At one time, the pace of life in a library was sedate and perhaps laborious. You explored the shelves or the archives for that book of your choice or set of statistics for your research and you expected to spend a fair amount of time doing it. That was part of the charm of a book filled environment.

Nowadays, with the advent of e-technology to the library service, information gathering and delivery have become much more streamlined. You can still browse, but the material you want is more quickly and easily obtained. This has internal and external applications.

Information assistants support the E-Library manager to deliver electronic systems to all parts of the library service. The post can be found in all types of authority except for district councils.

Work Environment

This work takes place inside the library and requires minimal public contact. There is a consistently high use of IT equipment, but in a normal office environment. Hours are 37 per week with evening and weekend work.

Daily Activities

Information assistants are directly responsible for providing web-based services and a range of promotional materials – including electronic formats where a range of tasks often have conflicting deadlines. They need to establish a set of priorities on a daily basis - making design decisions on promotional material and developing creative digital content for other members of staff and service managers. This involves liaising with the print section for the production of certain materials – a display for the forthcoming National Book Week, for example – and with the IT department in respect of web development. Assistants are also responsible for ensuring efficient stock control, through contact with local suppliers who provide IT software and other consumables. In summary, the main responsibilities of the information assistant are to:

• assist in the delivery of departmental IT/IS systems
• design, produce and maintain supplies of a range of promotional material
• design and produce electronic and hard copy forms for use in the service
• manage the day-to-day development, maintenance and writing of the website
• assist in the development of digitisation projects
• maintain an inventory of IT equipment
• provide a laminating and comb binding service for the public
• maintain adequate stocks of IT consumables such as toner cartridges, floppy discs and ink cartridges
• help the IT manager with training in all IT procedures and practices
• monitor the performance of the information service.

Skills & Interests

Creativity is essential to this post and it requires:

• effective written and verbal communication skills
• working knowledge of web page design, desktop publishing, databases and word processing
• the ability to work in a team
• an understanding of user needs analysis

Entry Requirements

It is essential to have NVQ Level 2, or equivalent, or 4 GCSEs (grades A-C) including English and Maths or 2 years relevant experience.

It is desirable to have an appropriate IT qualification – IBT or C.G.L.I in word processing, database and spreadsheets.

Previous office experience using computerized systems such as Microsoft Office is essential. Experience of IT, staff training, user education and digitisation projects would be helpful.

Estimated salary range

£10,278 - £12,390

Please note that salary information is a guide only and there may be local agreements in place. For further information about salaries for particular positions, please contact your local council directly.

Future prospects & opportunities

As there is an established system of in-service training in “Computers and Computing” and “Using the Internet” as part of a government initiative for the library service, there are ample opportunities to improve on qualifications and gain promotion within the field.
The next step up could be Information Officer and then E-Manager.

There are opportunities outside local government in industry, universities and colleges.

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