Peripatetic Library Assistant
We have a great opportunity for a Peripatetic Library Assistant on a full time, permanent basis.
About you...
Join us in developing an improved Library Service, becoming hubs for our community and providing better opportunities for our residents.
We are looking for someone who can quickly build rapport with customers, demonstrating patience, empathy and understanding. The ideal candidate will be confident and enthusiastic, with a genuine passion for customer care and strong ICT skills. You will be someone who can make a positive impact within the team. You should be self-motivated, with the determination and resilience needed to achieve results.
You will be trusted to take ownership of your work and there will always be room for your ideas, along with opportunities to learn, develop and progress.
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 plus volunteers, committed to delivering our core offers and wide-ranging events’ programme, providing an excellent service to all of our customers.
The post-holder will work an average of 37 hours per week across all libraries in the borough, working two Saturdays out of three, with Wednesdays as the corresponding day off during the weeks when Saturdays are worked. As the purpose of the role is to provide cover when and wherever required, the hours and locations of work will vary each week and the hours are not fixed. The postholders must therefore, be able to work flexibly and travel between branches.
As a rough guide, the hours of work will be approximately as follows:
Week 1 - Mon: 7 hours; Tue: 7 hours; Wed: 7 hours; Thur: 9 hours; Fri: 7 hours; Sat: 0 hours; Sun: 0 hours.
Week 2 - Mon: 7 hours; Tue: 8 hours; Wed: 0 hours; Thur: 9 hours; Fri: 7 hours; Sat: 6 hours; Sun: 0 hours.
Week 3 - Mon: 7 hours; Tue: 9 hours; Wed: 0 hours; Thur: 8 hours; Fri: 7 hours; Sat: 6 hours; Sun: 0 hours.
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, with the opportunity to buy up to 10 and sell up to 5 days.
- Hybrid working opportunities to support your wellbeing and work-life balance.
- Paid employee volunteering scheme.
- Local government pension scheme, with life insurance cover.
- Recognition of continuous service attained within the NHS and UKHSA when calculating some benefits. (Terms and Conditions apply)
- Career development through internal and external training opportunities.
- Enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption and fostering leave.
- Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support your health and wellbeing.
- Inclusive and social working environment with a variety of staff networks and a sports and social club.
Find out more about all our benefits or see the candidate pack.
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. Find out more about reasonable adjustments.
Interview date
Interviews will be held on Tuesday, 4th November 2025.
Interviews will be conducted in person at Bracknell Library, 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 our Library Services Operations Manager, Sharon Sandford on 07825208163 or email ls.management@bracknell-forest.gov.uk
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.