Library Assistant

The Position

Limerick City and County Library Service is one of the most widely used public services provided by the local authority. The library service manages and supports a city and county wide network of 7 full time libraries, 9 part time libraries, a My Open Library service and a mobile library. The library service is constantly innovating and diversifying in a dynamic and changing environment, taking advantage of technological advancement to deliver a wide and varied range of frontline services to users.

Limerick City and County Library Service is based in the Economic, Tourism, Culture, Property and Corporate Buildings Directorate of Limerick City and County Council.

The Role:

Library Assistant is a permanent fulltime post within the Library Service. Library Assistants make a valuable contribution to the provision of the library service by delivering frontline services at either branch level or library headquarters and by providing support to library management. The Library Assistant post is a vital link in the team which promotes the library as the focal point for community engagement, lifelong learning and cultural activities. The duties of the Library Assistant shall be consistent with the provision of a modern public library service that is responsive to the changing requirements of customers of all ages and abilities.

The Library Assistant works as part of a team reporting to Senior Library Assistant/Librarian/Executive Librarian. The ideal candidate for this post will be a highly motivated person, committed to delivering quality customer service.

Limerick City and County Council invites applications from suitably qualified persons, who wish to be considered for inclusion on a panel from which temporary and permanent vacancies for Library Assistant may be filled throughout the lifetime of the panel.

Duties and Responsibilities

Library Assistants will be expected to carry out the following non exhaustive list of duties:

• Front-line library service duties at a busy public library desk;

• Responding to all customer queries, including information and requests;

• Operation of library management systems, spreadsheets, databases, word processing, email and internet;

• Assisting customers in using self service facilities Public Access PC & Internet, Print and other Library I.T. equipment, facilities & Apps;

• Assisting in the promotion of the library service through an active role in the organisation and delivery of events – e.g. book clubs; storytelling, class visits, community events & exhibitions;

• Assist with the promotion of Online Library services and assist customer with the use of Online Library resources and Apps;

• Branch Relief Work – cover in other locations as required to maintain library branch network opening hours during periods of holiday leave, sick leave, etc.;

• General clerical and administrative duties relevant to the Library Service, e.g. processing stock, health & safety inspections, branch statistics and reporting etc.;

• Any other duties that may be assigned as part of the overall functioning of the Library Service.

The Person

Character

Candidates shall be of good character.

Health

Candidates shall be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service.

Education, Experience etc.

Each candidate must have a good general level of education.

The ideal candidate shall have:

• An understanding of the changing library environment and be capable of adapting to change;

• Understanding of and dedication to customer services;

• Strong interpersonal and communications skills and ability to develop and maintain positive, productive and beneficial working relationships;

• An ability to work effectively within a team to achieve a common goal, ensuring standards are adhered to and maintained;

• An ability to manage time, workload and other resources effectively;

• Excellent verbal, and written communication skills, and organisational skills;

• Problem solving skills;

• High level of IT and digital proficiency;

• Strong judgement skills, capacity to innovate and work on your own initiative and as part of a team;

• Community and stakeholder engagement skills;

• Strong interest in working with children, young adults, and all users in the delivery of library programming;

• It would be desirable if each candidate has a proficiency in the use of Information Technology, e.g. Word, Excel, Outlook, Internet.

Terms and Conditions

4. The Post:

A panel will be formed for an initial period of one year and this may be extended for a further year at the discretion of the Director General. The panel may be used by Limerick City and County Council to fill permanent and temporary positions that may arise for its duration. Vacancies will be offered in order of merit as per the panel.

Annual Leave:

The successful candidate will have 27 days annual leave.

Salary:

Salary scale: €31,119 - €48,424, paid fortnightly. Payment of increments is dependent on satisfactory performance.

Entry point of this scale will be determined in accordance with Circulars issued by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

In accordance with Departmental Circular letter EL 02/2011, a person who is not a serving local authority employee on or after 1st January 2011, will enter the scale for the position at the minimum point (currently €31,119).

Location:

Limerick City and County Council reserve the right to assign the successful candidate to any department or premises in use by the Council, now or in the future.

Changes in location of employment will not result in payment of disturbance money or other compensation. The person appointed will be required to travel to and from work at their own expense.

Hours of Work

The working hours are 35 hours per week which will include weekend and late evening working hours as part of a normal roster.

The working hours may be reviewed at any time by the Council. You may be required to work additional hours on a time off in lieu basis on various occasions.

The provisions of Limerick City and County Council’s Time and Attendance Policy is applicable to this grade at the current time.

Sick Leave:

The terms of the Public Service Sick Pay Scheme will prevail.

Superannuation:

The Local Government Superannuation Scheme applies.

Travel:

Holders of the post should hold a full driving licence for class B vehicles and shall be required drive a motor car in the course of their duties and for this purpose, provide and maintain a car to the satisfaction of the local authority. Travelling expenses and subsistence expenses necessarily incurred in the course of official duties will be refunded in accordance with appropriate rates in line with the relevant Department Circulars and local authority Travel and Subsistence Policy.

Limerick City and County Council, as employer, must be indemnified on your insurance policy.

If during your employment, your licence is revoked, even temporarily, or if you receive endorsements on your licence, which may affect your duties, you are obliged to notify the Council immediately.

Residence:

The holder of the post shall reside in the district in which their duties are to be performed or within a reasonable distance thereof.

Safety and Welfare:

The holder of the post shall co-operate with the terms of Limerick City and County Council’s Safety Statement and Major Emergency Plan. The successful candidate shall make themselves aware of the safety rules and procedures and make proper use of all safety, clothing and equipment.

Training:

It is a condition of employment that successful candidates will be required to participate in training programmes relevant to the skills necessary for the performance of the duties attaching to the post.

Taking Up Appointment:

The local authority shall require a person to whom an appointment is offered to take up such appointment within a period of four weeks and if they fail to take up the appointment within such period or such longer period as the local authority in its absolute discretion may determine, the local authority shall not appoint them.

Garda Vetting:

The National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012 to 2016 came into effect on 29th April 2016. The Act places a statutory obligation on Limerick City and County Council to ensure that ‘any work or activity which is carried out by a person, a necessary and regular part of which consists mainly of a person having access to or contact with children or vulnerable persons will be subject of Garda Vetting’.

Probation:

Where a person who is not already a permanent employee of a local authority is appointed, the following provisions shall apply:

(a) There shall be a period after such appointments take effect, during which such person shall hold such post on probation.

(b) Such period shall be set by the Director General, and this period may be extended at their discretion.

(c) Such person shall cease to hold the post at the end of the period of probation, unless during such period, the Manager has certified that the service of such person is satisfactory.

Citizenship:

Candidates must, by the date of any job offer, be:

(a) A citizen of the European Economic Area (EEA). The EEA consists of the Member States of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway; or

(b) A citizen of the United Kingdom (UK); or

(c) A citizen of Switzerland pursuant to the agreement between the EU and Switzerland on the free movement of persons; or

(d) A non-EEA citizen who is a spouse or child of an EEA or UK or Swiss citizen and has a stamp 4 visa; or

(e) A person awarded international protection under the International Protection Act 2015 or any family member entitled to remain in the State as a result of family reunification and has a stamp 4 visa; or

(f) A non-EEA citizen who is a parent of a dependent child who is a citizen of, and resident in, an EEA member state or the UK or Switzerland and has a stamp 4 visa.

References:

Applicants are required to advise the names of two responsible persons to whom they are well known but not related (at least one of the referees should be an existing or former employer).

In advance of any offer of employment, Limerick City and County Council reserves the right to seek references from current and previous employers, educational institutions or any other organisations with which the candidate has been associated. The Council reserves the right to determine the merit, appropriateness and relevance of such references and referees.

General Data Protection Regulation:

Basis for Processing your Personal Information

The basis for processing your personal data is to progress your application for the position you have applied for with Limerick City and County Council under the Terms of the Employment (Information) Act 1994 and Human Resources Department policies and procedures.

If you do not furnish the personal data requested, Limerick City and County Council will not be able to progress your application form for the competition for which you are applying.

Pre-Employment Medical:

Prior to appointment the candidate will be required to complete a Health Declaration and will be required to undergo a medical examination by a qualified medical practitioner nominated by the Council. The cost of this examination shall be refunded on appointment subject to statutory tax and statutory deductions.

Canvassing:

Any attempt by a candidate or by any person(s) acting at their instigation, directly or indirectly by means of written communication or otherwise, to canvas or otherwise influence in the candidate’s favour, any member of the staff of the Council, or person nominated by the Council to interview or examine applicants will automatically disqualify the candidate for the position they are seeking.