Library Officer

**About Us**:
**THE EXTRAORDINARY STORY OF LISA’S DRIVE**

Growth, Planning and Housing in Westminster City Council is a world of extraordinary stories. Where reactive and passionate people are dedicated to enhancing services and creating real connections.

Take Lisa for example. The impact she’s had at her contact centre is remarkable. During Covid-19, Lisa focussed on increasing the coaching and support her staff received. This led to an interaction with a grieving resident who had lost his wife. Lisa’s training allowed the Customer Service Advisor to help the resident by opening up about their own experience. The conversation was so impactful that the resident even sent flowers to say thank you. It’s no surprise that Lisa runs a multi award-winning contact centre that’s now recognised across Europe.

**The Role**:
As a Library Officer you can make your own powerful contribution. We have a number of opportunities across the Borough. But whichever library you join, you’ll help to deliver services that regularly change people’s lives - whether their visit is for education or work, or simply to enjoy a safe place and a great book for a few hours.

Our Libraries & Archives team’s success begins and ends with financial stability, and the sensible use of resources. It’s this clear thinking that led us to join forces with our friends at the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea to create a powerful, bi-borough service - catering to communities as varied as world-famous Covent Garden to less-affluent areas such as Latimer Road.

Every day is different. But generally-speaking, we’ll ask you to give customers a warm welcome, and direct them to the right resources. Of course, you’ll recommend books. But just as importantly, you’ll be the gateway to our services: teaching customers how to use our systems and technology - perhaps even the internet.

In terms of admin, you’ll process memberships, open and close the library, manage stocks and order supplies. You’ll get involved in activities and events, like Story Time for children. And there’ll be a wide array of extra projects too, for example to generate further income, or promote the library online.

It’s important you’ve the flexibility to work evenings and weekends. And ultimately, everything you do will empower residents: so they can maximise the benefits of our services, resources, events and systems.

Please refer to the **Job Description** for more information.

**About You**:
While they’re certainly quiet places - libraries are very busy. You’ll need to be a confident communicator who’s proactive in approach and happy juggling a number of tasks at any one time.

A passion for customer service is key. But it’s the way you react quickly to requests and solve problems that will mark you out. It’s also important you have good IT skills, including an awareness of social media.

In addition to being keen to learn, you’ll get a kick out of teaching. Customers will look to you for inspiration: to experience of the joy of reading, learning and, importantly, socialising.

**What We Offer**:
Westminster is an amazing place. We are home to more than 200,000 residents from all backgrounds, over 50,000 vibrant and vital businesses and three-quarters-of-a-million people work in Westminster. Westminster City Council’s strategy is to work towards a Fairer Westminster. A Fairer Westminster is one in which our communities are at the heart of our decision-making and help to determine the city’s future. By working directly with our communities and other partners, we can build a more inclusive city that celebrates our diverse communities, and where residents, workers and visitors from all backgrounds will feel welcome and safe.

As a forward-thinking Council we appreciate that people work in different ways, therefore our staff benefit from working a range of flexible working patterns as well as Agile working.