Librarian

The English College is looking for an enthusiastic, creative and reflective educationalist to maintain the position of our library right at the heart of the school. They will further develop a love of reading, support departments and students in making the most of our library facilities, and focus on whole-school literacy, curricular engagement and information literacy, while at the same time working alongside a library assistant to maintain the accessibility and integrity of our physical and online resources. 

The school is undergoing a major renovation, so the library is currently operating from a temporary location at one of two sites, and providing a “mobile library” service to the other, with students and teachers ordering the books they want online. September 2025 will see the school reunited on a single modernised site. You can learn more about how the library usually functions here.

We are looking for a charismatic, confident and dynamic individual who will feel comfortable working as an equal partner with Departmental and Faculty leaders and offers a clear vision of how the library will operate within the structure of the whole school. They must also be comfortable and capable of delivering information sessions to students on using the library, literacy, and related study skills. In-depth knowledge of Library IT systems is not necessary, but the candidate should be comfortable with technology and will need to learn Accessit and Google Workspace for Education. 

The ideal candidate will have recent experience working in the UK, either in the fee-paying or maintained sector, that they now want to apply in a European context. This role allows the successful candidate to work in a prestigious HMC school, with the professional learning opportunities, networking potential and reputational benefits the network brings, while working in a landscape that is more positive and allows more autonomy than the UK.

Short School Statement

We are an unusual, exciting and academic HMC secondary school educating both Czech and international students. While we prepare our students for a small number of core IGCSEs, and Common European Framework language exams, our main focus is on delivering success in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme and the Czech Maturita qualification. Each year, our graduates go on to study at prestigious universities in the UK, continental Europe and North America. We offer the successful candidate adventure, challenge and good remuneration in one of the most beautiful cities in Europe.

For further information including a description of living and working in the Czech Republic, please visit the English College in Prague website via this link.  

Job Specification Overview:

The ideal candidate will be confident to perform the following duties and responsibilities:

• Lead on the strategic evolution of the library, ensuring it remains at the heart of literacy education in the school
• Manage the day-to-day running of the library, and the work of the Library Assistant.
• Continuously develop the library’s resources in collaboration with the teaching staff, maintaining its relevance to the ever-changing demands of curricula, reading trends and technology
• Work collaboratively with the English Faculty to promote reading for pleasure through the use of Accelerated Reader
• Be able to advise on and/or amend curricular Schemes of Work to include planned library-usage time
• Deliver effective learning and whole-school literacy leadership
• Develop one-off lessons or a bespoke lessons scheme with individual teachers or academic departments, including the preparation of resource materials
• Develop programmes, events and displays promoting reading and the library’s resources
• Maintain the library’s social media sites in a proactive manner, consistent with the school’s intranet and external website
• Prepare and maintain the library’s budget
• Lead (or support the library assistant - depending on skills and experience)
• in cataloguing the various library resources, both print and digital, using the Dewey Decimal System, MARC and RDA records, and use of a subject authority list
• in maintaining the library management system including the creation and administration of resource and user records
• in purchasing, processing and managing resources for the library and the rest of the school.
• Support and promote our student library volunteer programme
• Assist students and staff with their research and referencing needs, including directly providing feedback on students’ work to both students and their teachers.
• Maintain membership of a relevant professional library organisation (i.e. School Library Association) and professional relationship with library contacts including librarians both local and abroad
• Maintain a working knowledge of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, especially in relation to research and referencing

Criminal Records Bureau Disclosure and References Statement

The English College in Prague is totally committed to safeguarding the welfare of children and young people and expects the same from its employees. All new staff will be subject to enhanced DBS clearance, or similar depending on their country of origin or previous employment. Identity checks, employment checks and qualifications checks all form a non-negotiable part of the recruitment process. Any gaps in employment will be examined, and we will require at least two references, including one from your most recent Headteacher. Safeguarding and child protection training is given on arrival and the induction process follows UK best practice in this regard too.

How to apply:

Fill in the ECP Application Form which you can download after clicking at Apply Now and send a short covering letter to the Headmaster, Dr. Nigel Brown, at headmaster@englishcollege.cz. Please include a complete career history as well as the names, email addresses and telephone numbers of two referees, including your current or most recent Headteacher. Only applicants selected for an interview will be contacted. Shortlisted candidates will be notified on or before 18th January. Initial interviews will be conducted in person in London on Wednesday 24th January or online. Final interviews will be held in Prague (travel expenses will be reimbursed).