Reader Services Supervisor (Evenings and Weekends) - 2 posts

Location:

1 St John Street
Oxford
OX1 2LG
plus other Humanities Libraries as required

About the role

We are recruiting for two part-time Evening & Weekend Supervisors to join our library team. The Bodleian Art, Archaeology & Ancient World Library is one of the University of Oxford’s principal research libraries, with collections focused on these named subject areas (inclusive of Classics, Egyptology & Ancient Near Eastern Studies, and Architecture). Along with the Taylor Institution and Nizami Ganjavi Libraries, the Art Library is part of Section 3 of the Bodleian Libraries’ Humanities Libraries, and the three libraries work together as a group to provide services. You may be asked to provide cover at one of the other two libraries within the section from time to time, or other Bodleian Humanities Libraries in exceptional circumstances.

As the Evening & Weekend Supervisor on shift, you will supervise and oversee the work of a team of three library assistants, and act as the senior member of staff onsite. You will train new staff members in the library’s procedures and workflows, and ensure that service standards are met. Each shift will involve a certain amount of on-desk time, assisting readers with enquiries and transactions, and off-desk time, participating in and overseeing tasks such as reshelving, scanning extracts of texts for our Scan & Deliver service, and background project work. There may also be opportunities for you to participate in the recruitment of new evening & weekend staff, subject to your availability and interest (and paid as overtime).

The posts are both permanent, part-time (12.25 hours per week, 0.34 FTE), working one of two patterns:

• Pattern 1: Mondays (17:00-21:15) & Saturdays (09:45-18:15)
• Pattern 2: Tuesdays (17:00-21:15) & Sundays (10:45-19:15)

Additionally, for the first year in post, each postholder will work 1 additional evening shift per fortnight, on alternating Fridays (17:00-21:15). The average total hours per week during this time will be 14.38 (0.39 FTE). This arrangement will be reviewed at the end of August 2025, in consultation with the postholders.

About you

You will have experience of Reader Services work in an academic library, including the use of an automated library management system, and a strong customer focus. You will be able to communicate effectively with a wide range of readers and staff, and you will possess excellent IT skills. Experience of staff supervision would be advantageous, though not essential – if you have previously trained other staff in a customer services environment, we will support you in transitioning to a supervisory role.

How to apply

You will be required to upload your CV and a supporting evidence form using the attached template as part of your online application. Your supporting evidence form should list each of the essential and desirable selection criteria, as listed in the job description, and explain how you meet each one. You should also indicate whether you are applying for one or both of the two posts. Applications that do not include both a CV and supporting evidence form will not be considered.

Only applications received online by 12:00 midday (BST) on Monday 29 July 2024 can be considered. Interviews are expected to take place during week commencing Monday 19^th August 2024.

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