Library Assistant
We have an exciting opportunity for a part-time, permanent Library Assistant to join our team and help shape an enhanced Library Service; transforming our libraries into vibrant community hubs and providing better opportunities for local residents.
About you...
We are looking for someone who can quickly establish positive relationships with customers, demonstrating patience, empathy and a commitment to excellent service.
The ideal candidate will be confident and enthusiastic, with a genuine passion for helping others and strong ICT skills. You will be a team player who brings energy and a can-do attitude, making a valuable contribution to the library environment.
You will also be self-motivated, determined and resilient; ready to take initiative and deliver results in a dynamic and customer-focused setting.
Your ‘home’ library will be Whitegrove Library, but you will work an average of 28.5 hours per week across the Libraries in our borough. The working pattern requires working every Saturday, with a day off during the week. You must be able to work flexibly and travel between branches.
About the team...
This is an exciting time to join the Bracknell Forest Library Service as we look to develop our libraries into Community Hubs.
You will be joining a team of dedicated staff and volunteers, committed to delivering our core offers and wide-ranging events’ programme, providing an excellent service to all of our customers.
We are always looking for better ways of doing things:
- How can we make the most of our library resources?
- Create exciting spaces that our residents want to spend time in?
- Harness technology to improve the overall customer experience?
These are just some of the things you could become involved with, when you join our team.
Key responsibilities...
- Provide a high-quality service to the public via all service points within Bracknell Forest Council, answering information enquiries in person, by telephone, and digitally, and to support customers in the use of ICT.
- Assist customers to issue, return and renew items of stock using the self-service kiosks.
- Promote areas of stock by creating and updating new monthly displays.
- Assist with the organisation and running of activities and events for all age groups to generate library income, including the sale of goods and services as required.
- Support volunteers allocated to branches, assisting with their training and helping them to feel part of the team.
Our benefits...
- 25 days* annual leave increasing to 28 days* after 3 years’ continuous service.
- The opportunity to buy up to 10 additional days* annual leave per year and sell 5 days.
- Hybrid working opportunities to support your wellbeing and work-life balance.
- Electric vehicle salary sacrifice for an electric car at a fixed monthly cost (subject to eligibility).
- An inclusive and social working environment with a variety of staff networks.
- Local government pension scheme.
- Life insurance cover (linked to the pension scheme)
- Enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption and fostering leave.
- Recognition of continuous service attained within the NHS and UKHSA when calculating some benefits such as annual leave entitlements, occupational maternity/paternity leave, and more. (Terms and Conditions apply – please refer to candidate pack for more information.)
- Career development through internal and external training opportunities.
- A great office location next to travel links and Bracknell Forest’s thriving town centre.
- Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support your health and wellbeing.
- Sports and Social Club.
- Staff dental and health plans.
- Discounted leisure centre and gym membership.
- Supermarket discount.
*(pro rata for part time)
Our values
At Bracknell Forest Council our values define who we are and what is important to us. Our core values are inclusive, ambitious, and always learning. These values influence the way we work with each other and the way we serve our residents and engage with our communities. We make our values real by demonstrating them in how we behave every day. If you are excited about joining a diverse team that celebrates learning and strives for excellence, we would love to hear from you.
Reasonable adjustments
We are committed to ensuring an inclusive recruitment process for all applicants. If you require any reasonable adjustments to support your application or interview, please let us know by contacting recruitment@bracknell-forest.gov.uk. We will work with you to support you throughout the process.
Rota pattern
The hours of work will be approximately as follows:
Week 1
Monday 1.50pm - 7.05pm Ascot Heath or another location as required
Tuesday 1.45pm - 5.10pm Ascot Heath or another location as required
Wednesday Non working day
Thursday 9.15am - 5.10pm Binfield or another location as required
Friday 9.15am - 5.10pm Whitegrove or another location as required
Saturday 9:15am - 4.15pm Binfield or another location as required
Week 2
Monday 1.50pm - 7.05pm Ascot Heath or another location as required
Tuesday 1.45pm - 5.10pm Ascot Heath or another location as required
Wednesday Non working day
Thursday 9.15am - 5.10pm Binfield or another location as required
Friday 9.15am - 5.10pm Whitegrove or another location as required
Saturday 9:15am - 4.15pm Binfield or another location as required
Week 3
Monday 1.50pm - 7.05pm Ascot Heath or another location as required
Tuesday 1.45pm - 5.10pm Ascot Heath or another location as required
Wednesday Non working day
Thursday 9.15am - 5.10pm Binfield or another location as required
Friday 9.15am - 5.10pm Whitegrove or another location as required
Saturday 9:15am - 4.15pm Binfield or another location as required
Interview date
Interviews will be held on Tuesday, 15th July 2025.
Interviews will be conducted in person, providing candidates with the chance to personally meet the team and experience our work environment.
We will be reviewing applications regularly and reserve the right to close the advert early if suitable candidates are identified. To avoid disappointment, you are advised to submit your application as soon as possible.
Please note AI is prohibited during the interview, any candidate using AI will be withdrawn from consideration.
Want to ask us a question?
For an informal discussion or to ask any questions about this role, please contact:
Name: Micheline Katts
Job title: Library Services Operations Manager
Phone number: 01344 352403
or
Name: Sharon Sandford
Job title: Library Services Operations Manager
Phone number: 07825208163
or email us ls.management@bracknell-forest.gov.uk
At Bracknell Forest we champion equality, diversity and inclusion. At Bracknell Forest Council, we are always learning, ambitious and inclusive. Please see our candidate pack for more details.
Bracknell Forest Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect everyone employed with us to share this commitment. All successful candidates for this role will be subject to a DBS (Disclosure & Barring Service) check as part of our pre-employment checks process.
We can only accept applications from candidates currently residing in the UK.
Candidates currently residing in the UK who require sponsorship to work are encouraged to assess their eligibility for a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) based on the relevant criteria. Please be aware that sponsorship availability varies and is subject to eligibility requirements and budget limitations. As a result, we cannot guarantee sponsorship for all roles and will evaluate sponsorship requests on a case-by-case basis.
No agencies please.
Equal Opportunities
Bracknell Forest Council – Working for Equality. We welcome applications from all sections of the community.
How to apply
Please apply online via the link provided.
Please note, we do not accept CVs submitted without a fully completed online application form.