Library Development Officer

Library Development Officer

£39,855 - £42,324 per annum

LB Newham

Stratford, United Kingdom

1 x Permanent position full time 36 hours per week

Newham Libraries is an ambitious library service that plays a pivotal role in improving the quality of life of our residents. The service is well placed within the Council and works closely with Public Health and other services. Key priorities for the service are ensuring that our book stock is representative of and relevant to our communities; encouraging Reading for Pleasure for all; developing our Digital Lending offer; building on our innovative approach to the Summer Reading Challenge; developing our Under 5s offer; and delivering a high quality library offer.

There are 10 libraries across the borough delivering a large number of events and activities supporting the Council's priorities; including the Health and Wellbeing Strategy and the culture strategy. The service sits within Resident Engagement and Participation alongside Arts, Heritage, Events and our Resident Engagement, volunteering and participatory democracy teams

As part of the Libraries and Community Assets team, this highly versatile role will involve working across libraries in the borough delivering the Library Plan through the planning and delivery of projects, service development and improvement initiatives, activities and events, provision of information and training and effective communication and marketing. It will require working closely with colleagues in the Libraries and Community Assets Team in addition to providing operational support for frontline services.

The candidate will have a good understanding of public libraries and a genuine desire to enthuse our residents about the many benefits they offer. You will have experience of developing activities and events that increase awareness of and usage of library resources supporting the Universal offers and the Libraries Taskforce Ambition document. You will enjoy the opportunity to be creative, be able to influence both peers and senior managers whilst developing good working relationships with them, excellent time management skills and the flexibility to work in a variety of locations across the borough at short notice. You will have excellent IT skills including its application in a library setting and be confident in the use of social media to promote the service. You will have experience of developing projects, identifying opportunities for continuous improvement and embedding them into the day-to-day role of frontline staff to ensure sustainability. Ideally, you will also have experience of programming and producing a quality cultural offer.

This is an ideal post for someone who is self-motivated, works both independently and as part of a team, wants to gain new skills and develop their knowledge whilst enjoying new challenges.

Our key priorities for this role will be: further development of the Libraries early years offer; delivery of reading programmes for children and adults; cultural programming including our new performance space 'The Globe' at Beckton; and promotion of the prevention benefits of reading. We would particularly welcome applications from candidates with experience in these areas.

Please view JD here

Additional Information

We are committed to creating an inclusive, anti-racist environment for all. When you apply for a job at Newham, your application is considered on its merits regardless of your age, disability, ethnicity, faith, gender identity or sexual orientation. If you share our vision and values, and you bring the experience and skills we need, that's all that matters to us.

The London Borough of Newham has important responsibilities for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. If you are appointed to a job that involves working with these groups, you may be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

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About Us

The London Borough of Newham is located only 5 miles east of London. It is well positioned with access to all major networks in London and the south east. It is well connected by public transport with, bus, tube and DLR. When the Crossrail service opens it will call at Custom House close to our council offices and also Stratford station and from there to central London. The London City Airport which serves major European cities is located at Royal Albert Dock. Newham has the youngest overall population in the country. It was one of the six host boroughs for the 2012 Summer Olympics and contains most of the Olympic Park including the London Stadium. It has a thriving arts quarter with the Theatre Royal Stratford East offering excellent entertainment for all the family. There is the University of East London which has two campuses in Newham, one in Stratford and another next to the regenerated Royal Albert Dock. It also has a large Westfield shopping Centre in Stratford which has all the major retailers there.

Newham has a large housing regeneration programme that will build over 1,000 new council homes by 2022.

To apply, please visit our website via the button below.

Closing date: 6 th January 2025.