Job summary
We are seeking an enthusiastic, friendly, and approachable individual to join a dynamic and efficient team, assisting in delivering a quality library and knowledge service based at William Harvey Hospital, Ashford, Kent.
This role supports the day-to-day delivery of the library and knowledge services including supervision of the Library Assistant, answering users enquiries and supporting staff and students with their information and learning needs.
The ideal candidate will have a high standard of customer service skills, effective prioritising, organisational, and communication skills, excellent IT skills, with the ability to learn quickly and a willingness to continually update their skills and knowledge.
This post provides an ideal opportunity to anyone interested in gaining library experience and developing new skills working in a busy and diverse information service.
The post is based at the William Harvey Hospital, with the successful applicant on occasion being asked to provide cover or attend meetings or training at one of the Trust's other libraries at the Kent & Canterbury or Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospitals.
Main duties of the job
William Harvey Hospital (WHH) Education Library is one of three library sites within the Trust and part of Library and Knowledge Services (LKS). The service is also part of regional and national LKS networks. You will be responsible for the delivery of front-line library and knowledge services at WHH, to users from across the local health economy. You will be expected to lead on short term, specific projects that contribute towards Trust wide LKS development. This will include cross site working with other members of the team.
We can support you with developing your library career by offering one day training sessions, accredited level 3 apprenticeship, Certification of CILIP with the possibility of level 7 apprenticeship or MA in Librarianship (dependant on performance).
About us
Our Mission, Vision and Values
Our mission is"Improving health and wellbeing"
Our vision is"Great healthcare from great people"
Our values are
- People feelcaredfor as individuals
- People feelsafe, reassured and involved
- People feel teamwork, trust andrespectsit at the heart of everything we do
- People feel confident we aremaking a difference
Job description
Job responsibilities
Team Working
- Leads in site team decisions regarding the prioritisation and delivery of tasks.
- Responsible for supervision of LKS site staff and volunteer
- Monitor Library Assistant performance through the use of the appraisal cycle and ongoing conversations on objectives
- Contributes to the implementation of library strategies by working towards agreed objectives
- Contributes to the development of library policies and procedures including participating in local staff meetings and leading short term projects
User Enquiry and Support
- Enquiry desk duties to include:
- Issue, renew and discharge items using the library management system.
- Enrolling new members and providing a brief introduction to the service.
- Responding to general enquires from library users. Enquiries will be in person, by post, email or telephone.
- Locate and retrieve information in answer to users enquiries at first line level. This will involve the use of subscribed online resources, library catalogues and intranet/internet.
- Assisting in first line education of library users in the use of library facilities such as computers, printers, photocopies and scanners.
- Demonstrating the use of the library on-line catalogues and resources.
LKS Resources
- Leads the site library team in stock selection, ordering, processing and cataloguing.
- Lead the site library team with updating the library management system and full text finder with changes to stock.
- Identify, withdraw and dispose of out of date materials
- Responsibility for dealing with overdue library stock. This includes sending out overdue letters, tracing readers who have very overdue stock and using appropriate tact and persuasion to retrieve stock
- Responsible for invoicing readers, liaising with contacts in the Finance Department
- Shelves and tidies books and journals in accordance with the National Library of Medicine Classification scheme
- Maintains the librarys book displays
Document Delivery Service
- Provide an efficient day to day service to obtain books and journal papers for library users and other NHS libraries in accordance with service standards specified.
- Provides document delivery services according to the terms of the Copyright Act and the Data Protection Act and keeps up to date with this and other legislation as well as specific NHS agreements with the CLA
Information Technology
- Use a variety of IT packages including the Library Management System (Koha), Microsoft Office, search engines and NHS email
- Assists library users by trouble shooting basic problems generated by Trust computers, software, systems and printers. More complex problems are referred to the IT department
Administrative
- Assists in the promotion and marketing of the LKS through displays, training and outreach
- Helps to maintain and update the procedures manual
- Collect and log a variety of statistics to demonstrate activity data.
- Ensures stocks of stationery and computer consumables are maintained at an appropriate level
Training
- Take responsibility for one area of specialist training e.g. Health Literacy.
- Provides library users with instruction on using the LKS Hub to access and use electronic and physical resources.
- Education of library users in the use of library facilities including computers, printers, photocopies and scanners.
Personal Development
- Takes part in courses, study days and other training in line with agreed objectives
- Keep up to date with changes to resource provision through email, online workshops and occasional training days.
Health and Safety
- Ensures that all Health and Safety documentation is accurate and up to date for the site library
- Ensures the site library remains safe and secure for all EKHUFT staff and library users
- Has a duty to take reasonable care of his/her own health and safety and he/she is required to follow all relevant health and safety policies and procedures. The Trust recognises and accepts its responsibility to provide a safe and healthy working environment for anyone on its premises.
Confidentiality
- Complies with and maintains awareness of Trusts policies and procedures relating to the Freedom of Information Act and the Data Protection Act.
- Ensure confidentiality at all times. Employees of the Trust must not without prior permission disclose any information regarding patients or staff obtained during the course of employment, except to authorised bodies or individuals acting in an official capacity. Failure to adhere to this instruction will be regarded as serious misconduct and may lead to disciplinary action.
- The Data Protection Act may render an individual liable for prosecution in the event of unauthorised disclosure of information.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Team Working
- Leads in site team decisions regarding the prioritisation and delivery of tasks.
- Responsible for supervision of LKS site staff and volunteer
- Monitor Library Assistant performance through the use of the appraisal cycle and ongoing conversations on objectives
- Contributes to the implementation of library strategies by working towards agreed objectives
- Contributes to the development of library policies and procedures including participating in local staff meetings and leading short term projects
User Enquiry and Support
- Enquiry desk duties to include:
- Issue, renew and discharge items using the library management system.
- Enrolling new members and providing a brief introduction to the service.
- Responding to general enquires from library users. Enquiries will be in person, by post, email or telephone.
- Locate and retrieve information in answer to users enquiries at first line level. This will involve the use of subscribed online resources, library catalogues and intranet/internet.
- Assisting in first line education of library users in the use of library facilities such as computers, printers, photocopies and scanners.
- Demonstrating the use of the library on-line catalogues and resources.
LKS Resources
- Leads the site library team in stock selection, ordering, processing and cataloguing.
- Lead the site library team with updating the library management system and full text finder with changes to stock.
- Identify, withdraw and dispose of out of date materials
- Responsibility for dealing with overdue library stock. This includes sending out overdue letters, tracing readers who have very overdue stock and using appropriate tact and persuasion to retrieve stock
- Responsible for invoicing readers, liaising with contacts in the Finance Department
- Shelves and tidies books and journals in accordance with the National Library of Medicine Classification scheme
- Maintains the librarys book displays
Document Delivery Service
- Provide an efficient day to day service to obtain books and journal papers for library users and other NHS libraries in accordance with service standards specified.
- Provides document delivery services according to the terms of the Copyright Act and the Data Protection Act and keeps up to date with this and other legislation as well as specific NHS agreements with the CLA
Information Technology
- Use a variety of IT packages including the Library Management System (Koha), Microsoft Office, search engines and NHS email
- Assists library users by trouble shooting basic problems generated by Trust computers, software, systems and printers. More complex problems are referred to the IT department
Administrative
- Assists in the promotion and marketing of the LKS through displays, training and outreach
- Helps to maintain and update the procedures manual
- Collect and log a variety of statistics to demonstrate activity data.
- Ensures stocks of stationery and computer consumables are maintained at an appropriate level
Training
- Take responsibility for one area of specialist training e.g. Health Literacy.
- Provides library users with instruction on using the LKS Hub to access and use electronic and physical resources.
- Education of library users in the use of library facilities including computers, printers, photocopies and scanners.
Personal Development
- Takes part in courses, study days and other training in line with agreed objectives
- Keep up to date with changes to resource provision through email, online workshops and occasional training days.
Health and Safety
- Ensures that all Health and Safety documentation is accurate and up to date for the site library
- Ensures the site library remains safe and secure for all EKHUFT staff and library users
- Has a duty to take reasonable care of his/her own health and safety and he/she is required to follow all relevant health and safety policies and procedures. The Trust recognises and accepts its responsibility to provide a safe and healthy working environment for anyone on its premises.
Confidentiality
- Complies with and maintains awareness of Trusts policies and procedures relating to the Freedom of Information Act and the Data Protection Act.
- Ensure confidentiality at all times. Employees of the Trust must not without prior permission disclose any information regarding patients or staff obtained during the course of employment, except to authorised bodies or individuals acting in an official capacity. Failure to adhere to this instruction will be regarded as serious misconduct and may lead to disciplinary action.
- The Data Protection Act may render an individual liable for prosecution in the event of unauthorised disclosure of information.
Person Specification
Qualifications and training
Essential
- Five GCSEs at grade C or above or 4-9 or equivalent including Maths and English
- Evidence of continued professional development and life-long learning
Desirable
- Vocational qualification in Library and Information Studies or other relevant discipline
- Working towards Certification membership of the Chartered Institute of Library & Information Professionals
- Qualification in education or training
Skills and experience
Essential
- Experience of working in a customer centred environment
- IT knowledge and skills including use of MS Office and social media
- Understanding and handling complex user requests.
- Receive and convey complex, sensitive information requests accurately
- Training individuals or small groups
- Knowledge of library administration procedures
Desirable
- Experience working in a health -related library
- Familiar with complex database software
- Use of academic databases, journals and other information resources
- Training library users in effective use of information resources
Governance
Essential
- Understanding of legislation with particular relevance to library work, such as copyright, intellectual property and data protection
- Awareness of current issues impacting on Library and Knowledge Services provision
Desirable
- Experience of preparing for Health and Safety audits
Personal/professional attributes
Essential
- Good understanding and experience of team working across multiple sites
- Organisational and record keeping skills
- Confident in leading a small site team
Desirable
- Leading cross site projects
Other requirements
Essential
- Upholds and models the Trust values
- Physically fit in order to be able to lift and shelve books at various heights. Equipment is available to assist
- Ability to occasionally travel between sites
Person Specification
Qualifications and training
Essential
- Five GCSEs at grade C or above or 4-9 or equivalent including Maths and English
- Evidence of continued professional development and life-long learning
Desirable
- Vocational qualification in Library and Information Studies or other relevant discipline
- Working towards Certification membership of the Chartered Institute of Library & Information Professionals
- Qualification in education or training
Skills and experience
Essential
- Experience of working in a customer centred environment
- IT knowledge and skills including use of MS Office and social media
- Understanding and handling complex user requests.
- Receive and convey complex, sensitive information requests accurately
- Training individuals or small groups
- Knowledge of library administration procedures
Desirable
- Experience working in a health -related library
- Familiar with complex database software
- Use of academic databases, journals and other information resources
- Training library users in effective use of information resources
Governance
Essential
- Understanding of legislation with particular relevance to library work, such as copyright, intellectual property and data protection
- Awareness of current issues impacting on Library and Knowledge Services provision
Desirable
- Experience of preparing for Health and Safety audits
Personal/professional attributes
Essential
- Good understanding and experience of team working across multiple sites
- Organisational and record keeping skills
- Confident in leading a small site team
Desirable
- Leading cross site projects
Other requirements
Essential
- Upholds and models the Trust values
- Physically fit in order to be able to lift and shelve books at various heights. Equipment is available to assist
- Ability to occasionally travel between sites
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
