Winnington Ingram Graduate Trainee Library Assistant

Sub-Department: Institute of Classical Studies Library

The University of London is both the UK’s largest provider of international distance and online learning and the convenor of a federation of 17 renowned higher education institutions.

The federation brings together more than 250,000 learners and 50,000 staff in a collaborative community that is delivering high-quality research and education across all disciplines.

Since 1858, we have expanded access to world-class higher education. Today, around 40,000 students in more than 190 countries are part of our global learning community.

The University of London is also home to the School of Advanced Study, the national centre for the humanities, whose mission is to advocate for the discipline.

By working together, we expand access to outstanding higher education and resources, and extend their benefits to learners and researchers across the UK and around the world.

The Library and Role

The Institute of Classical Studies Library is seeking to appoint a Graduate Library Trainee for the academic year 2026-2027 (August – August). The post is a one-year fixed term training post designed for graduates carrying out a year of work experience and training prior to attending library school.

The Institute of Classical Studies was founded as a post-graduate Institute of the University of London in 1953, and now forms part of the School of Advanced Study; its Library is housed and administered as a single unit with the Joint Library of the Hellenic and Roman Societies (established in 1879 and 1910 respectively).

The Library’s integrated collection now holds over 130,000 monographs and 22,000 bound periodicals, the whole thereby forming an interdisciplinary tool serving all aspects of classical research. For further information, please refer to the Library’s website at: https://library.ics.sas.ac.uk/

The Library is not sufficiently large to be organised in departments, but each member of staff has at least one special responsibility, and the Trainee has an opportunity to take a turn at or view most aspects of library work during the year. The Trainee works under the supervision of the Senior Assistant Librarian: please download the job description below to view duties.

In addition, the Winnington-Ingram Trainee will receive a training programme for the year covering other aspects of library work such as cataloguing, book selection, periodicals management, use of electronic resources etc.; and visits to other libraries, both internally and externally, will be arranged at regular intervals.

For a full role profile, please refer to the job description below.

Further information

To be considered for this opportunity, please submit your application and CV (via the ‘Apply’ button above) before the closing date at midnight on 1 February 2026.

The University will be unable to sponsor candidates for a visa for this role. Successful applicants must be able to demonstrate their right to work in the UK for the duration of their employment.

The University of London is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive working environment where we can all be ourselves and succeed. We particularly encourage applications from members of Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic communities as this group is currently under-represented at all levels within the University. All appointments will be made on merit, based on the criteria identified in the job description.