Project Library Assistant - Westminster, SW1A0PW

Project Library Assistant - Westminster, SW1A0PW

Project Library Assistant

House of Lords - Library

BELONG HERE. TOGETHER, WE MAKE PARLIAMENT HAPPEN.

As a Project Library Assistant, you'll play an important role in supporting the UK's parliamentary democracy. Your work will help Members carry out their responsibilities effectively - contributing to something bigger than any one role.

You'll be part of a collaborative community, working alongside colleagues from a wide range of professions. Together, we make Parliament happen.

You'll be based on the Parliamentary Estate in Westminster - a unique working environment shaped by history and powered by the people who work here today.

You'll help safeguard and enhance one of Parliament's most significant collections, supporting a project that will improve how historic and contemporary resources are managed for future generations. Working within a unique organisation that combines centuries of heritage with modern ways of working, you'll contribute to ensuring the House of Lords Library remains an effective, accessible and trusted resource at the heart of parliamentary democracy.

This is an opportunity to develop specialist skills while collaborating with librarians, collections specialists, researchers and project professionals across the Parliamentary Estate. You'll be part of a supportive and inclusive team where different perspectives are valued, with the chance to contribute ideas, improve processes and make a visible impact on an important collection review project. Whether you're building on existing library experience or looking to grow your career in a heritage environment, you'll find a place where you can belong, develop and thrive.

What you'll be doing

In this role, you'll:

  • Support the review of Library collections by carrying out records appraisal, updating catalogue information, capturing data, and maintaining inventory records. This will involve working with a range of systems and tools, including the Koha Library Management System, SharePoint, Excel, Word, and other applications as required.
  • Work collaboratively as part of a project team, contributing to shared goals, sharing knowledge, and raising questions or issues promptly to help ensure the project progresses smoothly.
  • Assist with collection management activities, including identifying, retrieving, relocating, and processing items as part of collection moves and disposal projects.
  • Help prepare collections for relocation in line with established collection care standards. This includes activities such as packing, labelling, transporting materials, and keeping movement records up to date.
  • Retrieve and reshelve books from the Library's collections, including materials arranged according to the Library's historic classification system and, on occasion, the Dewey Decimal Classification scheme. Some of this work will involve using access equipment and working at height.

What we're looking for

We're looking for someone who can bring their skills and experience to make a meaningful contribution here.

You'll have:

  • Excellent attention to detail, and proven ability to maintain a high level of accuracy and motivation when performing routine and repetitive tasks.
  • Good IT skills - particularly Microsoft Excel.
  • Ability to organise own time and prioritise duties, especially when working under pressure to meet deadlines.

It would be even better if you have (or are willing to learn):

  • Experience working in a library, archive, or heritage institution.
  • Experience in recording bibliographical data.
  • A demonstrable interest in rare books/special collections, including understanding of safe handling practices.

For full details, please see the job description.

What you'll get in return

Working at the House of Lords means joining a community that values your wellbeing, growth and contribution.

You'll benefit from:

  • 30 days annual leave (rising to 35 after one year).
  • Generous Civil Service pension scheme.
  • A comprehensive Parliamentary health and wellbeing programme.
  • Access to a wide range of learning and development opportunities across diverse professions.
  • The chance to witness democracy in action and work in a place of historic national significance.

The work we do is vital to the House of Lords - the second chamber of the UK Parliament. It plays a critical role in making laws, scrutinising government, and providing independent expertise on national issues.

Ready to apply?

If you're looking for an employer where you can belong, grow and thrive, we'd love to hear from you.

Please complete your online application by 23:59 on Sunday, 6th September 2026.

Back to blog

Other Jobs To Apply

No other job posts for this day.

Common Interview Questions And Answers

1. HOW DO YOU PLAN YOUR DAY?

This is what this question poses: When do you focus and start working seriously? What are the hours you work optimally? Are you a night owl? A morning bird? Remote teams can be made up of people working on different shifts and around the world, so you won't necessarily be stuck in the 9-5 schedule if it's not for you...

2. HOW DO YOU USE THE DIFFERENT COMMUNICATION TOOLS IN DIFFERENT SITUATIONS?

When you're working on a remote team, there's no way to chat in the hallway between meetings or catch up on the latest project during an office carpool. Therefore, virtual communication will be absolutely essential to get your work done...

3. WHAT IS "WORKING REMOTE" REALLY FOR YOU?

Many people want to work remotely because of the flexibility it allows. You can work anywhere and at any time of the day...

4. WHAT DO YOU NEED IN YOUR PHYSICAL WORKSPACE TO SUCCEED IN YOUR WORK?

With this question, companies are looking to see what equipment they may need to provide you with and to verify how aware you are of what remote working could mean for you physically and logistically...

5. HOW DO YOU PROCESS INFORMATION?

Several years ago, I was working in a team to plan a big event. My supervisor made us all work as a team before the big day. One of our activities has been to find out how each of us processes information...

6. HOW DO YOU MANAGE THE CALENDAR AND THE PROGRAM? WHICH APPLICATIONS / SYSTEM DO YOU USE?

Or you may receive even more specific questions, such as: What's on your calendar? Do you plan blocks of time to do certain types of work? Do you have an open calendar that everyone can see?...

7. HOW DO YOU ORGANIZE FILES, LINKS, AND TABS ON YOUR COMPUTER?

Just like your schedule, how you track files and other information is very important. After all, everything is digital!...

8. HOW TO PRIORITIZE WORK?

The day I watched Marie Forleo's film separating the important from the urgent, my life changed. Not all remote jobs start fast, but most of them are...

9. HOW DO YOU PREPARE FOR A MEETING AND PREPARE A MEETING? WHAT DO YOU SEE HAPPENING DURING THE MEETING?

Just as communication is essential when working remotely, so is organization. Because you won't have those opportunities in the elevator or a casual conversation in the lunchroom, you should take advantage of the little time you have in a video or phone conference...

10. HOW DO YOU USE TECHNOLOGY ON A DAILY BASIS, IN YOUR WORK AND FOR YOUR PLEASURE?

This is a great question because it shows your comfort level with technology, which is very important for a remote worker because you will be working with technology over time...