Increase of salary range

On 15 January 2025, we increased the salary range offered to successful candidates. Nothing else about this vacancy and promoting it has changed.

About the library 

The Heythrop Library, founded in 1614, is a major specialist academic library in philosophy, theology and allied disciplines. It is an affiliate library of the University of London and is based at the London Jesuit Centre (LJC) in Mayfair. The reading room at LJC is open to students following courses at LJC, and to researchers, teachers and students.

The majority of the 200,000+ collection items is stored in two off-site stores and is on 48-hour call. The pre-1801 collection is primarily stored at Winsford, Cheshire (Deepstore), the post-1801 collection at Ruislip (Crown Records Management UK), and 700+ early and rare books collection is kept at Campion Hall, Oxford, under the curatorship of the Campion Hall Librarian. The library belongs to the Society of Jesus (Jesuits), which funds its ongoing care and development. 700-800 new books are added each year, and there are over 140 live serial titles.

About the role

The Heythrop Assistant Librarian works on the collections and helps with the day-to-day operation of the library and reading room, and is line-managed by the Heythrop Librarian.

While the Heythrop Library is an independent institution, the Assistant Librarian works as part of the wider team at the London Jesuit Centre, to promote use of the library as part of the work of the London Jesuit Centre. The Assistant Librarian’s core activities are in cataloguing, processing, shelving and front-desk functions.

The usual hours of work (some as lone working) will be:

During LJC term times:

Term 2: 20 Jan – 4 Apr 2025 & Term 3: 5 May – 18 July 2025:

Mondays: not working

Tuesdays: 9:30-17:30 (with 1 hour unpaid lunch break; 7 hours)

Wednesdays: 9:30-18:30 (with 1 hour unpaid lunch break; 8 hours, 1 hour lone working)

Thursdays: 9:30-18:30 (with 1 hour unpaid lunch break; 8 hours, 1 hour lone working)

Fridays: 9:30-18:00 (with 1 hour unpaid lunch break; 7.5 hours, 30 minutes lone working)

Saturdays: 9:30-14:00 (4.5 hours, lone working)

Outside LJC-teaching time:

Mondays, Wednesday and Thursdays: 9:30-17:30 (with 1 hour unpaid lunch break; 7 hours each day)

Tuesdays: 9:30-18:30 (with 1 hour unpaid lunch break; 8 hours, sometimes 1 hour lone working)

Fridays: 9:30-16:30 (with 1 hour unpaid lunch break; 6 hours)

However, this may vary during holiday times or for operational reasons.

This job offers a pension, with an employer’s contribution of 5%.

The Assistant Librarian’s responsibilities include:

1. assisting the Heythrop Librarian with enquiries and requests regarding the Heythrop Library;

2. receipting, processing and cataloguing new acquisitions;

3. receiving and processing periodicals; claiming missing journal issues; organization of binding and transport to storage;

4. creating, updating and managing catalogue records for printed books (might include historic books, pre-1800) and journals, and classification;

5. dealing with library users, including management of library membership, supervision of the reading room, calling books from the offsite stores to the LJC or Senate House Library;

6. assisting in the care of the physical environment of library spaces at LJC in collaboration with the Heythrop Librarian, including ensuring good IT facilities;

7. labelling of, and shelving of books;

8. shelving journals;

9. ordering books;

10. processing invoices;

11. helping with social media activities of the Library;

12. helping with organising work experience and supervising volunteers.

Depending on the candidate there might be scope to help with collection development.

These responsibilities may change over time according to the needs of the library and current library practice. Informal enquiries are welcome and should be directed to Dr Clemens Gresser at cgresser@jesuit.org.uk.

About you

The successful applicant will have:

1. experience of working in a library or a Master’s in Library and Information Studies (essential);

2. good understanding of the management of a specialist collection or a research library (highly desirable);

3. some knowledge of, and interest in, the subject areas covered by the Heythrop collections (i.e. philosophy, theology and allied disciplines) (desirable);

4. knowledge and experience in cataloguing (according to AACR2 and RDA standards, within Marc21) (essential, this will be tested with a cataloguing test);

5. good IT skills (especially use of Excel, and experience of a Library Management system; essential);

6. good people skills for working with colleagues and with students, teachers and researchers (essential);

7. good organizational and communication skills (essential);

8. good management of time, priorities and deadlines (essential);

9. experience in working as part of a small team (highly desirable).

10. a good eye for detail (essential)

The successful candidate does not have to be Christian, but must be sympathetic to Christians using the Library (essential).

You must have the right to work in the UK.

When applying you need to address all the above skills and abilities of the person specification. This is not an entry level job, and prior experience of working in a library is essential.

Deadline

The deadline for applications for this post is 4 February 2025, by 2pm (GMT). Please email your CV and letter of application, and any necessary documentation regarding the right to work in the UK, to Dr Clemens Gresser at cgresser@jesuit.org.uk.