Senior Library Assistant

The Position The role of the Senior Library Assistant is to provide support to branch managers or in the case of part-time branches, would be in charge of managing the branch. Senior Library assistants are a vital link in the team which promotes the library as a focal point for cultural activities, for community development for learning and as a digital hub. Senior library assistants may also be called upon to manage a rural outreach service on a mobile library with help from the driver. Senior Library Assistants at HQ provide support for managers in areas where a certain level of experience and/or initiative is required, e.g. administration, accounts management, requests and so on. A panel may be formed from which future temporary and permanent positions may be filled. The successful candidate(s) may be assigned as required to any of the Branch Libraries / Library Headquarters or to any premises/location in use by the Council now or in the future.

The office is whole time, permanent and pensionable.

Qualifications 1. Character Candidates shall be of good character. 2. Health Candidates shall be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service. 3. Education, Training, Experience, etc. Each candidate must, on the latest date for receipt of completed application forms: (i) Have a good general level of education (ii) Have had at least two years satisfactory experience of library work Wicklow County Council reserves the right to, at any time, assign an employee to any premises in use by the Council now or in the future. In the event that an offer of employment is made, the candidate will be required to submit all relevant Educational Qualifications in order to meet the requirements above. Duties & Responsibilities The duties of the Senior Library Assistant will be consistent with the provision of a modern public library service that is responsive to the changing requirements of customers of all ages and abilities and will include but are not limited to: • Overseeing and delivering core frontline library services (including online), • House-keeping and cataloguing functions within the Library Management System, • Maintaining, developing, and promoting collections and services, • Answering enquiries, helping students and researchers, • Providing mediated access to library resources in-house and online, • Using and promoting new technologies and assisting the public in using technology such as selfservice, Internet, online resources, digital equipment, iPads, Android tablets etc., • Recommending appropriate books for children and adults of different reading levels and interests, • Organising, promoting and delivering events and activities such as storytelling / rhyme time, workshops on library IT, book clubs, class visits, lectures, community events, festivals publications, exhibitions etc., • Assisting in the implementation of the Right to Read, Healthy Ireland at Your Library and other programmes, • Providing outreach services to schools and other community organisations, • Selecting, sorting, processing, and distributing stock, • General administration and financial administration duties incl. financial processing, maintaining and reviewing statistical records, gathering and compiling information, and reporting on service Forging and maintaining links between the library, Wicklow County Council services, the education sector and the community, • Providing cover in other libraries when required to maintain opening hours and services, • Managing of the building / facility and service in absence of more senior officer, • Administration of buildings / facility and equipment maintenance programme, • Ensuring high standards of health and safety and child protection, • Proposing ways of delivering better services, and developing such proposals, • Contributing to and implementing Wicklow County Council, Library Service and other policies and plans, • Supporting senior staff in service planning and delivery, • Any other duties as required by the County Librarian. These duties are indicative rather than exhaustive and are carried out under general guidance. The duties and responsibilities for this post may vary from time to time.

Probation Where persons who are not already permanent officers of a Local Authority are appointed, the following provisions shall apply; (a) there shall be a period after such appointments take effect, during which such persons shall hold office on probation; (b) such period shall be three months for a temporary post and six months for a permanent post, however the Chief Executive may, at her discretion, extend such period; (c) such persons shall cease to hold such office at the end of the period of probation, unless during such period, the Chief Executive has certified that the service of such persons in satisfactory.

Principal Conditions of Employment A panel may be formed from which future permanent and/or temporary positions may be filled. The successful candidate(s) may be assigned as required to any of the Municipal Districts/Directorates under the Chief Executive’s control or to any premises/location in use by the Council now or in the future. Salary: € 35,260 - € 54,367 per annum includes 2nd LSI EL 01/2025 The salary shall be fully inclusive and shall be as determined from time to time in line with national policy. The holder of the office shall pay to the local authority any fees or other monies (other than his/her inclusive salary) payable to and received by him/her by virtue of his/her office or in respect of services which he/she is required by or under any enactment to perform. Starting pay shall be determined in accordance with appropriate Departmental Circular letters. New Entrants will be placed on the minimum of salary scale.

Hours of Work The person appointed will be required to work 35 hours per week. There will be a requirement to work a two week rota, which will include one evening per week, until 8.30 pm plus one Saturday per fortnight. Hours may vary and unsocial hours may apply. Week 1 – 35 hours Monday to Friday (including one evening) Week 2 - 35 hours Tuesday – Saturday (including one evening)

Travel The holder of the office will be required to hold a valid Irish/EU full driving licence for class B vehicles or a licence acceptable to NDLS for exchange, free from endorsement and disqualification. They must be a competent driver and shall drive a motor car in the course of his/her duties and for this purpose, provide and maintain a car to the satisfaction of the Local Authority. The Local Authority must be indemnified on their insurance.

Garda Vetting Candidates may be subject to Garda Vetting. Appointment(s) will be considered having regard to receipt of satisfactory Garda Vetting, particularly to determine suitability to work with children/vulnerable adults.

Health For the purposes of satisfying the requirements as to health it will be necessary for successful candidates, before they are appointed, to undergo at their expense a medical examination by a qualified medical practitioner to be nominated by the local authority. On taking up appointment the expense of the medical examination will be refunded to candidates.

Residence Holders of the office shall reside in the district in which their duties are to be performed or within a reasonable distance thereof.

Annual Leave Annual leave entitlement will be 30 days per annum exclusive of public holidays and Good Friday.

Retirement Age There is no mandatory retirement age for new entrants to the Public Service as defined in the Public Services Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2004. Persons who are NOT new entrants to the Public Service as defined in the Public Services Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2004 and the Public Service Superannuation (Age of Retirement) Act 2018, are subject to a compulsory retirement age of 70 years. With effect from 1st January 2013, persons who are pensionable under the terms of the Single Public Service Pension Scheme will have a minimum retirement age of 66 years initially rising in line with the State Pension age changes. Members of the Single Public Service Pension Scheme have a compulsory retirement age of 70 years.

Superannuation Persons who become pensionable public servants on or after 1st January 2013 will become members of the Single Public Service Pension Scheme and, as such, will be required to pay contributions of 3% of pensionable remuneration and 3.5% of net pensionable remuneration (i.e. pensionable remuneration less twice the annual rate of social insurance old age contributory pension payable at the maximum rate to a person with no adult dependant or qualified children). Persons who become pensionable officers of a local authority who are liable to pay the Class A rate of PRSI contribution will be required in respect of their superannuation to contribute to the local authority at the rate of 1.5% of their pensionable remuneration plus 3.5% of the net pensionable remuneration (i.e. pensionable remuneration less twice the annual rate of social insurance old age contributory pension payable at the maximum rate to a person with no adult dependant or qualified children). Persons who become pensionable officers of a local authority who are liable to pay the Class D rate of PRSI contribution will be required in respect of their superannuation to contribute to the local authority at the rate of 5% of their pensionable remuneration. All persons who become pensionable officers of a local authority will be required in respect of the Local Government (Spouses and Children’s Contributory Pension) Scheme, to contribute to the local authority at the rate of 1.5% of their pensionable remuneration in accordance with the terms of the scheme.