Job profile

Suffolk Libraries Local Co-ordinator

Suffolk Libraries is the charity that runs libraries across Suffolk and beyond. We have a huge impact on the lives of thousands of people from their earliest years right through to later life. We enhance life opportunities, by improving literacy, supporting better wellbeing, reducing social isolation and championing diversity, to create more cohesive communities. 

Due to retirement, Suffolk Libraries is looking for a fixed term co-ordinator to run their Suffolk Libraries Local sessions until May 2025. Suffolk Libraries Local is a pop-up library session, typically held in community centre or village hall, which is designed to provide a library ‘experience’ in communities which don’t have a static library. The service currently operates in Rushmere (Ipswich), Shotley and Red Lodge. A fourth session is scheduled to be launched in the new year in Beck Row.  

The responsibilities of this role are;

• Setting up and packing away Suffolk Libraries Local sessions. The sessions feature a small book collection, children’s toys, IT devices and some small items of furniture.
• Helping and supporting customers, enabling them to understand and use the full range of library services on offer.
• Carrying out the full range of library procedures; lending, basic IT support, stock management
• Helping and supporting customers with their queries, which can be about anything. This will sometimes require the need to signpost the customer to the relevant source of information or help, which may need researching.
• Helping customers of all ages with their reading choices and support them in using the online services.
• Recruiting, managing and supporting volunteers involved with delivering elements of the library sessions.  
• Supporting friends’ groups associated with Suffolk Libraries Local sessions, helping them to recruit volunteers where needed, and supporting their events, activities, and initiatives. 
• Taking responsibility for risk management / risk assessments associated with the sessions, with support from the Compliance Manager. 
• Promoting the Suffolk Libraries Local sessions locally, for example, through community social media pages and local newsletters / magazines.  

If you have experience in a customer facing role, enjoy helping people, have a willingness to work within a team in a busy environment, experience of working with children and an interest in books and computers, we would like to hear from you. 

The role requires the postholder to set up and pack away the library, which involves some heavy lifting. Candidates must therefore be physically able to carry out this aspect of the job.  

It is essential that the successful candidate has a full clean driving licence and is willing to drive a small company van which is used to carry library equipment.

This position is for an average of 24.5 hours per week on the following work pattern:

• Tuesdays at Red Lodge: 9am to 1pm
• Wednesdays at Rushmere, Ipswich: 9am to 1pm
• Fridays at Shotley: 9.30am to 5pm
• Day to be confirmed at Beck Row: 9am to 1pm).We are planning to launch this session in the new year.
• Plus 4 hours administration time per week, to be allocated on discussion with the successful candidate. 

If you would like to apply for this role, please complete an application form which can be found at: Suffolk Libraries Job Page

As an equal opportunities’ employer, Suffolk Libraries is committed to the equal treatment of all current and prospective employees and does not condone discrimination on the basis of age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, gender identity, or marriage and civil partnership.

We aspire to have a diverse and inclusive workplace and strongly encourage suitably qualified applicants from a wide range of backgrounds to apply and join Suffolk Libraries.

The closing date for applications is Friday 1^st December, and we will contact applicants who we wish to interview.