Digital Literacy
• Cash Handling
• Information Access
• Reader Development
• Communication Skills
• Library Operations
• Event Support
• Proactive Learning