Library Supervisor

What makes Goldsmiths unique?

Goldsmiths is a world-renowned university that has a reputation for rigorous and innovative academic work; creativity has long been our hallmark. Academic excellence and imaginative course content combine to make a place where creative minds can thrive.

About the department

Goldsmiths Library is at the heart of our New Cross campus and plays a central role in our distinctive learning and research environment. Open 24/7, the Library provides access to around 259,000 print items and over 38,000 ebooks and welcomes around 187,000 visitors each year. 

Through our collections, spaces, literacies and skills development and specialist expertise, we support students, researchers and the public to explore, create and think critically. Our approach reflects Goldsmiths’ wider commitment to creativity, collaboration, social justice and positive change, with our open and radically inclusive Library rooted in critical library practice and anti-racism. 

Our Special Collections and Archives bring these distinctive Goldsmiths strengths together, with collections that are open to all and reflect Goldsmiths’ influential position in the creative and performing arts, with collections including the Goldsmiths Textile Collection & Constance Howard Gallery, the Daphne Oram Collection and the Women’s Art Library. 

Find out more on the Goldsmiths Library website: https://www.gold.ac.uk/library/ 

Read the Library Framework, our strategic roadmap: https://www.gold.ac.uk/library/framework-2025/ 

About the role

The Library Supervisor plays a vital role in shaping the experience of students and staff at Goldsmiths, delivering high-quality, customer-focused library services.

The postholder will maintain in-depth knowledge and subject expertise in the standard operating procedures of Library Experience, which includes space management, customer service, circulation and membership processes.

They will be responsible for overseeing the work of Senior Library Assistants and line managing Library Assistants to standardise and maintain consistency across areas. They will also act as a daily supervisor, liaising with stakeholders to ensure the smooth running of service points and day-to-day library operations.

This position is a campus role and not suitable for remote working

The current days of work for this role are Mondays (9am-5pm), Thursdays (half day) and Fridays (9am – 5pm)

About the candidate

You will be a collaborative and adaptable professional with supervisory experience in libraries, information services, or customer service environments. Your organisational and leadership skills will ensure that you effectively manage, motivate and oversee the Library Assistant team.

Your exemplary communication skills will enable you to work successfully across teams, support colleagues, resolve complex enquiries, and build strong working relationships to help deliver high-quality services. Confident in administration, you will be highly organised, detail-oriented, and bring strong data handling and analysis capabilities.

Benefits

We have generous benefits – an agile working environment, 28 days’ annual leave plus six paid closure days (four at Christmas and two at Easter) plus all Bank Holidays, great transport links, a defined benefit pension scheme, support for professional development and a broad range of wellbeing initiatives such as staff choir, running club, staff networks and creative writing classes.

Further Details:

Job Description (Word)

At Goldsmiths, University of London, Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion shape how we lead, learn, and work. We are committed to building an inclusive and respectful environment, removing barriers and addressing inequalities so that everyone in our community can belong and thrive.

All applicants must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing work with us.

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