School Librarian

Runnymede College is a private non-denominational British school in Madrid offering a British education to boys and girls of all nationalities from the age of two to eighteen. The education offered follows the British National Curriculum.

Founded as a private school in September 1967, the primary school was inaugurated in 1987, and since 1990, the whole School has been located in La Moraleja, in the north of Madrid. The School is currently being restructured and from September 2024 will be divided into Pre-Prep, Prep (Years 4 to 8) and Senior School (Years 9 to 13).

The school is looking to recruit a Librarian for September 2024.

Responsible to: Deputy Head Academic (Senior School)

Key Internal Relationships: Assistant Head, Senior Deputy Head, Prep School Deputy Head (Academic), Deputy Heads (Pre Prep), Senior & Prep School Heads of Department, Exams Officer.

1. Purpose of the role: To support the teaching and learning within the school through the effective management of library services. To manage and develop a stimulating, accessible and welcoming library spaces. To support the development of a vibrant whole school reading culture and academic research skills.

2. Main responsibilities:

i.) Strategic direction

• To contribute to the review of school academic policies and curriculum plans;

• To work with Deputy Heads (Academic) in the Senior and Prep Schools to develop a culture of academic honesty and appropriate response to the challenges of Artificial Intelligence;

• Contribute to the School Development Plan;

• Inform the School Leadership Team of current research, trends and issues relevant to the academic life of the Senior School to facilitate future planning.

ii). Leadership & Management

• Promote reading across the community;

• Coordinate and monitor the borrowing and return of books to ensure the safeguarding of resources in the School Library and Pre-Prep Library;

• Manage the distribution and return of school subject textbooks, alongside Heads of Department;

• Lead on the development, refreshment, cataloguing, processing, repair and weeding of books and other resources;

• Oversee the management of online resources including online textbook subscriptions;

• Develop, maintain and oversee a digital catalogue of resources, alongside the IT department;

• Work with teachers to coordinate and lead regular class visits;

• Play an active role in the Co-Curricular programme through the delivery of an activity (such as book club);

• Play a leading role in the planning for and delivery of Book Week;

• Support with the continual raising of standards or literacy across the school and the house of high quality texts across the curriculum;

• Oversee the use of the library for Senior School study periods and monitor attendance;

• To work with the Exams Officer regarding the use of the library to the delivery of external exams;

• Establish and nurture positive and productive relationships.

iii.) Professional Expectations

The School Librarian will:

• Demonstrate a personal passion for reading;

• Enjoy working with young people of all ages;

• Have an excellent knowledge of children’s fiction;

• Be highly motivated by the opportunity to set up a new Library and develop new systems;

• Be able to structure extended interactions with visiting pupil groups; • Have a good working knowledge of library management systems;

• Demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills;

• Have excellent organisational skills.

Child Safeguarding:

Runnymede College is committed to Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.

The successful candidate will be required to:

• Attend regular in-house child protection and safeguarding programmes and sign a Code of Conduct;

• Play a leading role in promoting and safeguarding the welfare of all pupils in the school;

• Report to the Designated Safeguarding Lead any concerns they have for the welfare of a pupil;

• Be familiar with and adhere to school policies, notably the Safeguarding & Child Protection Policy and Staff Handbook.

The Libraries

Following the development of a new Prep School building on the old Library site, the new School Library has been built and developed during the academic year 2023-24, due for completion in June 2024. The Pre-Prep Library is housed in the main Pre-Prep and administration building having been renovated and completed in June 2023.

With two new library spaces, the School Librarian will be motivated by the opportunity to develop these spaces and use their previous experience to advise senior staff as to the most appropriate ways to do this.

The School Library opening hours will cover as much of the working College day as possible. The School Library will be staffed during opening hours, except during morning break and lunch break when Library Prefects will be on duty.

The School Library will be used by individual pupils and staff for study, and will also be available to be partially booked for class use. The Librarian will be involved in the support of teaching groups or individuals, helping with information literacy development and individual enquiries.

The School Library has been designed to be able to operate as an exam hall and accommodate large exams at key points during the academic year, and this will require the School Librarian to liaise with the Exams Officer.

The successful applicant will have: 

• a good honours degree from a British University 
• previous experience as a Librarian in a school environment -desired
• good working knowledge of library management systems
• be a native level English speaker 

Please complete the TES online application form and attach your CV and covering letter.

Final date for applications- Monday 8th April 2024

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and first round interviews will take place via Zoom on a rolling basis. The final round interview will be held face-to-face at Runnymede College in Madrid. The School reserves the right to make an appointment before the closing date if a suitable candidate is found. If you have not heard from us within six weeks of submitting your application, please assume you were unsuccessful this time.

We are an equal opportunities employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Hiring decisions are based on skills, experience and attributes required for the role. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons.

Runnymede is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including check with past employers and the ACRO Criminal Records Office.