Librarian - Special Collections - (Part-Time), (Fixed-Term)

Job Description

We believe everyone deserves a great Glasgow life and that starts with the people who work here.

Glasgow Life is a charity like no other. Our vision is to improve the lives of everyone in our city. To help us achieve that, we are looking for a Librarian, Special Collections to join our Mitchell Library Special Collections which sits within Glasgow Life Museums and Collections Department.

Our teams focus on making a real difference through culture and sport in Glasgow. If you’re excited by the idea of being part of that, this could be the job for you.

What you need to know

Who can apply: This vacancy is open to current Glasgow Life colleagues only.

Hours: 14 per week. Shift pattern to be agreed with the post holder. Note late working on Tuesday and Thursday until 8pm and one Saturday a month may be required.

Contract type: Fixed Term until 10 January 2028

Pay details: The listed salary is for a full-time role. If you’re applying for a part-time or bank job, we will calculate your pay on a pro-rata basis. The hourly rate at Entry Level is £19.88

Location: At The Mitchell Library, North Street, Glasgow with excellent public transport links/free parking/paid parking nearby

What you’ll do

As a Librarian, Special Collections you’ll be joining Glasgow Life’s Museums and Collections team. and will report to the Principal Librarian, Library Special Collections.

You will work as part of the Special Collections team managing, developing and making accessible the Library Collections at The Mitchell for the people of Glasgow and its visitors. Reporting to the Principal Librarian in the Museums and Collections service area, you will undertake and support a range of collections-related activity and programmes in line with Glasgow Life's strategic objectives, policies and governance obligations. You will be working collaboratively with Library and Museums colleagues in delivering high quality library, information and family and local history services from The Mitchell, supporting the ongoing management and development of the special collections per se, and supporting the operational functions of The Mitchell Library.

Who you are

We’re looking for someone with the right skills who brings energy to the role. If the following sounds like you, apply today!

If you’re interested in joining us as a Librarian in Special Collections, you’ll need:

• First Degree or postgraduate qualification in Library and Information Science, or ACLIP (or equivalent professional body).
• Experience in collections management and development, and awareness of collections care.
• Experience of delivering a collections-focused range of library and information services with high standards of customer care.
• Excellent inter-personal, and written, verbal and digital communication skills.
• A flexible approach to work pattern including evening/weekend shift patterns, and ability to work independently and collaboratively.
• Ability to work with a wide range of colleagues across teams, partners, and customers.
• Experience of family and local history services and of unique and distinctive collections.

 

We believe in the transformational power of the services we provide for the citizens and visitors of Glasgow, and if you want to be a part of it, we’d love to hear from you.

You can read the full person specification for this role under the ‘Job Attachments’ section. Use this to shape your application and show how your experience aligns with the job.

When selecting candidates for interviews, managers will look for candidates who meet all the ‘essential’ criteria listed in the Person Specification. If there are many candidates, they may also consider desirable skills. So, include those if they apply to you.

 

What we offer

At Glasgow Life, our work changes lives. As a charity, we bring communities together and support wellbeing through sport, culture, heritage, and learning.

Learn more about Glasgow Life in our 10 Facts video in the Further Information section on MyJobScotland.

We support you to live a great life. Inside and outside of work. Some of our benefits include:

Holiday

When you join, you’ll get 30 days’ holiday. Plus 6.5 public holidays if you’re full-time. This increases to 35 days after 5 years of service.

Fancy a bit more time off? You can buy extra holiday too!

Pension

Join the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) – a Defined Benefit scheme that provides you with a secure pension for later life.

Support

Sometimes we all need support and a listening ear. Our free and confidential Employee Assistance Programme can support your mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing.

Discounts

As a colleague, you can enjoy discounts on the things you love, from Glasgow Club memberships to our museum shops and our online store.

Flexibility and development

We are proud of our flexible and inclusive work policies, which help you balance work and life. We also offer support for learning, development and career progression.

Please note that Glasgow Life is an Arm’s Length External Organisation to Glasgow City Council. We are currently completing a Job Evaluation exercise and introducing a new pay and grading structure. This may impact current salaries quoted in job adverts. To learn more, visit - https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/jobevaluation.

What’s next

To get started, complete our short application form. In this, you’ll fill out:

• Work history
• Qualifications/training
• Key questions like “Why are you a good fit for this role?”

Use the Person Specification in the Job Attachments section to guide your answers.

 

Important Dates:

The closing date for this job is 11.59pm on 30 November 2025. Interviews are provisionally scheduled for 8 December 2025.

Our Museums service, managed by Glasgow Life on behalf of the community, cares for thousands of years of history. We take care of the city’s museum and library special collections, its archives, and operate award-winning museums, keeping them safe for future generations. We run talks, tours, workshops, and events, so people can explore and enjoy the collections. By connecting people with the city’s stories, our museums continue to enrich the lives of local people and visitors. Read more here - https://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/museums

Diversity and Fair Work at Glasgow Life

We’re working to build a team that reflects the rich diversity of Glasgow’s communities — where everyone feels valued, respected, and able to be their full, authentic selves at work.

We’re proud to be a Disability Confident and Carer Positive employer, and we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds. Learn more about our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion here: https://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/the-small-print/an-inclusive-employer

We’re also committed to Fair Work First principles, including effective voice, opportunity, security, fulfilment and respect for all our staff. Learn more about our approach to Fair Work First here: https://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/about-us/fair-work-first

 

We’re working hard to address underrepresentation in our workforce. We especially welcome applications from people with disabilities and from ethnic minority communities.

 

Ready to apply?

Once you apply, add noreply@myjobscotland.gov.uk to your safe sender list so you don’t miss important emails.

 

We’re excited to hear from you. Let’s shape a great Glasgow life — together.

 

 

The following alternative Application Packs can be requested in other format for example, Braille, Audio and other languages. To request an alternative Application Pack please phone 0141 287 1054. Packs will be posted out to you 2nd class within 3 working days of receiving your telephone request. Please note the closing date of the job advert if requesting this to ensure that you give yourself plenty of time to complete your application form and return to us.

Further Information

For further information about working for us please refer to our website https://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/work-with-us