Job Title: Library Assistant (Clinical Support Portfolio)
Reporting To: Clinical Librarian
Location: RCSI Library, Beaumont Hospital
School (or department): RCSI Library
Contract type/duration: Permanent, Full-time
Closing date for applications: 15 June 2025
Interview date: 3 July 2025 (provisional)
RCSI is a community of academic, research, clinical and professional staff working collaboratively to lead the world to
better health. Here, you will thrive in an innovative and inclusive atmosphere and your personal development and
wellbeing will be supported. We invite you to join us to help deliver on our exciting mission “To educate, nurture and
discover for the benefit of human health”.
Objective of this post:
To proactively assist library customers to access and use library resources, services and facilities to support their learning, teaching and research activities; to positively support the development and delivery of these services and resources.
RCSI Library, Beaumont Hospital provides services to RCSI staff and students based on the Beaumont Hospital campus and a clinical library service to Beaumont Hospital staff.
The Library Assistant (Clinical Support Portfolio) will be a member of the wider RCSI Library Customer Services team providing a welcoming and knowledgeable frontline service to users both online and onsite and hold the Clinical Support specialist portfolio.
RCSI Library supports the personal and professional development of all team members. Library assistants participate in regular and on-going training and development relevant to their roles in order to enable them to best support library users.
The post-holder’s primary work location will be RCSI Library, Beaumont Hospital and they may be required to attend
meetings and training sessions on the City Centre campus. Flexibility in the primary work location may be necessary
to meet future organisational needs.
Specific Responsibilities include:
• Delivering excellent customer service at all times by providing a welcoming, supportive and efficient service to all library users.
• Providing classroom based and online assistance to the Clinical Librarian and others by delivering basic introductory training sessions and assisting with hands-on help in other sessions.
• Supporting the Clinical Librarian and other colleagues in preparing content and materials for library training.
• Working with the RCSI Library, Beaumont Hospital team to deliver the clinical query service. Providing guidance to users, conducting basic searches with referral to further materials and as needed escalating to the Clinical Librarian.
• Developing and maintaining electronically delivered library services including, but not limited to, e-resource collection for Beaumont Hospital staff, the library web site, online catalogue, e-journal portal, LibGuides, Moodle and library communication channels.
• Create and edit metadata records in the RCSI Repository (Figshare), checking and validating entries created by others for publication; checking the copyright status of deposits adding embargos or referring queries where appropriate; contacting researchers to obtain required information and/or documentation.
• Support Content & Metadata Management workflows as required to support collection development such as identifying new materials, submitting recommend a resource forms and wishlist items, processing new materials received, inventory checks and deaccessioning materials.
• Deliver document supply services including responding to queries; checking, processing and transmitting document supply requests; maintaining statistics; support financial processes; maintaining document supply procedures; keeping up to date with supplier platform changes; ensuring compliance with requirements under the Copyright Act and vendor requirements.
• Providing support and assistance to internal and external library customers in person, by phone, by email and online in accessing and using library-provided information resources and services.
• Supporting the delivery of the virtual and in-person information desks and library roaming/roving duties to answer and resolve enquiries and make appropriate referrals to other resources and services, internally and externally, to meet customer needs.
• Maintaining the library environment, including shelving books and tidying of library resources, monitoring the space and ensuring adherence to Library and University policies.
• Using the library management systems, such as ALMA, PRESERVICA and CALM, to carry out a range of administrative and processing tasks.
• Carrying out administrative duties, including but not limited to registering library users, collecting and producing regular statistics, documenting procedures, updating the staff manual and assisting with the collation of data for usage reporting and monitoring.
• Contributing to the planning, development, marketing and promotion of library services.
• Contributing to the promotion of library services at key University events.
• Proactively liaising with University support services to ensure timely reporting and resolution of issues arising requiring University support service action.
• Participating in internal library project teams/activities as necessary.
• Attending team meetings and liaising effectively with colleagues.
• Undertaking appropriate staff development programmes and keeping up to date with new resources, information and new service offerings.
• Complying with statutory legislation and Department rules and requirements in furtherance of your own and general staff welfare and safety.
• Representing the best interests of RCSI and the library at all times.
• A flexible approach to the duties of the post is required and undertaking other duties as may be required.
Person Specification:
The successful candidate will ideally possess and demonstrate:
Mandatory
• A relevant third level qualification and/or relevant experience as a Library Assistant in a similar environment (health/hospital/clinical/academic library).
• Excellent customer service ethos and demonstrated customer care skills.
Desirable
• Strong IT and software application skills including Microsoft Office; highly desirable to have experience of specialist systems including:
o Library Management System, preferably ALMA;
o research repository, preferably Figshare;
o social media tools;
o software to support online learning;
o a working knowledge of search platforms, including searching and interrogating online information environments.
• A working knowledge of document supply services such as British Library and/or Subito is desirable.
• Demonstrated collection management skills such as cataloguing and stock inventory processes are desirable.
• Evidence of a flexible approach to work and a willingness to accept and adapt to change.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate in an effective manner.
• Ability to multitask, to work calmly under pressure and perform work with accuracy and attention to detail.
• Demonstrated strong commitment to continuing professional development.
• Capacity to deliver results.
• The ability to work on one’s own initiative as well as in a team environment.
The successful candidates core values and behaviours should demonstrate:
General Competencies
Student and customer service
Scholarship and excellence
Collegiality and professionalism
Innovation and flexibility
Planning and organising
We are all too aware that imposter syndrome and the confidence gap can sometimes stop fantastic candidates putting themselves forward, so please do apply — we would love to hear from you.
Application Process
Please apply online through the RCSI careers portal on the closing date with your CV and cover letter.
Informal Enquiries:
Informal enquiries are invited in the first instance through Rebecca O’Brien, Human Resources Department. All applications for this post must be made through the career’s webpage www.rcsi/careers.
Rebecca can arrange for relevant queries on the academic aspects of the role to be addressed by the hiring manager. Please note we do not accept CVs directly.
Full Job Description – Library Assistant (Clinical Support Portfolio)
Closing date for applications: 15 June 2025
