Library & Archives Service
Vacancy
Library Assistant (Ref: DSA3)
Further Particulars
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The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine is one of Europe’s leading schools of public and
global health and a leading institution worldwide for research and postgraduate education in global
health.
The London School is the largest institution of its kind in Europe with a remarkable depth and breadth
of expertise encompassing many disciplines. The School was ranked one of the top 10 research
institutions in the country in the Times Higher Education’s 'table of excellence', which is based on
the 2014 Research Excellence Framework, and is regularly ranked among the world’s top
institutions.
The School’s environment is a rich multicultural one: there are almost 4000 students from 100+
countries following 22 masters courses delivered either in London (~650) or through distance
learning (~2700), and undertaking doctoral training (~400). Over 40% of these students are from
non-European countries. Alumni are working in more than 180 countries. The School has about
1400 staff drawn from over 60 nationalities,
There are research collaborations with over 100 countries throughout the world, utilizing our critical
mass of multidisciplinary expertise which includes clinicians, epidemiologists, statisticians, social
and political scientists, molecular biologists, immunologists, economists, virologists, and
nutritionists. At any one time around 100 School staff are based in Africa and Asia. We have a strong
commitment to partnership with institutions in low and middle income countries to support the
strengthening of teaching and research capacity.
The School has expanded greatly in recent years. Its research funding now approaches £100 90
million per annum, most of it from highly competitive national and international sources. The
commitment of staff to improving health worldwide, methodological rigour, innovative thinking and
policy relevance will ensure that the School continues to occupy a leadership position in national
and global health, adapting quickly to new challenges and opportunities.
Mission
To improve health and health equity in the UK and worldwide; working in partnership to achieve
excellence in public and global health research, education and translation of knowledge into policy
and practice.
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The Library & Archives Service
The primary role of the Library & Archives Service (LAS) is to support the School in its mission to
improve health and health equity in the UK and worldwide, working in partnership to achieve
excellence in public and global health research, education and translation of knowledge into policy
and practice. The Library & Archives Service seeks to provide excellent information-related
services, resources and support to the School’s staff and students, and to contribute to a creative
and supportive working environment in line with the School’s values. The Library & Archives
Service also welcomes external researchers and visitors who wish to consult its specialist
collections.
The Library provides an excellent standard of customer service in the delivery of services to users,
and offers an extensive programme of information skills teaching and support. It facilitates access
to a comprehensive collection of printed and electronic material in the fields of public and global
health, and provides support for open access publishing within the School. The archives of the
School date from the mid-nineteenth century and consist of correspondence and personal papers
of scientific, medical and global health professionals. The archives service also manages Freedom
of Information and Data Protection enquiries, and provides a records management service and
support for research data management within the School.
This post is one of three full-time Library Assistants who rotate duties every five months and who
are based in turn in either the User Support & Information Services Team or the Collection Support
& Digital Services Team, two of three sections within the Library & Archives Service. Within these
wider teams the responsibilities include management of inter-library loan activities, management of
the Online Readings for Courses (ORC) service, and collection management.
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The Post
The post is based in the Library & Archives Service led by the Head of Library & Archives
Service.
The post rotates duties every 5 months and is based in turn within either the User Support &
Information Services Team managed by the Information Services Librarian or the Collection
Support & Digital Services Team managed by the Collections & Digital Services Librarian and
reports to an Assistant Librarian.
The post holder is required to work 9.30-17.30 Monday to Friday, and in addition participates in
the early, evening and Saturday morning rotas, working 9.00-17.00, 13.00-19.30, or 10.0012.30 (with the previous Friday afternoon off in lieu) respectively.
There may be occasions when members of staff are approached to work at other times in order
to cover for colleagues who are off sick or on leave.
The post is full time permanent.
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Job Description
Job Title: Library Assistant
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Department: Library & Archives Service
Faculty/Professional Service: Professional Services
Location: London
Reports to: Assistant Librarian (User Services)/Assistant Librarian (Information
Services)/Assistant Librarian (Collection Services)
Responsible for: N/A
Full Time/Part Time/Casual: Full Time Permanent
Hours: N/A
Grade: PSP 3
Overall Purpose of the job
The Library Assistant is one of three full-time Library Assistants who rotate duties every
five months and who are based in turn in either the User Services Team, Information
Services Team or Collection Services Team, reporting to either the Assistant Librarian
(User Services), Assistant Librarian (Information Services) or Assistant Librarian
(Collection Services). The Library Assistant is responsible for supporting and assisting
all aspects of the delivery of library services, ensuring an excellent standard of customer
service.
The Library Assistant based in the User Services Team is responsible for the operation
of the Inter-Library Loan & Document Delivery service, processing requests and
providing support, obtaining copyright-cleared copies of material for teaching purposes,
generating and processing financial records and maintaining records and statistics,
liaising with users, the British Library and the Finance Office as required. The post
holder assists with the administration of user records and reciprocal access schemes,
the provision of extended services for disabled and dyslexic users, the collation of
statistics as required, and the provision of signage, user guides and web information.
The Library Assistant based in the Information Services Team is responsible for the
operation of the Online Readings for Courses (ORC) service, processing reading lists
and providing support, checking references and maintaining the EndNote Library,
scanning material under the terms of the CLA Licence and uploading ORC lists onto
Moodle, liaising with users, e-learning staff and the Teaching Support Office as required.
The post holder assists with the administration of the Library’s programme for teaching
information skills, collection development activities, the collation of statistics as required,
and the provision of signage, user guides and web information.
The Library Assistant based in the Collection Services Team is responsible for the
operation of collection management, maintaining order and item information for print and
electronic material on Symphony and other associated records, checking in and
processing print material and claiming print copies and e-access as required,
undertaking binding, repairs and withdrawals and processing requests for material held
in off-site stores, liaising with users, suppliers and depository staff and the Finance
Office as required. The post holder assists with the administration of discovery tools, the
provision of support for users accessing resources provided by the Library, the collation
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of statistics as required, and the provision of signage, user guides and web information.
The Library Assistant actively engages with users to promote the service and to gather
feedback, and actively contributes to the development of the service. The post holder
participates in staff meetings and events, staff rotas and Enquiries Desk duties, and
induction training as required.
Principal Duties and Responsibilities (Examples)
Communications
 Communicating regularly with relevant School staff and external institutions/organisations
in the operation of library services
 Designing and producing signage, guides and web information for Library users
 Communicating daily with the Library Team, and with Library users in the course of
answering enquiries received in person, by telephone, via email and social media
 Providing written and verbal reports to the Assistant Librarian and Information Services
Librarian/Collections & Digital Services Librarian on matters relating to library services
 Promoting the Library services and collections to members of the School and beyond
Teamwork and Motivation
 Working with the Assistant Librarian, Information Services Librarian/ Collections & Digital
Services Librarian and other Library & Archives Service staff to ensure the successful
delivery of library services
 Providing cover for absent colleagues, particularly those working in the Library Team, often
at short notice
 Participating in staff meetings and events and induction training as required
 Contributing actively to the work of the Library & Archives Service in its support of the work
of the School
Liaison and Networking
 Engaging with users and liaising with relevant School staff and external
institutions/organisations in the delivery and development of library services
 Maintaining awareness of developments within the School and within the field of library &
information science
Service Delivery
 Ensuring an excellent standard of customer service in the delivery of library services
 Operating the Inter-Library Loan & Document Delivery Service
 Operating the Online Readings for Courses Service
 Operating collection management
 Promoting the Library’s services and collections to members of the School and beyond
 Dealing with enquiries received in person, by telephone, via email and social media
Decision Making
 Following existing procedures to make decisions in response to specific queries from
Library users, Library staff, relevant School staff and external institutions/organisations,
often alone
 Working with minimal supervision and taking decisions when the Assistant Librarian or
Information Services Librarian/ Collections & Digital Services Librarian is absent, exercising
appropriate judgement as to when a matter should be referred to another member of staff
Planning and Organising
 Planning own work and daily activities to ensure that competing priorities are achieved and
that service standards are met
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Assisting with administration of user records and reciprocal access schemes, the provision
of extended services for disabled and dyslexic users, the administration of the Library’s
programme for teaching information skills, collection development activities, the
administration of discovery tools, the provision of support for users accessing resources
provided by the Library, the collation of statistics as required, and the provision of signage,
user guides and web information
 Contributing to regular team meetings and events about library services
Initiative and Problem Solving
 Answering queries from Library users, Library staff, relevant School staff and external
institutions/organisations based on experience and knowledge
 Interpreting information and context in order to resolve problems and provide a professional
service to users, exercising appropriate judgement as to when a matter should be referred
to another member of staff
Analysis and Research
 Collating statistics and monitoring service standards
 Undertaking research using the collections to answer enquiries, create exhibits and write
blog posts
Additional Information
Generic duties and responsibilities of all LSHTM employees
This job description reflects the present requirements of the post but may be altered at any time in
the future as duties and responsibilities change and/or develop providing there is full consultation
with the post-holder.
The post-holder will carry out any other duties, tasks or responsibilities as reasonably requested by
the line manager, Dean of Faculty, Head of Department or Director of Professional Service.
The post holder will be responsible and accountable for ensuring all School policies, procedures,
Regulations and employment legislative requirements are adhered to including equality and
diversity and health and safety.
This job description is not a definitive or exhaustive list of responsibilities but identifies the key
responsibilities and tasks of the post holder. The specific objectives of the post holder will be
subject to review as part of the individual performance review (appraisal) process.
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Person Specification
This form lists the essential and desirable requirements needed by the post holder to be able to
perform the job effectively. Applicants will be shortlisted solely on the extent to which they meet
these requirements.
Job Title: Library Assistant
Department: Library & Archives Service
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Competency
Education, Qualifications
and Training
Experience
Evidence
 A recognised degree
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Knowledge
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Personal Qualities
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Proven experience of working successfully in a
library
Experience of working in a higher education or
medical library
Demonstrable knowledge of issues relating to the
delivery of library services
Knowledge of and interest in developments in the
field of library & information science
Excellent oral and written communication skills,
including the ability to effectively communicate
complex information to a variety of audiences
Service oriented with excellent interpersonal skills,
including the ability to quickly establish effective
working relationships with staff and students from a
variety of backgrounds
Excellent organisational skills, including the ability to
prioritise work and adopt a flexible approach
Proven ability to work as a member of a team without
supervision
Proven ability to take responsibility and demonstrate
initiative
E/D
E
E
D
E
D
E
E
E
E
E
E=Essential: Requirement without which the job could not be done
D=Desirable: Requirements that would enable the candidate to perform the job well
Date compiled: September 2015
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Salary and Conditions of Appointment
The post is subject to a probationary review after six months. Salary will be on the Professional
Support Pathway Grade 3 scale in the range £23,827 - £27,014 inclusive per annum.
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Applications
Applications should be made on-line via our website at jobs.lshtm.ac.uk. The closing date is 5th
November 2015 and the reference for this post is DSA3. Interviews will be held on 23 th
November 2015. Online applications will be accepted by the automated system until 10pm on the
closing date. Any queries regarding the application process may be addressed to
jobs@lshtm.ac.uk. Please quote reference DSA3.
The supporting statement section should set out how your qualifications, experience and training
meet each of the selection criteria. Please provide one or more paragraphs addressing each
criterion. The supporting statement is an essential part of the selection process and thus a failure
to provide this information will mean that the application will not be considered. There is no
requirement to provide a CV and an answer to any of the criteria such as “Please see attached
CV” will not be considered acceptable.
Please note that if you are shortlisted and are unable to attend on the interview date it may not be
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possible to offer you an alternative date.
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Further information
Further information on the School can be obtained from the website at http://www.lshtm.ac.uk/
The Library & Archives Service website is at http://www.lshtm.ac.uk/library
The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine is committed to being
an equal opportunities employer
September 2015
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