Trainee Library Assistant

Job Description

ROLE SUMMARY AND KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
The post is designed as a one year introduction to the work of a specialist art historical library and provides an opportunity for graduates who are seriously considering a career in librarianship to gain experience in a range of activities within the Libraries and Archive Department prior to enrolment on an appropriate information and library studies course.
The successful candidate will be expected to take up post during September 2009 and to make an application for a place on a postgraduate librarianship/information studies course within six months of so doing.
The Trainee forms part of a team of Library Assistants who share responsibility for providing essential clerical, administrative and semi-professional support within the Department.
MAIN TASKS AND ACTIVITIES
All Library Assistants have a responsibility for ensuring that the following general/shared duties are carried out, but the Trainee will be expected to undertake a higher proportion of the work in most of the following:

* Shelving books and periodicals and ensuring that the Library is tidy
* Undertaking regular shelf checks, maintaining books in classified order and assisting with book moves
* Bibliographic checking
* Book binding preparation, dispatch and return
* Sharing, on a rota basis, Library reception desk duties
* Assisting readers (both Gallery staff and visitors) and answering written/telephone enquiries
* Filing and withdrawing cataloguing slips and cards, expanding slip folders and card catalogues as required
* Updating in-house indexes and lists used by the Cataloguer, etc.
* Updating the Library Assistants’ Working Procedures Manual.
In addition the Trainee will have particular responsibility for the following duties:
* Exchange programme. Duties include:
• recording in-coming and out-going exchange material, acknowledging receipt and dispatching relevant material to exchange partners
• bibliographic checking and requesting useful items from other institutions
• ensuring supply of exchange copies of new exhibition catalogues are ordered from NGC, and sent out to relevant institutions.
• Formatting and printing out catalogue cards
• Sorting in-coming mail
• Book processing (e.g. typing spine labels and pamphlet envelopes, making up protective boxes for fragile/vulnerable items, etc.)
• Keeping "Current Information" boxes up-to-date
• Working closely with the Library Cataloguer on catalogue card production and book processing
• Disposing of unwanted and/or duplicate material. Relevant duties include:
• sorting unwanted material into saleable and non-saleable categories
• arranging the sale of relevant material to members of Gallery staff and to second-hand book dealers, etc.
• deciding the appropriate price for unwanted material
• listing the unsaleable material
• sending out lists to interested institutions, arranging for collection/postage of requested material, and dealing with receipt of postage repayments, etc
• deciding on how best to distribute unwanted material between institution
• identifying new institutions interested in receiving unwanted material.
The Trainee may also, from time to time, be required to undertake other duties under the direction of several members of staff within different sections of the Department - i.e. Library, Slide Library, Photographic Library, Dossiers and Archive.
ORGANISATIONAL ROLE
The Trainee forms part of a team of three Library Assistants and reports to the Senior Library Assistant, who, in turn, reports to the Head of Department.

Experience and Skills

QUALIFICATIONS
Essential:
Educated to degree level with the intention of applying for a postgraduate course in Library/Information Studies to start in the autumn of 2010.
EXPERIENCE and KNOWLEDGE
Essential:
* A knowledge of, or serious interest in, the history of Western European painting.
* A good understanding of other European languages (particularly French, German, Italian).
* Good computer literacy, especially in Microsoft Word.
Desirable:
Some experience of library work.
SKILLS AND ABILITIES
Planning and Delivery
Essential:
* Ability to organise and prioritise tasks accordingly
* Ability to effectively co-ordinate work to fit in with Cataloguer’s monthly routine
* A methodical approach to work with the ability to work accurately
* Good attention to detail
* Ability to work responsibly and accurately at routine tasks as well as at those requiring greater initiative
* General manual dexterity
Problem Solving and Decision Making
Essential:
* Ability to seek assistance from a more experienced members of staff when appropriate
* Able to use initiative
Communications and Influencing
Essential:
* Excellent communication skills in order to deal with other institutions, booksellers and library users, both staff and visitors, at all levels of seniority
* Good interpersonal and communication skills – a friendly and approachable manner in person and on the telephone.
Teamwork and Personal Impact
Essential:
* Flexible, adaptable and willingness to assist colleagues and library users as and when required.
* Ability to work unsupervised and as part of a team
* Ability to learn quickly
* Self-motivated
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
* Applicants must be graduates able to demonstrate a strong commitment to a career in librarianship/information science.
* Climbing tall library ladders and some lifting of heavy books, files and boxes will be required.

Company Profile

The National Gallery houses a world famous collection of Western European painting, from around 1260 to 1900, that belongs to the nation. The building itself is listed, and is instantly recognisable as a major London landmark. Approximately 5 million visitors from around the world visit us every year.
For those who are interested in coming here to work, there is more to learn about the National Gallery.
Visitors are familiar with our security staff who are present in every room in order to protect the pictures and also provide help and advice to the public. However there are more than 600 employees altogether and behind the scenes there are many departments, covering a wide variety of functions from curators, scientists, art handlers and picture and frame conservators to education, exhibition and design experts.
Our visitors come from many different backgrounds and we think the Gallery can only benefit from having staff who are equally diverse. We work hard to recognise, support and develop our staff and believe that everyone who works here should be treated with the same level of respect regardless of their background. We are genuinely committed to equality of opportunity and encourage applications from all sections of the community.
All staff are based in central London. Some are located in the Gallery itself on the north side of Trafalgar Square; others work in refurbished open-plan offices in a modern block behind the Gallery’s Sainsbury Wing.
Being in the heart of London provides the perfect opportunity to explore other central London museums and galleries, along with attractions such as major shops, parks, theatres, restaurants and cinemas, and the river Thames.
The Gallery itself is not just a static display of paintings; there is a wide variety of events including temporary exhibitions, lectures, guided tours, films and programmes for schools.
The National Gallery is a vibrant place to visit and a stimulating place to work. Please do refer to our website to find out more: http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/

Contact Details

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