Reader Services Librarian

The Bodleian Libraries are seeking to appoint a Reader Services Librarian to join the East Asian section. The East Asian section provides library and information skills support for research and teaching in Chinese, Japanese and Korean studies across the University of Oxford and offers reader services and reading room facilities at KB Chen China Centre Library and Bodleian Japanese Library.

The Reader Services Librarian has responsibility (under the direction of Head of East Asian Section) for reader services, academic support, and assist with the collection development of Chinese collections. The incumbent has day-to-day responsibility for the effective delivery of high-quality academic support and reader services to University and external readers, managing the staff rota and team diary of Bodleian KB Chen China Centre Library and Bodleian Japanese Library and the day-to-day operations of the Bodleian KB Chen China Centre Library. This involves liaising with library users, staff supervision and management, maintaining and developing a strong reader-centered ethos and a flexible, team-based approach to meeting differing readers’ needs. The postholder provides administrative and curatorial support to Head of East Asian Section and assist the work of subject librarians of the East Asian Section.

You will have excellent knowledge of Chinese language (both written and spoken) and have a degree in Chinese studies or a cognate academic field. You will have experience and possess excellent spoken and written communication skills in English. You will have sound understanding of information needs of researchers and students. You will have excellent team working skills and ability to manage a small team of staff to provide high quality reader services and reading room facilities. You be responsible for managing the staffing rota and day-to-day operations of reading rooms.

This is a permanent, full-time position, working onsite 37.5 hours per week. This position will involve some manual handling and will include some evening, weekend and lone working.

You will be required to upload your CV and a supporting statement as part of your online application. Your supporting statement should list each of the essential and desirable selection criteria, as listed in the job description, and explain how you meet each one. CV’s submitted on their own will not be considered.

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.

Our range of employee benefits and discounts include 38 days leave (including bank holidays), extensive training and development opportunities, access to travel and childcare schemes, free entry to colleges, discounted access to sporting facilities and a wide range of other staff discounts. For more details please see 

We aim to provide a supportive working environment and are happy to discuss training and professional development opportunities. The Chair of this recruitment panel will be Mamtimyn Sunuodula, Librarian of the KB Chen China Centre Library, who can be contacted with enquiries relating to the role ([email protected]). General queries about the recruitment and application process should be directed to the Recruitment team within our Human Resources department ([email protected]).  

Only applications received online by 12.00 midday (BST/GMT) on Wednesday 13 March 2024 can be considered. Interviews are expected to take place on Tuesday 2 April 2024.