Why Southwark?

Southwark Council is the largest local authority social landlord in London, managing 55,000 homes lived in by 40% of Southwark’s residents. We are home to over 18,300 businesses including iconic London venues such as The Shard, The Tate Modern and Borough Market along with many social enterprises and we have a young, diverse, and growing population.

At Southwark we are committed to making our borough just and fair and are taking positive action to tackle inequalities. Our residents and communities are our greatest asset and the passion we have for Southwark is shared by millions of Londoners who enjoy our outstanding cultural offer, use our hospitals and attend our universities.

Our refreshed borough plan and focus on Southwark Stands Together, (which is our work with Southwark’s communities and the council’s staff to tackle racism, injustice and inequality) underpins all that we do.

PLEASE NOTE: There are currently three permanent Library Officer vacancies available across Southwark Libraries one being full time Monday - Saturday (36 Hours) and two being part time Monday - Saturday (18 hours)

What You'll Be Doing

A modern library is about more than lending books. It’s a hub for the community, giving everyone access to greater information and understanding. For those of us working in Southwark’s libraries, it’s about providing a service that’s as vibrant and interesting as the area we live in.

As the public face of our library, you’ll be there to ensure we deliver a high level of customer care, while playing a key role in providing efficient and effective services. As you’d expect, you’ll have books to lend out and returns to organise, while you’ll also be on hand to answer any enquires and provide support for the public. But you’ll also help organise and run a range of events and promotional activities, from book groups and toddler sessions to IT taster sessions and author events.

Flexible, adaptable and organised, you will not be afraid of taking charge of the building, staff and premises, if required. We are looking for people with great communication skills and a high standard of customer care who can show understanding to a wide range of customers. It’s very important that you have strong organisation skills and can work well in a team. You will have a good understanding of basic computing, including word processing and web browsing and an enthusiasm for libraries and promoting literature to all ages.

Benefits and more information:

In your role, we want you to feel supported, challenged and rewarded. You will benefit from our family-friendly policies including flexible working, home working, and a local government pension scheme, plus many other staff benefits. You will join a motivated, driven and supportive team that strives for excellence and values its members. You will also be part of a successful and high-achieving development team that is making a real difference to the lives of residents in the borough. For more information about the wide variety of benefits you can take advantage of please visit our Staff Benefits page.

Key Benefits:

- Competitive Salary & Pension: Rewarding your hard work with a great package.

- Growth Opportunities: Access extensive training and development, both internally and externally to progress.

What We're Looking For

A good general knowledge of public library services and local government services.
Experience of working directly with members of the public.
Strong communication skills and the ability to engage with people from all backgrounds.
The ability to work effectively with children, young people, people with disabilities, and diverse communities.
Experience or enthusiasm for planning and delivering community events and activities.
Good IT skills, including Microsoft Office, internet research, and online resources.
The ability to work independently and use your initiative.
Strong teamwork and collaboration skills.
Good organisational skills and attention to detail.
The ability to work accurately with numbers and maintain records.
Flexibility, adaptability, and a positive attitude.
A genuine passion for libraries and community services.

Additional Requirements

Ability to undertake the physical aspects of the role, including lifting, carrying, stretching, and bending.
Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check required.
Regular travel between sites is required.
The post is not politically restricted under the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.

If you choose to apply, please complete your Supporting Statement focusing on the criteria contained within the Job Description’s Person Specification that is marked as ‘S’ for ‘Shortlisting’.

Contact Information:
Jyotsna Gurung , jyotsna.gurung@southwark.gov.uk

Recruitment Timetable

Type of Contract: Permanent

Closing Date: 04/11/2026

Shortlisting Date: 18/11/2026

Interview Date: Week Commencing 23/11/2026

Hours of Work: Monday to Saturday (36hrs per week) for Southwark Heritage Centre and Walworth Library & Monday to Saturday 18 hours for Canada Water Library & John Harvard Library.

Locations: Southwark Heritage Centre and Walworth Library, Canada Water Library & John Harvard Library

DBS: An enhanced Children's Barred DBS is Required for this role

Additional Information

Please Note:

There are currently three permanent Library Officer vacancies available across Southwark Libraries
Successful candidates will be permanently based at one designated library location.
While occasional travel outside the borough may be required to attend meetings, training, or development opportunities, regular travel between library sites is not a requirement of the role.
Flexibility to support service needs and attend training as required will be expected.

Please note that we are unable to accept applications from individuals who require visa sponsorship.

The closing date is given as a guide. We reserve the right to close this vacancy once a sufficient number of applications has been received. We strongly advise you to complete your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Southwark Council will only contact candidates through official Council recruitment channels. We will not ask you to provide passport details, proof of address, National Insurance number, bank details or payment at application stage. These checks are only requested at the onboarding process – once an offer of employment has been made. If you’re unsure whether a communication you’ve received is genuine, please contact the Resourcing team directly on recruitment@southwark.gov.uk before sharing any personal information.

We are an organisation who is passionate about our people and understands that richness of diversity is a requirement to provide the best possible services to our communities. This is demonstrated through our council-wide ambitious commitment to tackle racial inequality in our communities and workforce through our Southwark Stands Together initiative. We particularly welcome applications from members of the black, Asian and ethnic minority communities to increase representation at senior management level in the Council.

Guaranteed Interview Scheme:

As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups of people. To qualify, you'll need to meet the minimum requirements for the role, and identify with one of the below criteria:

Members of the Armed Forces and veterans

Are currently in care, or have previously been in care

If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long-term health condition

Be a part of something bigger and more rewarding! apply now to transform lives in your community. Click the 'apply now' button to start your journey with Southwark Council.

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Attachments

Click here for person specification & JD