Shelving Assistant (Part-time)

Contract: permanent

Salary: £25,345.05 - £27,479.37per annum (pro-rata) plus benefits

Location: St James’s Square, London SW1

Hours: 28 hours per week (0.8FTE) between Monday and Friday, though we will consider applications from candidates wishing to work 14 hours per week (0.4 FTE)

Ref: LL/24/08

About The London Library

For 180 years, The London Library has stood as one of the UK's greatest literary institutions, inspiring creativity, and ideas. Our esteemed members, past and present, include literary giants like Charles Dickens, Charles Darwin, Virginia Woolf, and contemporary authors such as Kazuo Ishiguro and Sarah Waters. Our collection boasts around one million books, a vast eLibrary, and an invaluable postal loans service, making it a sanctuary for those who cherish the written word. We are championed by our President, Helena Bonham Carter CBE, and operate as a registered charity.

About the role

We are seeking a Shelving Assistant to join our dedicated Member Services team. In this pivotal role, you will:

  • deliver the key tasks of re-shelving, maintaining shelf order and retrieving stock in the most efficient way possible
  • fetch books from open shelves or locked safes as required
  • return stock to the open shelves, reporting any areas of congestion, damage or concern
  • general awareness of conditions in the open shelves including reporting signage requirements, identifying books in need of repair and reporting defective stack lights
  • work in any part of the Member Services Department as the demands of the service require ensuring the provision of a seamless and high-quality service to members at all times

About you

You are an enthusiastic professional with:

  • Previous experience of library-based work and familiarity with library computer systems
  • Ability to work effectively as part of a team, and communicate confidently, effectively and courteously with a wide range of people
  • Self-motivation and organisational skills to undertake routine work diligently, accurately and positively

Personal attributes include:

  • A genuine commitment to delivering first rate services
  • A willingness to be flexible and adaptable, assisting with various tasks as needed.

Why Join Us?

The London Library offers a friendly, hardworking, and inclusive workplace where we strive to support the diverse needs of our team. We welcome applications from all sections of the community and are committed to equality and diversity. Specific adjustments and access needs can be discussed to make this role suitable for you.

If you have the expertise to deliver a great member experience and are passionate about using your skills to contribute to the development of The London Library, we want to hear from you!

Please note:

  • We can only consider candidates with the current right to work in the UK.
  • We reserve the right to shorten or extend the closing date of any position where a high or low volume of suitable applications are received. Therefore, if you are interested in this role, an early application would be encouraged.

To Apply

Please complete an application form including the Library's equal opportunities monitoring form - available below - and email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Candidate Information Pack (including job description)

Application Form

Deadline for applications: Monday 14 October (by 5pm)

Interviews: week commencing 21 October 2024