Part-time School Librarian

Harrogate Ladies' College is seeking to appoint an innovative, creative, and well-qualified School Librarian to lead the ongoing development of our library service. The successful candidate will bring energy and enthusiasm to the role, supporting the needs of our community of boarding and day pupils aged 11–18.

This is a really exciting time to be joining us as Harrogate Ladies College will transition to Duchy College from September 2026 and will be fully co-educational from September 2026.

Responsible to: Deputy Head Academic, Head of Sixth Form.

Direct involvement with: College Teachers, Pupils, Heads of Department, Head of Boarding, Pupil Librarians

Hours: Part time, Term time only – 16 hours per week for 35 weeks.

Job Purpose:

To manage the School Library in order to meet the needs of young people in the 21st century whilst ensuring the Library is integrated into the School Community

Description of Duties:

Leadership Responsibilities

Strategy:

• To develop and implement a library policy which reflects the educational aims and objectives of the whole school (pupils
• Plan and oversee a programme for monitoring and evaluating library services and performance, including user surveys and statistics on stock and usage.
• Plan and monitor the delivery of an information skills programme throughout the school.
• Assist with the behaviour management of pupils undertaking prep in the Library;
• To undertake any other reasonable duty at the request of the Principal.

Role model:

• To promote the library and its resources to the whole school and externally, where relevant.
• To inspire a love of literacy.
• To embody the Aims and Values of the school.

Management:

• Prepare and manage the library budgets.
• To select, acquire, organise and maintain library resources to cover the full school community (including boarders and staff).
• To arrange the effective retrieval by systematic indexing, classification and cataloguing of all library resources and disseminating information on those resources to staff and pupils.
• To complete an annual risk assessment and to highlight any health and safety issues for library users and visitors.

Person Specification

• To arrange pupils' participation in children's literary events and author visits.
• To provide guidance and assistance to pupils and staff on information retrieval and reading materials.
• To liaise with Heads of Department on curriculum delivery and library stock and the Head of Inclusive Learning on pupils' needs.
• To develop networks with other library professionals.
• To be committed to ongoing professional development.
• To participate in other duties which may reasonably be regarded as within the nature of the responsibilities/grade of the post as defined, subject to the proviso that normally any changes of a permanent nature shall be incorporated into the job description in specific terms.

Essential:

Skills and Knowledge

• Information specialist
• Familiar with Library management software
• Experience learning new software
• Expertise in online searching using the internet and a range of subscription services

Qualifications

• Degree in Library/Information Studies or first degree with a postgraduate library qualification

Experience

• Confidence in working with young people from 11 to 18
• Ability to work with teaching colleagues

Personal attributes

• Energy and enthusiasm
• Passion for promoting literacy
• Good organisational and time management skills
• Flexibility, able to take on new challenges

Desirable:

Experience

• Experience in managing a busy school library
• Sound knowledge of literature for young people

Harrogate Ladies' College is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and the successful applicant must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post. Please note that the successful applicant will not be allowed to start in school until all pre-employment checks have been completed. The school is an educational charity and equal opportunities employer

Job Types: Permanent, Part-time

Benefits:

• Company pension
• Discounted or free food
• Employee discount
• Health & wellbeing programme

Work Location: In person