Weekend Library Assistant

• Salary: £3,239 (5 hrs) and £3,887 (6 hrs), pro rata to £23,322 FTE
• Category: Cultural Services
• Contract type: Permanent
• Working hours: 5/6 hours per week
• Posted on: 30 December 2025
• Closing date: 22 January 2026
• Directorate: Resources

Based at Godalming Library, the starting salary for this role is £3,239.16 per annum working 5 hours per week (Saturdays) or £3,886.99 per annum working 6 hours per week (Saturdays). The full-time equivalent salary is £23,322 per annum.

We are looking for enthusiastic and self-motivated Weekend Library Assistants to join our dedicated team. Based at Godalming Library, you will also be required to work at Haslemere and Cranleigh Libraries.

Libraries are spaces for social interaction, learning and cultural experiences. Acting as an economic enabler providing support for local communities and businesses. Surrey's libraries offer vital services to all members of their communities.

• 26 days' holiday, rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 31 days after 5 years' service
• Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
• A generous local government salary related pension
• Up to 5 days of carer's leave and 2 paid volunteering days per year
• Paternity, adoption and dependents leave
• An Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
• Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources
• Wellbeing and lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, and shopping
• A chance to make a real difference to the lives of our residents.

Surrey Libraries hold a unique place in our communities. They provide universal access through a programme of reading, learning digital, health and wellbeing activities.

Our vision is for our libraries to become hubs of the community that all are proud of. With excellent customer service at its heart, we need people who share this passion to become more successful.

There is something for everyone at Surrey's libraries and the same day never happens twice.

The library is many different things to many different people. Curious readers come looking for their next adventure. Students meet to revise for their exams. Families gather for Storytime and Rhymetime. Special interest groups share their passions and older people access resources and secure their bus pass. Weekend Assistants greet each person with a positive attitude and resilient approach to any request.

Customer service is at the forefront of the library service. They are busy, lively places to work, requiring flexibility, creativity, and initiative. This could mean helping someone with a reading recommendation, thinking up new themes for book displays, planning events or assisting people with information and virtual services. Maintaining, presenting, and processing book stock is also a major part of the role.

The role may include leading craft events, Rhymetime and Storytime sessions, and assisting with other activities directed at both children and adults. From time to time there will be a need for lone working or single staffing at this and other libraries in the area.

In order to be considered for shortlisting, your application will clearly evidence the following criteria and align with our behaviours:

• Proven experience in providing or receiving excellent customer service.
• Evidence of observing or contributing to a community service that made a positive impact.

To apply, we request that you submit a CV and you will be asked the following 4 questions. Please highlight your strengths and any transferable skills or experience:

• What has motivated you to apply for the Surrey Library Service? (150 words)
• Can you please provide an example when you either provided, or received, excellent customer service? (150 words)
• Our libraries are a vital community resource. Describe an instance where you observed or contributed to a community service making a positive impact. (150 words)
• Can you name 3 things you would do to attract more people to our libraries and what skills you have to help with this? (150 words)

Before submitting your application, we recommend you read the job description and our Life at Surrey handbook to get an…