Local Studies Assistant

Do you have a passion for Cambridgeshire history, sharing local stories and engaging with a wide, diverse audience? If the answer is yes, then this could be the role for you.

You will be part of the Local Studies team in the Cambridgeshire Collection, assisting the Local Studies Librarian to help shape and deliver the service. Your focus is to provide a frontline customer service, to carry out administrative routines and promote and facilitate access to the unique local studies materials held by Cambridgeshire Libraries.

This is a full-time role based at Cambridge Central Library's Cambridgeshire Collection, working alongside the full-time Local Studies Librarian who will provide guidance and leadership. You will report directly to the Library Development Manager.

This is a permanent 37 hours per week post.

Interviews will be held in person at Cambridge Central Library on Thursday 4th May.

You will help run the Cambridgeshire Collection, supporting the public in accessing and using local studies materials and resources. You will respond to customer enquiries and undertake local and family history research.

You will be responsible for and undertake the retrieval and replacement of unique local studies materials, ensuring their safety and security, and assist with the acquisition and processing of materials new to the collection. You will maintain the stock and equipment to ensure they are well-stocked, safe, attractive and in good working order.

You will be responsible to undertaking reprographic orders and handling cash and card transactions. You will play an active part in the Local Studies and wider Libraries team, supporting colleagues and assisting with the preparation and delivery of exhibitions and promotional events, including hosting group visits.

This full-time post will suit an organised, motivated, outgoing individual with experience of local history and engaging with the public.

You will be required to work flexibly with a requirement for some weekend and evening working. You may be asked to work at different locations within the county.

All applications must be made online and we cannot accept CVs. When writing the supporting statement, you should refer to the Job Description and Person Specification attached below. Please give specific examples to demonstrate how you meet the essential and desirable criteria, including what knowledge or experience you have regarding:

• Good customer service.
• ICT.
• Local and family history.
• Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity.
• Teamwork.
• Promotion and advocacy.

We want to recognize and celebrate the diversity of our local communities and be responsive to their needs. We also want to ensure that we are a fair and equitable employer, striving to achieve a diverse workforce that has the ability to understand, communicate and interact with people across cultures. We therefore encourage applications from all areas of our community.

Working in a library environment can be physically demanding; please see the Job Hazards attached below for more details.

For more information or to chat about this opportunity please contact the Library Development Manager, Luke Oakes, on Luke.Oakes@cambridgeshire.gov.uk

Cambridgeshire is a great place to work and live with a diverse population, an urban centre in Cambridge, historic Isle of Ely, Huntingdon and St Ives as well as more rural landscapes.

Our four values are central to our culture, driving everything we do.

We are proud to serve the diverse communities of Cambridgeshire and want our workforce to be reflective of this diversity, which we believe benefits our employees, the organisation and our communities.

Visit our jobs and careers section to find out more about our wide range of learning and development opportunities; apprenticeships; our wellbeing package; staff benefits; our commitment to equality, diversity and Inclusion.

https://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/council/jobs-and-careers

We value our colleagues in Cambridgeshire County Council and have developed a number of benefits:

• Flexible working
• Flexible Bank Holidays
• A comprehensive wellbeing package
• Our Cambs Rewards employee discounts
• A comprehensive pension scheme
• IDEAL staff equality, diversity and inclusion network.
• Camweb our staff intranet helping to keep you informed
• An employee recognition scheme