Library Apprentice

The role of the Library Apprentice is to support with the management of the day-to-day operations of Keats Community Library (KCL), a charity serving the local community. Accountable to the KCL Board, they will ensure that the library operates smoothly and that it offers consistent, exceptional service to its users.

What you'll do at work

• Joining an established team of experienced volunteers running a library for the local community. Volunteers work shifts of 2-4 hours. The apprentice would work closely with volunteers and provide help as needed and also bridge the gaps across shifts to assist in smooth running.
• Specific tasks include:
  • Assisting members of the public with finding books; issuing, renewing and returning of books
  • Shelving books and keeping shelves orderly, using the library’s book filing system
  • Assisting members of the public with photocopying, printing and scanning
  • Assisting with overdue book follow-up procedures & inventory checks
  • Opening and closing the library as needed
  • Assist with library events as needed
  • Other general administrative duties as required
  • Helping with minor IT issues including questions by the public

Where you'll work

10A Keats Grove
London
NW3 2RR

Training provider

LET ME PLAY LIMITED

Training course

Library, information and archive services assistant (level 3)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents

• Interpret and implement policy, e.g. communicating clearly the basic copyright restrictions and reasons for not sharing personal data
• Undertake regulation and compliance checking, e.g. in order to ensure data protection is not breached
• Solve user problems in a range of situations using their knowledge and interpretation
• Use information management processes to store, manage and retrieve records and data to support collaboration, exploitation and the organisation’s Information Management (IM) practices
• Describe and arrange material/resources, by observing and applying identified cataloguing standards in order to create online catalogues and other finding aids to meet users’ needs
• Employ information retrieval techniques to identify and use relevant media and systems, e.g. searching online databases, catalogues or physical stores, and EDRMS (electronic document record management systems)
• Perform preservation (analogue/physical and digital) practices to keep collections physically safe using institutional/sector guidelines, and supporting work that provides digital access by creating alternatives that meet a range of user requirements
• Use enquiry techniques to clarify and meet users’ information requirements and manage expectations, e.g. by signposting to alternative resources and providing solutions
• Develop knowledge sharing with users, cultivating an environment where knowledge is freely shared and sought within a ‘safe’ environment, including online solutions
• Use relevant approaches to learning support to contribute to the development of learning activities for different audiences to enhance knowledge and literacy, e.g. reader development
• Select and use appropriate tools and technologies to support users in researching and disseminating information, e.g. databases, search engines, digital libraries, repositories and social media
• Develop information and digital skills to support users to identify, find, access and evaluate information, to share knowledge and to promote self-help
• Demonstrate information sharing by contributing to learning activities for specific audiences, e.g. inductions and events, catering to a variety of levels of knowledge and understanding
• Use promotion techniques for resources so that users and potential users are aware of their value, impact and benefit, e.g. by curating collections and displays in effective ways, undertaking outreach activities to guide users to achieve independence in their use of information
• Implement the organisation’s collection management policy, e.g. through identifying stock that should be acquired and that which is no longer used or needed, and relegating or removing these appropriately
• Develop the service by assessing the learning environment and anticipating user needs, e.g. re-organising study/virtual spaces, suggesting improvements to catalogues or web pages
• Use teamwork and collaboration to achieve goals, e.g. with stakeholders and partners beyond the organisation
• Use information provision to enable users to access materials, e.g. through lending books/artefacts, emailing documents, accessing original archives, signposting links to information
• Exercise communication skills - oral, written, presentation, interpersonal, listening, assertiveness (online and face to face)