UNIVERSITY OF SUSSEX

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University of Sussex Library

Library Assistant, Part time
Salary range £14,550 to £16,161 per annum, pro rata
Start date: As soon as possible

The Library is seeking to appoint a part time, full year Library Assistant to cover our Saturday
opening hours.

For training and continually updating, applicants will also be required to work a weekly 2-
hour slot between 9:00 - 17:00, Monday to Friday. You will also be involved in general
Library duties including shelving.

To succeed in this post you must enjoy working in a busy, changing, often hectic and varied
environment, yet be well organised and able to handle regular, routine tasks. Flexibility, good
oral and written communications skills and the ability to deal tactfully with staff and students.

You will be well organised, handling regular, routine tasks in this busy, changing, often hectic
and varied environment. You must also be able to deal tactfully with staff and students and
communicate effectively both orally and in writing.

Experience of working in a customer orientated environment and as part of a team would be

an advantage.

Closing date for applications: 8 October 2010

The University

About the University of Sussex

The University of Sussex was the first of the new wave of universities founded in the 1960s,
receiving its Royal Charter in August 1961. Nearly 50 years on, the University has become a
leading teaching and research institution. In the 2008 Times Higher Education University
World Rankings, Sussex was ranked in the top 20 in the UK, the top 50 in Europe, and the
top 150 worldwide.

Innovative research and scholarship

Sussex is a leading research university, as reflected in the 2008 Research Assessment
Exercise. Over 90 per cent of Sussex research activity was rated as world leading,
internationally excellent or internationally recognised, confirming the University among the
leading 30 research universities in the UK, on a simple average across all scores. 18
subjects rank in the top 20 for research in the UK, across the arts, sciences and social
sciences, with American studies ranked number 1 in the UK, Politics number 2, and Art
history number 3.

Teaching and learning

The University of Sussex has over 10,000 students, of which almost 3,000 are
postgraduates. Creative thinking, pedagogic diversity, intellectual challenge and
interdisciplinarity have always been fundamental to a Sussex education.

Our goal is to deliver teaching and learning programmes that are informed by current
research, are attractive to students from all socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds, and
which deliver skills for life.

We are currently expanding our degree programmes in popular areas such as biomedical
science, business and management, digital media, international security, modern languages,
and science and enterprise.

Our staff
Sussex has developed a reputation for innovation and inspiration, and attracts leading
thinkers and researchers. We have counted three Nobel Prize winners, 13 Fellows of the
Royal Society, six Fellows of the British Academy and a winner of the prestigious Crafoord
Prize on our faculty.

International Sussex
From its foundation, Sussex has had an international perspective to its academic activities
and its outlook. The University attracts staff and students to its campus from over 120
different countries across the world. Nearly a third of staff come from outside the UK.

Our research tackles major world issues, with leading areas of expertise such as climate
change and development studies. The University has extensive links with many institutions
worldwide, such as Peking University, National Taiwan University and the Harvard-Sussex
programme.

Campus life
Sussex has one of the most beautiful campus locations in Britain. Situated in rolling parkland
on the edge of Brighton, the campus combines award-winning architecture with green open
spaces. The campus is surrounded by the South Downs National Park, but just a few
minutes away from the lively city of Brighton & Hove.

Designed by Sir Basil Spence, the buildings that make up the heart of the campus were
given listed building status in 1993. Falmer House is one of only two educational buildings in
the UK to be Grade I listed in recognition of its exceptional interest.

Business and the community

Sussex has a long tradition of engaging with business and the community, which continues
today through activities such as the Sussex Innovation Centre, public lectures and service to
the community. Our goal is to help businesses and organisations in the region develop
higher staff skill levels through training, and to stimulate innovation through partnership with
other institutions outside Sussex to benefit the wider society.

The Sussex Innovation Centre provides support for the creation and growth of technology-
and knowledge-based companies in Sussex. The Centre is now a thriving business
environment for nearly 80 high-growth companies. Since its creation over 160 companies
have been based at the Centre; their cumulative revenue is now over £250 million and the
companies currently employ many hundreds of people in the local area.

3. Senior leadership and management

The Vice-Chancellor (Professor Michael Farthing) is the senior academic officer and, as
Chief Executive, is responsible to the University Council for management of the University.
He is supported by an executive group which includes the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, the two
Pro-Vice-Chancellors, the Registrar and Secretary, the Director of Finance and the Director
of Human Resources. The Heads of the Schools of Studies at Sussex report to the Pro-
Vice-Chancellors.

The Registrar and Secretary heads the Professional Services of the University. In addition,
under the University Statutes, the Registrar and Secretary is Secretary to the University
Council. The Director of Finance reports to the Vice-Chancellor. The Director of ITS and the
Librarian report to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor.

4. The University Library

The Library is at the heart of the campus in a listed building designed by Sir Basil
Spence. Since it was opened by the Queen in 1964 it has been extended three times
and now has 1,200 reader spaces.

The materials in the Library reflect the wide range of the University’s teaching and
Research. There are over 780,000 books and journals in its main collection; additional
collections include government publications, European Union documents, audio visual
materials, archives, manuscripts and rare books. Electronic and on-line
resources are increasingly important in providing information to Library users.

The Library employs over 100 full and part-time staff and has an active staff
development programme.

Lending Services is responsible for organising and staffing all the front line service
points and ensuring the efficient circulation and availability of library stock. Staff from
this section are also responsible for membership, book retrieval, fines and reservations.

The Library Resources Team is responsible for the acquisition, cataloguing,

processing, relegation and withdrawal of printed and audio-visual material held in the
Library and for the processing of reading lists. The section is also responsible for
inter-library loans and document supply.
The University’s valuable collections of archives, manuscripts, rare books and art works are
held in the Special Collections department of the Library. They include the papers of
Leonard and Virginia Woolf, the Rudyard Kipling Archive and the Mass-Observation Archive
as well as over sixty other collections in fields of 20th and 21st century literature, political
and social science.

The Library provides access through its journal and database subscriptions to over
6,000 electronic titles as well as over 40 databases. The Technical Development
team is responsible for the delivery and support of the Library’s electronic and web based
services.

The Research Services department was established in 2005 to provide dedicated support to
research faculty and research students in the University. The team works in close
collaboration with the Learning and Teaching Support team delivering high quality,
innovative information and managing research enquiries to meet the needs of members of
the University community.

The Learning and Teaching Support team deliver high quality innovative information and
enquiries services to meet the needs of members of the University community. They liaise
with both academic and other library units to promote services and develop the library’s
collections. They also provide access to and instruction in the use of information resources
through the development of innovative learning and teaching facilities.

See: http://www.sussex.ac.uk/library/ for further information

 UNIVERSITY OF SUSSEX

Job Description for the post of: Library Assistant

Department As allocated

Section / Unit / Library

School
Location Library

Grade 2

Responsible to Library Section Head as allocated

Responsible for n/a

Purpose of the post

The post holder will work as part of a team and contribute to the operation of any section of
the library as required. They will assist in the work of the full range of Library sections by
providing a high quality library and information service to staff, students and other users of
the University of Sussex Library.

Principal Accountabilities / Main tasks

1 Provide general assistance to Library users with Library resources and equipment
2 Answer directional and routine enquiries (phone, in person and by email)
recognising and referring more complex enquiries as appropriate
3 Assist with manual handling of equipment and library materials

Specific Duties
1 Handle the book issue, renewal and return routines
2 Shelve, sort, tidy, retrieve and relocate Library stock as well as process and repair
Library materials
3 Assist senior staff
4 Operate automated systems, including data entry and record checking
5 Undertake general clerical duties eg word-processing, photocopying and filing
6 Handle cash transactions using automated tills
7 Participate in weekend and evening service rota duties
8 Assist with routines relating to Library security, opening and closing procedures
9 Provide technical support to staff and users as appropriate eg ICT equipment,
photocopiers, microfilm readers

This Job Description sets out current duties of the post that may vary from time to time
without changing the general character of the post or the level of responsibility entailed.

Date: September 2010

 UNIVERSITY OF SUSSEX

Person Specification for the post of: Library Assistant

SKILLS / ABILITIES
Essential Desirable
Good organisational skills including the ability to file X
alphabetically and numerically
Effective oral and written communication skills X
Good ICT skills especially word processing X

EXPERIENCE
Essential Desirable
Experience in a customer orientated environment X
Experience of working effectively as part of a team X
Experience of using tills or cash handling X
Experience of working in a library or a bookshop or with X
students.

QUALIFICATIONS
Essential Desirable
3 GCSEs or equivalent or relevant experience X

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES AND CIRCUMSTANCES

Essential Desirable
Flexible and able to adapt to change X
Good interpersonal skills including the ability to deal X
tactfully with people
Ability to work under pressure and to meet deadlines X
Ability to exercise integrity and discretion X
Facilities at the University
The following wide range of facilities are located on the campus and are available to all staff:

♦ A number of shops, as well as a regular market. ♦ two banks ♦ Post Office ♦

restaurants and bars ♦ dentist and chemist ♦ launderette ♦ borrowing facilities at the
University Library ♦ an extensive range of sports facilities (see
http://www.sussex.ac.uk/sport/) ♦ frequent regular bus service ♦ railway station ♦
serviced by cycle lanes from Brighton and Lewes.

The following paragraphs are a brief summary of relevant Conditions of Service for Clerical
and Related Staff in the University. The full conditions are available at:
http://www.sussex.ac.uk/humanresources/documents/e47.pdf

1. Equalities
The University of Sussex is committed to promoting equality and diversity, providing an
inclusive and supportive environment for all. The University’s policy on Equality and
Diversity can be found on the Human Resources website.

2. Remuneration
Salary scales are available at:
http://www.sussex.ac.uk/humanresources/documents/new_aug_09_salaries.pdf

The incremental date is 1st October, unless otherwise stated, members appointed to a
new salary scale between 1 April and 30 September inclusive receive their first
increment on 1 October of the following calendar year.

Income Tax and National Insurance contributions are deducted monthly from salaries
paid on the last day of each month in arrears by bank credit transfer.

3. Probation
All new appointments are made on a probationary period unless the condition is
exceptionally waived or modified in the letter of appointment.

4. Retirement
The normal retirement date for all members of staff of the University is 30 September
following the date on which they attain the age of 65 years. However, members of staff
have the right to request working beyond 65.

5. Superannuation
(i) Staff starting before 1 April 2009 may (except in exceptional circumstances) join the
University of Sussex Pension and Assurance Scheme (USPAS), under which they
currently contribute 6.00% of their salary. Benefits are calculated by reference to final
salary and years of service. USPAS is contracted out of the state earnings - related
pension scheme.
(ii) Staff starting from 1 April 2009 will be eligible to join the University’s defined
contribution scheme.

6. Holidays
The basic holiday entitlement is 20 working days a year plus days when the University
is officially closed (at present 4 at Christmas, 2 at Easter), plus public/bank holidays, a
total of 34 days a year. There are additional holidays for staff with long service. There
is one additional day after three years ' service, a second additional day after four
years' service, and a further additional day after five years' service.
7. Hours of work
The working hours for full-time members of staff are 36.5 per week. Normal office
hours are 9.00 am to 5.30 pm, Monday to Friday, with one hour for lunch. (These
normal office hours total 37.5, and members agree with their Section Heads how they
will work so that their average hours per week are 36.5.) In the University Library full-
time staff generally work their 36.5 hours between the hours of 7am to 8pm, across
any five days out of seven including weekends. For Library staff in customer-facing
roles, these working hours will normally include one evening per week, and some
weekend working. Actual working hours will be specified by the University Librarian or
nominee.

8. Leave
The University operates leave schemes for maternity, paternity, adoption, parental and
dependants, on compassionate grounds, sickness and without salary. Further details
are available on the Human Resources website.

9. Removal Expenses
A grant towards the certain expenses of removal of household effects may be made to
members on moving to this area to take up an appointment lasting more than twelve
months. The maximum amount payable will normally be £2,500, details can be found
at: http://www.sussex.ac.uk/Units/staffing/personnl/policies/remove.pdf.

10. Childcare
Members of staff may apply to use the facilities of the Crèche and Nursery, although
these facilities are in heavy demand and places cannot be guaranteed. The Crèche
takes children up to the age of three and the Nursery takes children between the ages
of three and five. Places in either can be booked for a minimum of 4 (half day)
sessions per week. http://www.sussex.ac.uk/childcare/

Alternatively, the University operates a childcare voucher scheme. Details are on the
Human Resources website.

All documents referred to can be requested from Human Resources on 01273 877769 or at
Room 338 Sussex House, Falmer, Brighton BN1 9RH.