Apprentice Library, Information & Archive Services Assistant (Apprentice LIAS Assistant)

University of Greenwich

Greenwich, London (SE10 9BD)

Closes in 22 days (Friday 22 August 2025 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 28 July 2025

Print

Contents

Summary

We play a key role in delivering high-quality services and state-of-the-art facilities to students, staff, and visitors. We are seeking committed, enthusiastic and proactive individuals, interested in working in library &/or archive services and are keen to learn and qualify while working and in a formal setting, to join our library operations team

Wage

£23,874 a year

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

You will benefit from the University-wide pay increase in August 2026 and If you successfully complete the End Point Assessment of your Apprenticeship, you will receive a second pay increase at that point in recognition of your achievement.

Training course
Library, information and archive services assistant (level 3)
Hours
4 weekdays (Monday to Friday) with 5 hours 45 minutes work per day (23 hours total), plus 1 paid study day (7 hours). Working hours will be assigned according to service needs, and flexibility may occasionally be required

30 hours a week

Start date

Monday 29 September 2025

Duration

1 year 6 months

Positions available

1

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you'll do at work

As an apprentice Library, Information and Archive Services Assistant you will:

·Provide in-person support on the library floors, helping users navigate services and maintain a positive and inclusive study environment.

· Guide users in using library services and collections, both print and digital, and signpost them to relevant services delivered by other teams and the wider University.

· Confidently handle occasional challenges to ensure the space remains welcoming and conducive to learning.

· Help users with IT-related queries, including accessing e-resources, the library catalogue and self-service kiosks.

· Conduct checks on equipment and library study areas.

· Develop an understanding of users' diverse information needs by supporting research activities and helping them access digital and physical resources.

· Support the organisation and promotion of resources to ensure they are well-arranged, accessible, and widely used. 

· Assist with the care, documentation, and accessibility of library and archive collections.

·KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES-Team Specific: User Support and Engagement

•  Provide friendly, informed assistance to users across in-person and digital channels (e.g. library floors, email, phone, MS Teams).

•  Work on the library floors, providing in-person assistance, guidance, and support to users.

•  Proactively handle challenging situations to ensure an effective study environment.

•  Interpret user needs and signpost relevant resources, services, and support.

•  Encourage appropriate use of study spaces (silent, group, etc.) to promote a positive learning environment.

•  Handle routine user issues independently, escalating complex cases where needed.

•   Assist in delivering an inclusive and welcoming service that supports independent learning.

• Collections and Information Services

•  Assist with the intake, organisation, care and promotion of library and archive collections (physical and digital).

• Help update catalogue records, run reports, collate data and digitise materials as appropriate.

• Support the description and documentation of collection items, including archive materials.

• Promote collections via displays, exhibitions, and digital platforms to increase visibility and usage.

•  Help ensure safe, ethical, and sustainable handling, storage, and withdrawal of materials in line with policy.

· Service Delivery and Collaboration

•  Maintain accurate service records and update internal systems promptly.

•  Work with colleagues in Library Services and across departments (e.g. Student & Academic Services, IT, Estates and Facilities management) to ensure a high quality, seamless service.

•  Participate in service evaluations and user research activities, using feedback to support continuous improvement.

•   Promote awareness of services, policies, and digital literacy support to enhance user understanding.

•  Contribute ideas for improving processes and engaging users with information resources.

•  Apprenticeship and Development

• Engage fully in the Level 3 apprenticeship programme, including study, coaching, and monthly progress reviews.

• Take personal responsibility for learning and development, remaining up to date with procedures and best practices.

• Seek guidance and feedback to improve performance and build professional knowledge

Where you'll work

Stockwell Street Library
University of Greenwich
10 Stockwell Street
Greenwich, London
SE10 9BD

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

Training provider

WESTMINSTER CITY COUNCIL

Training course

Library, information and archive services assistant (level 3)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents
  • Interpret and implement policy, e.g. communicating clearly the basic copyright restrictions and reasons for not sharing personal data
  • Undertake regulation and compliance checking, e.g. in order to ensure data protection is not breached
  • Solve user problems in a range of situations using their knowledge and interpretation
  • Use information management processes to store, manage and retrieve records and data to support collaboration, exploitation and the organisation’s Information Management (IM) practices
  • Describe and arrange material/resources, by observing and applying identified cataloguing standards in order to create online catalogues and other finding aids to meet users’ needs
  • Employ information retrieval techniques to identify and use relevant media and systems, e.g. searching online databases, catalogues or physical stores, and EDRMS (electronic document record management systems)
  • Perform preservation (analogue/physical and digital) practices to keep collections physically safe using institutional/sector guidelines, and supporting work that provides digital access by creating alternatives that meet a range of user requirements
  • Use enquiry techniques to clarify and meet users’ information requirements and manage expectations, e.g. by signposting to alternative resources and providing solutions
  • Develop knowledge sharing with users, cultivating an environment where knowledge is freely shared and sought within a ‘safe’ environment, including online solutions
  • Use relevant approaches to learning support to contribute to the development of learning activities for different audiences to enhance knowledge and literacy, e.g. reader development
  • Select and use appropriate tools and technologies to support users in researching and disseminating information, e.g. databases, search engines, digital libraries, repositories and social media
  • Develop information and digital skills to support users to identify, find, access and evaluate information, to share knowledge and to promote self-help
  • Demonstrate information sharing by contributing to learning activities for specific audiences, e.g. inductions and events, catering to a variety of levels of knowledge and understanding
  • Use promotion techniques for resources so that users and potential users are aware of their value, impact and benefit, e.g. by curating collections and displays in effective ways, undertaking outreach activities to guide users to achieve independence in their use of information
  • Implement the organisation’s collection management policy, e.g. through identifying stock that should be acquired and that which is no longer used or needed, and relegating or removing these appropriately
  • Develop the service by assessing the learning environment and anticipating user needs, e.g. re-organising study/virtual spaces, suggesting improvements to catalogues or web pages
  • Use teamwork and collaboration to achieve goals, e.g. with stakeholders and partners beyond the organisation
  • Use information provision to enable users to access materials, e.g. through lending books/artefacts, emailing documents, accessing original archives, signposting links to information
  • Exercise communication skills - oral, written, presentation, interpersonal, listening, assertiveness (online and face to face)
  • Interpret and implement policy, e.g. communicating clearly the basic copyright restrictions and reasons for not sharing personal data
  • Undertake regulation and compliance checking, e.g. in order to ensure data protection is not breached
  • Solve user problems in a range of situations using their knowledge and interpretation
  • Use information management processes to store, manage and retrieve records and data to support collaboration, exploitation and the organisation’s Information Management (IM) practices
  • Describe and arrange material/resources, by observing and applying identified cataloguing standards in order to create online catalogues and other finding aids to meet users’ needs
  • Employ information retrieval techniques to identify and use relevant media and systems, e.g. searching online databases, catalogues or physical stores, and EDRMS (electronic document record management systems)
  • Perform preservation (analogue/physical and digital) practices to keep collections physically safe using institutional/sector guidelines, and supporting work that provides digital access by creating alternatives that meet a range of user requirements
  • Use enquiry techniques to clarify and meet users’ information requirements and manage expectations, e.g. by signposting to alternative resources and providing solutions
  • Develop knowledge sharing with users, cultivating an environment where knowledge is freely shared and sought within a ‘safe’ environment, including online solutions
  • Use relevant approaches to learning support to contribute to the development of learning activities for different audiences to enhance knowledge and literacy, e.g. reader development
  • Select and use appropriate tools and technologies to support users in researching and disseminating information, e.g. databases, search engines, digital libraries, repositories and social media
  • Develop information and digital skills to support users to identify, find, access and evaluate information, to share knowledge and to promote self-help
  • Demonstrate information sharing by contributing to learning activities for specific audiences, e.g. inductions and events, catering to a variety of levels of knowledge and understanding
  • Use promotion techniques for resources so that users and potential users are aware of their value, impact and benefit, e.g. by curating collections and displays in effective ways, undertaking outreach activities to guide users to achieve independence in their use of information
  • Implement the organisation’s collection management policy, e.g. through identifying stock that should be acquired and that which is no longer used or needed, and relegating or removing these appropriately
  • Develop the service by assessing the learning environment and anticipating user needs, e.g. re-organising study/virtual spaces, suggesting improvements to catalogues or web pages
  • Use teamwork and collaboration to achieve goals, e.g. with stakeholders and partners beyond the organisation
  • Use information provision to enable users to access materials, e.g. through lending books/artefacts, emailing documents, accessing original archives, signposting links to information
  • Exercise communication skills - oral, written, presentation, interpersonal, listening, assertiveness (online and face to face)

Training schedule

You will spend one day each week on training (either Thursday or Friday). The training provider is Westminster Adult Education Service and the college you will be attending is located at:
Westminster Adult Education Service
219 Lisson Grove
London NW8 8LW.
For more information see: https://www.waes.ac.uk/about-us/why-study-at-waes/
You'll study to gain a Library, Information & Archive Services Apprenticeship - Level 3 qualification.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

English and Maths (grade 4 or C or above)

Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.

Skills

  • Communication skills
  • IT skills
  • Attention to detail
  • Organisation skills
  • Customer care skills
  • Problem solving skills
  • Presentation skills
  • Administrative skills
  • Number skills
  • Analytical skills
  • Logical
  • Team working
  • Creative
  • Initiative
  • Non judgemental
  • Patience

Other requirements

The post holder may be required to attend any of our campuses on occasion outside their usual

About this employer

The University of Greenwich aims to be the top modern university in the UK by 2030, focusing on student success, inclusivity, impactful research, and sustainability. The main campus is in central Greenwich, with two other campuses at Medway in Kent and Avery Hill in SE London. With over 30,000 students, we are a vibrant place to work. For 2023, the University of Greenwich was ranked 60 out of 121 UK Universities according to Times Higher Education (THE).

https://www.gre.ac.uk/ (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

The University offers a range of other benefits, see: https://www.gre.ac.uk/people-directorate/staff-benefits

Disability Confident

Disability Confident

A fair proportion of interviews for this apprenticeship will be offered to applicants with a disability or long-term health condition. This includes non-visible disabilities and conditions.

You can choose to be considered for an interview under the Disability Confident scheme. You’ll need to meet the essential requirements to be considered for an interview.

After this apprenticeship

Once qualified, LIAS Apprentices can apply for library vacancies at the University of Greenwich or a range of other library, information and archive services in a University, public library, health or school library setting. Career pathways for LIAS Apprentices are described in more detail on the CILIP website at: https://www.cilip.org.uk/page/LISApprenticeship

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

WESTMINSTER CITY COUNCIL

Ben Spencer

b.d.spencer@gre.ac.uk

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000334154.

Apply now

Closes in 22 days (Friday 22 August 2025 at 11:59pm)

Sign in with your GOV.UK One Login to apply.