Mobile Library Driver/Assistant

The Role of the Library Driver/Attendant

Louth County Council Library Service operates three specialist vehicles:

• A Mobile Library vehicle

• A Schools Library Service vehicle

• A Library delivery van

The Driver/Attendant plays a key role in delivering accessible, high-quality library services to communities throughout County Louth.

The postholder is responsible for the safe operation, routine maintenance, and presentation of library service vehicles, ensuring that services are delivered efficiently and reliably. The role involves travelling to a range of locations, including community stops, schools, residential care settings, nursing homes, homes of housebound library users and other designated service points.

As a front-line member of the Library Service team, the Driver/Attendant provides excellent customer service, assists users in accessing library resources and digital services, promotes library membership and programmes, and supports community engagement initiatives.

The role requires a commitment to public service, strong interpersonal skills, and a focus on health and safety, customer care, and the delivery of high-quality library services across the county.

Qualifications and requirements of the Post

Character

Each Candidate must be of good character.

Health

For the purpose of satisfying the requirements as to health, it will be necessary for the successful candidate, before he/she is appointed, to undergo at his/her expense a medical examination by a qualified medical practitioner to be nominated by the local authority. On taking up appointment, the expense of the medical examination will be refunded to the candidate.

Education, Training, Experience, etc.

Each candidate must, on the latest date for receipt of completed application forms:

(a) Have attained a good standard of education.

(b) Hold a full Class C Driving Licence free from endorsement which must be uploaded to the job portal at the time of application.

(c) Safe Pass and/or Manual Handling training (or willingness to undertake training)

Knowledge and Experience

Each candidate must have

• Experience in a customer service role • Experience driving larger vehicles or vans • Basic IT skills. Including use of Microsoft Office applications and online systems • Experience working with members of the public from diverse backgrounds • Be willing to work flexible hours, including occasional evenings and Saturdays/Sundays. • Have the ability to lift, move, and handle library stock and equipment. • Have the ability to work outdoors in varying weather conditions during vehicle setup and service delivery. • The successful candidate will not be appointed until satisfactory completion of an application for Garda Vetting.

Desirable Requirements:

• Experience working in a community, educational or cultural setting. • Knowledge of library services and local government structures. • Experience delivering services to rural communities, schools, older persons or vulnerable groups. • First Aid certification.

This specification is intended as a guide to the principal requirements of the post and may be amended to meet the evolving needs of the library service.

Interview Assessment Criteria

At interview, candidates will be assessed under the following headings:

• Customer Service • Driving and Vehicle Management • Teamwork • IT and Administrative Skills

The Duties of the Library Driver/Attendant

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

The successful candidate will be required to carry out the duties allocated to them by the Council, under the direction of the relevant supervisor, which will include but are not limited to:

• Driving the vehicle assigned to you (e.g. Mobile Library vehicle, School’s Library vehicle or library delivery van) with due care and attention. • Drive the library vehicle to schools and public stops as rostered. Make sure the library vehicle is parked safely and be vigilant for any potential problems. • Support library staff at the stop as necessary. Regulate the number of visitors in the vehicle to prevent overcrowding. • Loading and unloading the library vehicle, carrying books, equipment and other items as required. • Maintain orderly shelving and sorting of books in the vehicle and store. • Collecting and delivering books, equipment and other items to and from Branch Libraries, Library Headquarters and other Council locations. • Transporting books, equipment and other items to and from various locations for library outreach services. • Ensure that the library vehicle is in good day-to-day condition. Fill out daily check sheets. Report any mechanical problems immediately. • Check the vehicle daily for oil, water, diesel and any other routine maintenance duties as required. • Record all journeys and required statistics in the appropriate forms and report figures to the relevant line manager, including people counter figures. • Keep the vehicle interior clean and ensure that the exterior of the vehicle is washed on a regular basis. • Check that the wheelchair ramp is functioning correctly on a regular basis. • Ensure that the vehicle is fuelled correctly with the necessary fuel (Diesel, AdBlue, HVO, EV etc) on a regular basis and be responsible for the use of a Council issued fuel card. • Ensure that all relevant qualifications such as CPC courses, Health and Safety courses and any other relevant skills are updated as required. • Adhere to all Health and Safety regulations. Keep the exit doors clear at all times. Check First Aid boxes and fire extinguishers on a regular basis. Ensure that the floor and steps of the library vehicle are kept dry during wet weather. • Make sure the Wi-Fi on the vehicle is in working order and report any issues as they arise. • Ensure that library IT equipment is switched on in the morning and ready for use by library staff members. • Assist in other general duties on the library vehicle such as shelving books in the correct order, stock reorganisation and assembling shelving units as required. • Be available for occasional weekend and evening work if the library vehicle is required to attend local festivals and other events. • Carrying out library caretaking duties when required including opening and closing of library buildings and gates, general maintenance of library buildings, security and monitoring of any anti-social behaviour. • Assist with the set-up of library events when required. • Drive in accordance with the Rules of the Road. • Adhere to Louth County Council Driver’s Policy. • The performance of other relevant duties as required by Louth County Council.

Particulars of Post

Wages

Wages shall be fully inclusive and shall be as determined from time to time. Holders of the post shall pay to the local authority any fees or other monies (other than their inclusive salary) payable to or received by them by virtue of their post or in respect of any services which they are required by or under any enactment to perform.

Persons who are not serving local authority employees will be based on the minimum of the scale.

€811.10 - €839.39 gross per week

Superannuation

A. Officers joining the Public Service after the 1st January 2013 will be required to join the Single Public Service Pension Scheme. A Class rate of PRSI contribution will apply. A rate of 3% of their pensionable remuneration plus 3.5% of net pensionable remuneration (i.e. pensionable remuneration less twice the rate of State Pension Contributory (SPC). This includes a contribution to a Spouse’s and Children’s Scheme.

OR

B. Officers who became pensionable officers of the Public Service prior to 1st January 2013 and who are liable to pay the Class A rate of PRSI contribution will be required to contribute at a rate of 1.5% of their pensionable remuneration plus 3.5% of the net pensionable remuneration (i.e. pensionable remuneration less twice the rate of State Pension Contributory (SPC). You will be required to contribute at a rate of 1.5% of your pensionable remuneration to the Spouses & Children’s Pension Scheme.

OR

C. Officers who become pensionable officers of a Public Service prior to 5th April 1995 and who are liable to pay the Class D rate of PRSI contribution will be required to contribute at a rate of 5% of their pensionable remuneration. If an option to join a dependent scheme was made you will be required to contribute at a rate of 1.5% to a Dependents Pension Scheme.

Retirement

Retirement is dependent on the superannuation scheme you become a member of and details will be made available to you upon appointment.

Probation

Where a person, who is not already a permanent officer of Louth County Council, is appointed, the following provisions shall apply:

• There will be a probationary period of 9 months from date of employment, • The Chief Executive may at his or her discretion extend this period, • You shall cease to hold office at end of the period of probation unless during this period the Chief Executive has certified that your service is satisfactory.

Residence

The holder of the office shall reside in the district in which his/her duties are to be performed or within a reasonable distance, thereof.

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, Louth County Council reserves the right to seek both written and verbal 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.

Hours of work

The successful candidate must work 39 hours per week and may occasionally be required to work weekends or evenings. Working hours will be scheduled in accordance with service needs, and rosters may be amended periodically to reflect operational needs.

Sick Leave

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

Annual Leave

Annual leave entitlement for the position will be 25 days per annum. Louth County Council’s leave year runs from 1st January to 31st December. Granting of annual leave, payment for annual leave and arrangements for public holidays will be governed by the provisions of the Organisation of Working Time Act, 1977 (as amended).

Start date

The successful candidate will commence on direction from Directors of Service and/or Chief Executive.

Should they fail to take up the appointment on direction, the council at its discretion may not appoint them.