Graduate Trainee Library Assistant

About the role

The Bodleian Libraries are looking for librarians of the future and this trainee scheme is the first step in your career in Librarianship/Information Management. Oxford's one-year full-time traineeships provide an excellent launch pad for subsequent postgraduate qualifications and a professional career. 8 vacancies will be available, commencing in September 2026 and based in research, faculty and departmental libraries within the Bodleian Libraries.

You will benefit from on-the-job training, professional and social support, and a varied programme of weekly training events (talks, workshops and library visits). You will be working in frontline services helping our readers access the information and resources they require. This will involve working directly with readers and also working with materials to ensure accessibility. You will play an integral part in the day-to-day running of the library but individual project work is also encouraged.

Posts are aimed at graduates (of all ages) and if you have good IT skills, a flexible and customer-orientated approach, and a desire to pursue a career in librarianship then this could be the career for you. You do not need prior experience of library work, but must have a keen interest in information and libraries. You will have great communication skills and a willingness to work with others and in a team. Applications are welcomed from graduates in any discipline.

Please do not apply if you already have or are currently doing an undergraduate or postgraduate degree related to Librarianship and/or Information Management, or if you have already completed a Library Traineeship.

Working for the University of Oxford

Our staff and students come from all over the world, and we proudly promote a friendly and inclusive culture. Diversity is positively encouraged, through diverse groups and champions, as well as a number of family-friendly policies, such as the right to apply for flexible working and support for staff returning from periods of extended absence, for example shared parental leave. The Bodleian Libraries are taking active steps to foster diversity and inclusion and help libraries become more representative of wider society.We welcome applications from people from all backgrounds, especially people who identify with a Black, Asian or other minority ethnicity, who are currently underrepresented within the libraries sector. We would also like to encourage more men to apply for these roles, since they too are under-represented across the sector.

How to apply

These roles are being offered on a full-time, fixed-term basis for 1 year. You will be required to upload a CV (no more than 2 pages) and a Supporting Evidence Form using this Microsoft Form. Your Supporting Evidence Form should demonstrate how you meet each of the criteria, as listed in the job description.

Only applications received online before 12.00 midday (GMT) on Tuesday 20 January 2026 can be considered. We hope to notify candidates to let them know if they have been called to interview towards early March and interviews are anticipated to be held in week commencing 16 March 2026. We intend to hold interviews in person and we will notify candidates of timings closer to the time of their interview.

Advert information