Reading Room Assistant – Asian & African Studies (Temporary Cover)
Location: Euston, London (National Library)
Contract Type: Full-time, 1 year - Temporary (Career Break Cover)
Start Date:April 2026
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00–16:00 (preferred) or 9:00–17:00
Pay: £13.85 per hour (PAYE)
About the Role
We are seeking a proactive and customer-focused Reading Room Assistant to join the Asian & African Studies Reading Room at the National Library in Euston. This is a fantastic opportunity for someone passionate about culture, heritage, and public service to become part of a world-renowned research environment.
This role provides temporary cover for a staff member taking a career break, starting in April 2026.
Key Responsibilities
*Provide a welcoming, professional, and knowledgeable service to researchers, visitors, and library users.
*Assist readers with accessing collection materials, catalogues, and reading room resources.
*Support the safe handling and movement of library materials, including rare and special collections.
*Maintain an organised, calm, and supportive reading room environment.
*Respond to enquiries in person and via email or phone.
*Uphold collection security, confidentiality, and library service standards at all times.
About You
We are looking for someone with:
*Experience working in libraries, archives, museums, galleries, or similar cultural or learning environments OR strong customer-service experience in a public-facing role.
*A genuine interest in culture, heritage, research, or collections.
*Strong communication skills and a calm, friendly approach.
*Good attention to detail and the ability to follow procedures.
*Reliability and an ability to work independently as well as part of a team.
Why Join Us?
This is an excellent opportunity to gain hands-on experience in one of the UK’s most respected cultural institutions, supporting vital research and engaging with unique global collections.