Senior Assistant Project Librarian

Job summary

We are looking for a Senior Assistant Project Librarian to join our Library at the House of Lords. This is a position where you will play a key role in delivering the Library’s Legacy Collections Review. You will lead on identifying the information content of volumes within scope, undertaking specialist cataloguing and rare books research and analysis to ensure that the information produced through the review is accurate, comprehensive, and fit for purpose.

Working closely with the Senior Collections Project Manager, you will plan and deliver specialist tasks in line with project timelines, ensuring successful completion of defined work packages within the Library’s special collections. The post holder will also support Review communications, which may include drafting articles, contributing to reports, and highlighting findings of interest to members.

This role will be primarily based onsite at Parliament.

This is an exciting opportunity to work with a nationally significant legacy collection by exploring key pre 21st century materials, including special collections and rare books.

Please note that manual handling, use of ladders, trolleys and other Library equipment will occasionally be required. There is likely to be some working at height required at times.

Job description

You’ll be accountable to:

• Manage and develop cataloguing standards for project activities, taking account of historic and current cataloguing practices, as well as requirements for future access to materials stored in remote off site boxed storage.
• Coordinate project data capture to ensure alignment with Library cataloguing requirements and standards, working collaboratively with Technical Services colleagues and other stakeholders.
• Oversee and actively participate in all review related data capture, including catalogue records and review tracking documentation, providing overall quality assurance as well as training and support for colleagues contributing to the review.
• Support the Senior Collections Project Manager in planning and defining special collections review work packages that align with agreed project timelines and enable informed decisions about the Library’s future collections footprint.
• Contribute to review planning and recommendations by researching and producing bibliographic reports and papers for management and other stakeholders, as directed by the Senior Collections Project Manager.
• Contribute to collaborative working and shared duties, including providing access to Library collections as required, whether in support of House or Library objectives or, on occasion, through supervised access to unique or rare materials for members of the public.

Person specification

What we’re looking for:

• Experience of working with library information resources and collections, including experience of working with historic or special collections.
• Knowledge of cataloguing standards, ideally including RDA, AACR2, LCSH, and MARC21.
• Knowledge of book history/historical bibliography.
• A degree or postgraduate qualification in a Library and Information Science related discipline, accredited by the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals.

It would be even better if you had:

• Experience of working as part of a project delivery team.
• Experience handling and moving historic or special collections.

Benefits

Details of our employee benefits can be found at https://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/offices/lords/lordshro/employee-benefits/

What you’ll get in return:

• 30 days annual leave (increasing to 35 after one years’ service).
• Generous pension scheme.
• Parliamentary health and wellbeing programme.
• The opportunity to witness history in the making!

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

If you require any reasonable adjustments during the application process, please contact HLRecruitment@parliament.uk

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

Please note this Post is NOT regulated by the Civil Service Commission.The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

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Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Recruitment Team
• Email : hlrecruitment@parliament.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : hlhumanresources@parliament.uk