Appointment details

Library Attendant – 2 Posts

Closing date 18 October 2016

Ref: R160384

Contents About Aston University

Welcome from Alan Charters, Chief of Operations and Estates

School of Life & Health Sciences

Job description

Person specification

Salary and benefits

How to apply and the selection process

Outline terms and conditions

About Aston University

Founded in 1895 and a University since 1966, Aston is a long established research-led University known for its world-class teaching quality and strong links to industry, government and commerce. Professor Dame Julia King became Vice-Chancellor of the University in 2006.

Outstanding graduate employability Aston has been a leading university for graduate employment success for over 25 years. Over 75% of Aston graduates go on to a graduate level job within six months. The majority of Aston students choose to take an integrated placement year or year abroad, making them very attractive to employers. We have strong relationships with national and international graduate employers, as well as smaller and local employers. These relationships are extremely important and make a real contribution to graduate employability.

Aston University is 14th in the UK for ‘Top universities by graduate earnings’, ahead of UCL, Bristol, Warwick and Loughborough. (The Telegraph, 2015).

Career focussed programmes Aston’s close and established links with business, the public sector and the professions ensure that our career focussed degree programmes are inspiring, challenging and constantly updated to equip students with essential work-related skills and experiences.

Excellence in teaching and research We are committed to high quality teaching and academic excellence, ensuring we provide the highest standard of education to our students. Aston has an excellent reputation for research which shapes and improves lives. We’re proud of the quality of our research and the real world applications developed as

a result – it makes a substantial and beneficial difference to people, organisations and society.

Aston's four academic Schools offer a range of undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes, and also work with the public and private sectors to develop tailored Foundation Degree programmes.

International Aston University is a popular choice for international students. We recognise and welcome the important academic contribution and cultural diversity international students bring to our university environment. Students from over 120 countries study at Aston University each year

Aston University is rated as one of the ‘100 most international universities in the world 2015.’ (The Times Higher, 2015).

Birmingham – one of Europe’s liveliest cities Birmingham is internationally recognised as a leader in leisure, entertainment, shopping and sport. It is an international centre for business, commerce and industry, housing numerous UK and overseas banks and law firms. Birmingham attracts 25 million visitors each year and contributes billions to the national economy through manufacturing and engineering. The University campus is located in the city centre making it very accessible to an extensive network of motorways and railways.

A green, sustainable campus Located in the heart of a vibrant city, our 40 acre campus houses all the University's academic, social and accommodation facilities for our 9,500 students. All staff have the opportunity to contribute to our sustainability agenda and practices.

Welcome from Alan Charters

Dear applicant

I am delighted that you are considering applying for this position at what is a particularly exciting time for Aston University, and an incredibly challenging time for the Higher Education (HE) sector. The HE sector is currently experiencing an unprecedented scale and pace of change, combined with a high degree of ambiguity and uncertainty.

Whilst there are some ‘knowns’ - HEFCE funding for both teaching and capital investment has experienced dramatic reductions, the impact of the UK’s new visa regime on international student numbers - there are equally important ‘unknowns’ - to what extent will student expectations rise as a result of the increased fees. Universities who are able to adapt swiftly to a changing and increasingly competitive market will thrive.

Aston is well positioned for the future. Our vision ‘Employable Graduates; Exploitable Research’ not only inspires and motivates students, but speaks to business and governments, who will increasingly look to Aston for ideas and partnership.

I look forward to receiving your application, and learning more about how you feel you can contribute to Aston’s continuing success.

Alan Charters Chief of Operations and Estates

Library and Information Services We aim to provide an excellent service to our customers. We seek to achieve this through a number of quality-driven mechanisms, namely: a strategic plan, which is translated into an annual operational plan that is implemented by individuals, teams, project groups, and process improvement groups, in order to facilitate continuous innovation, improvement and evaluation of services, facilities and resources. We have recently been awarded the Customer Service Excellence award for a further three year period.

The budget allocated by the University to the Library & Information Services (LIS) for 20013/14 is just over £2.9 million, of which about 45% is accounted for by pay and the rest by non-pay recurrent expenditure. Of the non-pay budget, just over £1.4M is earmarked for Library Information Resources (LIR) and these funds are allocated to the Schools of Study on the basis of a model. Each School has the freedom, within the constraints of its total LIR budget, to change the distribution of expenditure between different subject areas within the School and, within each subject area, to change the distribution of funding between different types of resource, such as printed and electronic journals, books and e-books, databases, standing orders, and inter-library loans. This enables Schools to adjust the distribution of their resources at the subject level, in a transparent and dynamic way, in order to meet the demands of current teaching and research activities. We provide support and advice to Schools about this process, on a continuing basis.

The LIS staff complement currently comprises about 16.5 FTE professional staff and nearly 21 FTE support staff, organised into three teams: the Customer Services team, the Information Resources team, and the Library Office team. The Information Resources team acquires, organises and supports the delivery of our printed and electronic information resources. The Customer Services team comprises the Information Services team and the Public Services team. The Information Services team works closely with the four Schools of Study to ensure that LIS services meet the needs of their staff and students. Public Services comprises the building environment, loans, enquiries, printer/copier support, shelving and so on. The Help Desk rota, for loans and enquiries, is supported by staff drawn from all three teams.

We are fully committed to staff training and development, using the University’s Performance Development Review as an underpinning mechanism. An annual staff training and development plan is produced, there is a weekly training hour, and staff attend both internal and external events. We operate a flexi-time scheme and a performance development review and pay scheme. In July 2011, we were awarded Investors In People status for a further three years.

The four-storey Library can accommodate 1200 users, with space for individuals, groups, meetings, workshops/seminars and students with additional needs. The ground and first floors were completely refurbished during summer 2010. The ground floor is a social learning space incorporating a cafe, two PC labs, two group study rooms, two additional needs rooms, the short loan and reservations collection and a variety of furniture to facilitate group study. The first floor incorporates the library staff area, periodical stock, single study spaces and the Learning Development Centre, which brings together learning support initiatives for academic writing, mathematics, study skills, and so on. Book stock is on the second and third floors, which were completely refurbished in summer 2013. The second floor is used for group study during coursework periods and silent study during the main examination period. The third floor is a designated silent study area throughout the year.

Between October and June, the Library is open for 151 hours per week for 18 weeks and for 113 hours per week for the remaining weeks, with full services available for 45 hours each week, and self-service facilities, during the remainder of each week. During serviced hours, enquiry desks on the ground floor are staffed to provide assistance with a range of general and subject enquiries. Complex or time-consuming enquiries are referred to the Information Specialist with relevant subject responsibility. Part-time, distance-learning and placement students are encouraged to telephone or email Information Specialists for help and advice. Additional needs students are encouraged to contact the Public Services Co-ordinator (Customer Service) about their special needs.

All students are timetabled to visit the library for an induction at the beginning of their first year. Most undergraduate students also have the opportunity to attend subject-based information skills sessions later in their courses. Similar sessions are offered to postgraduate taught-course and research students and these are generally tailored more specifically to the needs of individual students. Information Specialists participate in lecture programmes run in conjunction with the Schools, including sessions for students with special learning requirements, such as part-time and distance-learning students. This may take the form of an evening seminar or contribution to a study weekend. Online tutorials on information skills are mounted on the Library Matters module on the Blackboard VLE. There is a well-equipped pair of Workshops in the library which Information Specialists use to provide seminars and workshops for students and academic staff.

We recognise the value and importance of good communications with academic staff and students. Formal communication with Schools is effected through a variety of channels, including LIS representation at School Committees and Boards and at School Staff Student Consultative Committees. Information Specialists liaise closely with individual members of academic staff in Schools to aid them with course planning and the targeting of information resources for teaching, learning and research. Academic staff and students are kept up-to-date with recent developments by email, the website, the blog and twitter, and more formally via Blackboard, the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). Informal feedback is encouraged via printed and web-based feedback forms and the library mailbox. Students attending induction sessions, and the subsequent information skills sessions, are asked to complete evaluation forms; these are analysed and the results used to inform future sessions. Formal feedback from staff and students is also obtained from regular surveys by the University.

We place great emphasis on promoting our services and information resources to our customers, on helping them to use the services and resources, and on training them in their use. The LIS webpages, the Blackboard VLE and the MAP student portal are important mechanisms for delivering information about the library’s services, facilities and resources to our customers. Information is provided about specific services, facilities and resources, but is also provided in a way that is directed to specific customer segments, such as undergraduates, postgraduates, staff, and so on. In particular, the requirements of part-time, distance learning and placement students are addressed, as well as those of customers with additional needs.

For information, visit our website http://www.aston.ac.uk/library

Job description

To greet people on arrival at the Library and ensure that they have the right documentation for access. To staff the Library's main entry and exit point and operate the controlled access system. To take a lead role in the security and safety of the Library, its customers and contents, when the Library is open during unserviced hours, maintaining vigilance at all times. At weekends to open the Library and to ensure that it is locked and secure at the end of the day. To deal with straightforward enquiries and to tell customers how else they can get help. To patrol the Library, noting any defects with the building, equipment or furniture, and ensuring that the Library Regulations are being observed by users. To seek prompt assistance from the University security staff if required. To carry out routine tasks such as filling printers, moving stock, placing books in numerical sequence, etc.

Responsibilities To take a lead role in the security and safety of the Library, its customers and contents when the Library is

open during unserviced hours (i.e. evenings, weekends and May Bank Holidays, when the Library provides study facilities only), maintaining vigilance at all times.

To operate, and provide assistance with, the Library's main entry/exit and controlled access system, including

entry of visitor details onto the system database, ensuring that problems that cannot be addressed immediately are referred on to the correct person.

To seek prompt assistance from University security staff when breaches of security occur, in accordance with

LIS procedures, attempting to contain incidents until assistance is provided. To provide regular reports to the Public Services Co-ordinator (Customer Experience) concerning all incidents.

To open the Library at weekends, and to ensure that it is locked and secure when it closes.

To unlock public access areas at opening time, switching on lights and electricity supplies, photocopiers and

equipment in accordance with instructions. To clear customers from the building at closing time, ensuring that the building and its contents are left locked

and secure. To carry out regular patrols in all areas of the Library to support customers and prevent improper and

disorderly conduct or other breaches of the Library Regulations. To answer straightforward queries from customers, advising them of which services are available, and when

and where they can seek further assistance from staff. To empty the book return box and collect up library materials (books and journals) and sort them into order for

re-shelving; to re-shelve material in the Short Loan and General Reference collections of the Library.

To be available to cover sickness, leave or other unplanned absences by other attendant staff. To keep accurate records and to communicate problems in accordance with LIS procedures.

To carry out routine tasks such as filing, moving of stock, processing of materials as appropriate.

To have a thorough knowledge of University evacuation procedures and to assist University Security staff in

the event of an emergency. To deal with lost property according to LIS procedures.

Involvement in special projects and/or changes in the range of regular duties associated with the post may

result from developments in library services, or be required by the Director of Customer Services & Liaison.

Procedures for the major tasks listed are well documented. Back-up is provided by the University security staff, who are available to assist with emergencies at all times. Regular briefing meetings and training sessions are arranged to update the postholder on new developments.

WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

This post is part of a team of library attendants. Evening/Weekend Attendants are on duty during unserviced opening hours, sharing the duties and responsibilities as outlined, on a shift rota basis. The postholder reports to the Public Services Coordinator (Customer Experience), who is responsible to the Director (Customer Service & Liaison).

Person specification

Essential Method of assessment

Education and qualifications

Education to GCSE level or equivalent

Application form

Experience Experience of working in a diverse and busy customer focussed environment Experience of handling standard customer queries and providing information and guidance to customers

Application form, interview

Aptitude and skills Ability to interpret and follow set guidelines and procedures Excellent level of verbal communication skills to clearly explain procedures and provide information to library users Able to work as part of a small team to complete routine tasks within a given time scale Basic numeracy and literacy skills to complete routine library processes e.g. forms, report templates, head counts

Application form, interview and test

Good level of IT skills to use email and provide website/ internet guidance to library users Ability to assess and handle difficult situations in a calm and confident manner Reliable and trustworthy attitude to undertake key holder responsibility

Interview

Other Able to work from 16:45-22:15 on weekday evenings, on a rota basis, and have access to transport home at that time. Able to work Saturdays and Sundays on a rota basis.

Application form, interview

Essential Method of assessment

Able to undertake moderately physical work (e.g. moving furniture, lifting boxes of paper, pushing trolleys laden with books). Flexibility to cover other Evening/Weekend Attendants’ rota duties in instances of sick leave, etc.

Desirable Method of assessment

Education and qualifications

Qualification / recognised training in customer care Application form

Experience Experience of working in a library environment Experience of being a student in Further Education/Higher Education sector

Application form, Interview

Salary & benefits

This post is offered on a continuing basis part-time – Two week rota, working an average of 20.5 hours per week for 36 weeks per year. The appointment is Grade 4 and the salary range for this grade is £16,289 - £18,412 per annum, pro-rata.

Holiday entitlement 25 days per annum, in addition to 13 days public and university holidays.

Pension Eligible staff are offered a defined benefit pension with the Aston University Pension Scheme (AUPS).

Contribution pay The University’s Performance Development and Reward Scheme provides for salary enhancement for staff who are considered to be performing at an exceptional level on a consistent basis.

Relocation Aston University aims to recruit the most talented individuals. This policy is

intended to support this aim by providing assistance to new employees who have to relocate to take up a position. This policy applies to staff appointed to a position from 1 January 2014 at grade 7 (salary point 25) or above on an open-ended contract or to a fixed term position of two years or more, and who have to relocate their place of residence in order to take up the appointment. Positions which are externally funded fall outside of this policy. Individuals may be eligible to claim costs in line with the relevant funding arrangements.

Visit our website: aston.ac.uk/hr for full details of our salary scales and the benefits Aston University staff enjoy.

How to apply and the selection process

Please visit our website aston.ac.uk/jobs to apply online. If you do not have internet access, call 0121 204 4500 and leave your name and address quoting the job title and reference number.

Closing date for applications 18 October 2016

Interview date To be confirmed

Please contact Angela Brady for an informal discussion about the role. Tel: +44(0) 121 204 4505 or Email: A.E.BRADY@aston.ac.uk

If you would like information on the progress of your application, advice on any aspect of the appointment process, or a conversation about our terms and conditions of service, please contact:

Anne-Marie Lokwiya HR Business Partner +44 (0) 121 5385 a.lokwiya@aston.ac.uk

Karen Clinton Recruitment Administrator +44 (0) 121 204 3351 k.clinton@aston.ac.uk

Outline terms and conditions of the appointment

Qualifications Successful candidates will be required to produce evidence of their qualifications

upon joining the University

Medical clearance It is a condition of appointment that newly-appointed staff receive medical clearance from the University’s Health Centre.

Eligibility to work in the UK Candidates who are not citizens of the United Kingdom, or of another EEA member country, should ensure that they meet the requirements of one of the 5 tiers of the immigration points based system. Candidates should check their eligibility to enter or remain in the UK in advance of making any job application using the points-based calculator on the UK Visas and Immigration website. If you do not meet the minimum points requirement, you will not be able to work in the UK and any application for employment would be unsuccessful.

Document checks As a result of the implementation of sections 15 to 26 of the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality 2006 Act on 29 February 2008, the University requires all prospective and, in some cases, current employees, to provide documentation to verify their eligibility to work in the UK. Further information about these requirements can be found on the UK Visas and Immigration website.

Equal opportunities Aston University promotes equality and diversity in all aspects of its work. We aim to ensure, through our admissions policies for students, and our staff recruitment and selection processes, that we encourage applications from all groups represented in the wider community at a local, national and international level. The University will endeavour not to discriminate unfairly or illegally, directly or indirectly, against students or potential students, staff or potential staff. This commitment applies to all functions of the University and to any stage of an individual’s career at Aston. An Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form is included with the application form.

Data Protection Act 1998 Your application will only be used to inform the selection process, unless you are successful, in which case it will form the basis of your personal record with the University which will be stored in manual and/or electronic files. Information in

statistical form on present and former employees is given to appropriate outside bodies. Data you provide on the Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form will be included in a general database, for statistical monitoring purposes, enabling the University to monitor the effectiveness of its Policy, Code of Practice and Guidelines on Equal Opportunities in Employment. Individuals will not be identified by name.

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)

Under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, a person with a criminal record is not required to disclose any spent convictions unless the position they are applying for is listed as an exception under the act.

Full details of our terms and conditions of service and associated policies and procedures are available online at www.aston.ac.uk/hr.