Library Assistant
| Posting date: | 26 January 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £25,201 to £26,473 per year |
| Additional salary information: | Competitive |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 24 February 2026 |
| Location: | North End Library, PO29AX |
| Company: | Portsmouth City Council |
| Job type: | Temporary |
| Job reference: | pcc/TP/724/1142 |
Summary
Library Assistant - fixed term/secondment opportunity for up to 6 months
Salary: Band 4, £25,201 - £26,473 p.a.
37 hours per week.
Location: Appointed to the City.
About Portsmouth City Council
Portsmouth City Council is a unique organisation, committed to making a difference, and is guided by core values that set who we are as people, what we stand for, and how we act.
We are committed to our values of respect, integrity, collaboration, inclusivity and being people-focussed. These values set out how we can contribute to the success of the council and our own success as individuals. Learn more about our values and behaviours.
Job introduction
We are looking for an outgoing friendly person with good communication and customer service skills to join our library service. You will provide a quality service whilst meeting the learning and recreational needs of all who live, work or study in the city and elsewhere. This is a full time, fixed term/secondment opportunity for up to 6 months.
Your new role
You will assist the public in using and accessing library services from the library counters, floors and workrooms and will deliver an effective Information, Enquiry and Reader Development Service. As well as issuing and discharging books and processing new members, you will support the delivery and development of activities, events and other library offers as required. This will include reading stories to children and leading Rhymetime sessions, cash handling duties and assisting people with using the library computers. Other tasks will include responsibility for building security, maintaining the appearance of the library for service users, stocking shelves and processing orders of new library material stock.
Who is the person summary
You will have good communication and customer care skills and be confident working with the public as well as being able to deal with challenging service users/disruptive visitors to the library. A team player you will be flexible and able to adapt quickly to different work situations and locations. You will have a good literacy and numeracy skills to fulfil the needs of the role being able to converse at ease with the customers and provide advice in accurate spoken English.
For full details, please review 'who is the person' on the job profile below attached.
Our recruitment process
Full information about our recruitment process can be found on our support for applicants' page:Support for applicants - Careers portal
You must demonstrate why you are suitable against each of the points described in the 'Who is the Person'points on the Job Profile using examples from your experience or transferable skills. This might be through qualifications or descriptive examples from your work / personal experience, which clearly illustrates what you did and the effect it had.If you apply without a detailed personal statement, it is unlikely that you will be successful.
We are a disability confident employer and Armed Forces Covenant gold standard. More information can be found atEquality, diversity and inclusion - Careers portal
Should you require any support in completing the application form please contactrecruit@portsmouthcc.gov.ukor call the recruitment team on 023 92 616 800.
If applying as a secondment you will need permission from your current line manager releasing you for this secondment. Please state you have this on your personal statement on the application.
You will need to demonstrate that you have the Right to Work in the UK. No post will be offered without it.
Read more about working at Portsmouth City Council and our benefits on our career's portal homepage:Careers Portal - Find jobs with Portsmouth City Council