Position Details

Department: Library Services, Academic Services

Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

Grade: Grade 2

Hourly rate: £12 per hour plus holiday entitlement

Casual Contract start/end: Monday 27th May 2024 - Monday 26th August 2024

Advert closing date: Thursday 2nd May 2024, 23:59pm 

If you have an active account on Core Systems, please apply with your staff email.

If you are encountering any issues applying, please attempt again with an alternative email. If you are still unable to apply, please let us know by contacting us via our portal.

The application deadline is 02/05/2024, though it may be adjusted based on the volume and quality of applications received. We recommend that candidates submit their applications promptly.

Our offer to you

People are at the heart of what we are and do.

The University of Birmingham is proud to have been a part of the City of Birmingham and the wider region for over 100 years, and we are equally proud to be recognised as a leading global university.  We want to attract talented people from across the city and beyond, support them to succeed, and celebrate their success.

We believe there is no such thing as a typical member of staff and that diversity is a source of strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation, and debate.  We warmly welcome people from all backgrounds and are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where diversity is at the heart of who and what we are, and how we work.

The University is situated in leafy Edgbaston and there are excellent transport links to our beautiful campus, including main bus routes and a train station on site.  On campus we have a state-of-the-art sports centre with pool, shops, places to eat and drink, our own art gallery, museum, and botanical gardens.

Find out more about the benefits of working for the University of Birmingham 

Important Information please read:

We are specifically seeking undergraduates in their first or second year of study (or non-finalist undergraduates), and applicants must be from one of the following three colleges: Arts & Law, Life and Environment Sciences, or Medical and Dental Sciences.

Role Summary:

Library Shapers work with Library Services to evaluate, promote and co-create services to best meet user needs. They will have a unique opportunity to help make a difference for the student community and gain a wide range of work experience. 

This role will help Library Services to improve the delivery of its services through a variety of means, including but not limited to: 

• Support with gathering user opinions and data.
   
• Imputing survey data.
   
• Participating in focus groups and User Experience (UX) activities.
   
• User testing systems and processes.
   
• Preparing communications for print and social media.
   
• Supporting open days.
   
• Providing insights for various Library Services working groups, including Green Impact, and Assistive Technology. 
   
• Co-creating resources to support students with their skills development.

Library Shapers will be required to attend an initial briefing session, a focus group in both the spring term and summer term, and may express a preference for particular activities, although you may be asked to undertake tasks due to the needs of the service.

Main Responsibilities:

• To provide feedback and ideas which will be used to inform future library service delivery and provision. 
   
• To work alongside Library staff to develop ideas and evaluate existing services.
   
• To provide support and be a key contact for all work undertaken.
   
• Completing tasks which are time specific and self-scheduled.
   
• Library Shapers will also work as part of a wider group and will work both collaboratively and independently. 

Person Specification:

• Any level of non-finalist Undergraduate (UoB registered student)
   
• From any school within the following colleges: College of Arts and Law (CAL), College of Medical and Dental Sciences (MDS) or College of Life and Environemtnal Sciences (LES)
   
• Non-finalist undergraduates, specifically in year 1 or 2.
   
• Reflective learners, able to communicate their learning experiences, both verbally and in writing. 
   
• Self-motivated and able to commit to completing tasks.
   
• Enthusiastic about helping us improve library services for all students. 
   
• Organised and possess time management skills.
   
• Able to demonstrate problem solving skills.
   
• Can work constructively with group members and library staff.

There is no requirement to have used the library service previously.

View our staff values and behaviours here 

Valuing excellence, sustaining investment

We value diversity and inclusion at the University of Birmingham and welcome applications from all sections of the community and are open to discussions around all forms of flexible working.

The University of Birmingham restricts all students to working up to 15 hours per week during term time. If your application is successful and your course does not follow the usual academic term timetable (e.g.  PGT, PGR or PhD student), you and your supervisor must formally agree vacation periods if this role exceeds 15 hours per week. In addition to this, please be aware if you are an International student, you will be required to apply to the Registry for the appropriate Authorised Absence.

You are only eligible to apply to this role if you are a current University of Birmingham student. If you are not a University of Birmingham student your application will not be considered.

To work you will need to carry out a right to work check. These checks will need to be completed prior to work commencing.