Archives Library Assistant

Job Introduction

Job Title: Archive Library Assistant 
Starting Salary:  £26,016 opportunity to progress to £27,274 per annum (pro rata for part time)
Hours: 18.5 - please see working pattern below.

Location:  Hertford, Fixed base -majority of working hours will be onsite. Occasional travel.
Contract Type: Permanent 
Directorate: Resources 

About the team

As an accredited service, Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies preserves and promotes resources for the study of Hertfordshire past and present.

Our vision is to deliver high‑quality heritage services that inspire discovery and lifelong learning, offering opportunities for people of all ages to explore, understand and enjoy the histories that shape Hertfordshire. We aim to reflect the county’s diverse people, communities and places, strengthening a shared sense of place and supporting creative health and wellbeing and provide access to authentic, trusted information and original records.

As we move forward with plans for our refreshed ‘Shared Heritage Strategy’ including preparing for a move to a purpose-built archive, we will exploit technology to improve services; progress digital online resources and work in partnership to increase opportunities for access and learning.

About the role

You will be required to work some Saturdays and Tuesday evenings. We are open the first Saturday and Tuesday evening a month.

Working Pattern

Week 1

Tuesday 9am-5pm

Wednesday 9am-5pm

Thursday 9am-5pm

Week 2

Wednesday 9am-5pm

Thursday 9am-5pm

Public Service

• Your role will be primarily providing high-quality customer service, including responding to enquiries both in person and remotely, ensuring customer care standards are met. 
• Your role also supports customer service through completion of administrative tasks such as recording of user statistics, and projects such as digitisation of collection documents.
• You will be expected to retrieve books and documents from storage areas which will involve manual handling (including driving a lease van to retrieve those held off-site). 
• You will assist with collecting and processing of archive and local studies materials and use catalogues and indexes. 
• You will contribute to promotional events, including group visits; this may include occasional out of hours activity. 
• You will provide support for volunteers. 
• You will use ICT to provide services to customers and carry out collections work including for example, assisting with digitisation work to photograph, scan, process and preserve archive material. 
• Flexibility, remaining calm under pressure and prioritising your workload are important for this role. 
• Involved in community facing activities relating to the move project e.g. gathering data on customer usage, contacting depositors, support for focus groups. There will be occasional out of office hours events. 

About you 

Essential:

• Friendly and confident person happy to work in a public facing role in a busy search room, with minimal supervision
• Able to communicate effectively in person, by telephone and in writing to answer enquiries; with the ability to converse fluently with external stakeholders/citizens and provide information in accurate spoken English
• Confident and competent using a range of computer software such as Microsoft Office, the internet and other computer-based information resources. You will be able to support and advise members of the public in their use of IT
• Organised and methodical, with an ability to pay attention to detail. Able to sort in alphabetical and numerical order
• Able to lift and carry awkward and heavy items, specialist equipment will be provided e.g. trolleys
• Able to promote the service at events both onsite and around the county
• Flexible and able to use initiative and work effectively without direct supervision
• Hold a full UK driving licence and able to drive a leased vehicle to retrieve documents from the out-stores and elsewhere.

Desirable:

• Interest in and knowledge of archives, and local or family history
• Experience of cash handling
• Experience of customer service

This post offers the opportunity to learn about our fascinating collections from 1060 to the present. You will enjoy helping customers and support access to our unique collections in both the archive reading room and local studies library. You will be able to promote the service and assist with learning events. You will be involved at an exciting and challenging time, preparing the collection to be re-located safely and securely whilst continuing to deliver the service to Hertfordshire residents.

We welcome applications from candidates who currently reside in the UK with established proof of right to work documentation. We are not able to offer sponsorship at this time for this role.

This job role is Level 6. Please locate the job profile here: 

Job profiles - Community services 

To hear more about this opportunity please contact Angela Ludlow or Gary Moyle on 0300 123 4049 Tuesday to Thursday for an informal discussion about the role.

Interview Date: Thursday 3rd and Friday 4th December 2026.

Benefits of working for us

How to apply 

As part of your application, please upload your most recent CV. Ensure your CV is up to date with your employment history (including any employment gaps), and including any training/qualifications. We encourage you to include examples of where you have demonstrated the requirements/criteria in the advert / job profile to allow the panel to fully recognise your skills and abilities.

You will have the opportunity to include a short covering paragraph within your application to give us a little more information about your skills, knowledge, and experiences.

Additional information 

We are changing
Hertfordshire County Council is undergoing Local Government Reorganisation (LGR). If you are employed by Hertfordshire County on 1 April 2028, it is expected that most roles will transfer to the newly-created unitary councils on existing terms and conditions under TUPE (Transfer of Undertakings – Protection of Employment) principles. 

LGR is one of the biggest changes we will face in a generation. It will reshape how we work and how services are organised and gives us a real opportunity to build something better. To find out more, visit https://www.hertfordshire-lgr.co.uk/

Disability Confident
We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer and guarantee an interview to anyone disclosing a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post. 

Driving required 
You’ll need to have the ability to drive and/or travel around Hertfordshire, either using your own mode of transport or a company car to travel to other locations. 

English Fluency 
The ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post (for those whose language is a signed language the provision of a sign language interpreter who speaks English to the necessary standard of fluency will be required). Further information about the legal requirement can be found here.