Library assistants in the UK can be found working across many different settings. From public libraries and academic institutions to specialist libraries (e.g. medical libraries), the nature of your library employment will depend largely on your past experience, education and career aspirations.

Generally, the library assistant role involves tasks such as organising library bookshelves, assisting library users with their enquiries, managing book loans and returns, and helping maintain the library environment as a whole. Other than streamlining our access to information, library assistants also contribute to the execution of outreach programmes, which serve local communities and bring people together.

Due to public spending cuts in the UK, libraries have had to employ less staff, ultimately ramping up the competition for library jobs. As a result, applicants have to work a lot harder to secure their desired positions. A lot of that work starts with the quality of your application, particularly your library assistant cover letter, which allows you to really make your case.

To find out how to create a well-written and convincing cover letter for a library assistant, check out our cover letter examples. Along with our detailed guide, these will show you what a successful cover letter looks and get you a few giant leaps closer to getting your dream role.

Library Assistant Cover Letter Sample

Craft a winning library assistant cover letter with the help of our cover letter templates. Get to grips with cover letter writing, structure and formatting, and waste no more of your time with applications that never lead anywhere.

Check out the cover letter examples we’ve compiled for you below.

cover letter for library assistant

Anna McDonald
195 Crown Street
London W12 4WB
07912 345 678
anna.mcdonald@example.co.uk

21 August 2024

Ben Worthington
Kentish Town Library
262-266 Kentish Town Road
NW5 2AA
b.worthington@kentishtownlibrary.co.uk

Dear Mr Worthington,

I am writing to express my interest in the Library Assistant position at Kentish Town Library, as advertised on Indeed. With a passion for literature, strong customer service experience, and a commitment to fostering community engagement, I believe I would be a valuable addition to your team.

I have over two years of experience working in a busy customer-facing environment, where I developed excellent organisational and communication skills. In my previous role as a customer service assistant, I was responsible for managing inquiries, maintaining records, and providing assistance to a diverse range of people. My ability to work efficiently, both independently and as part of a team, ensures that tasks are completed accurately and on time.

What attracts me to the vacancy at Kentish Town Library is your reputation for delivering excellent services and supporting community initiatives. I am enthusiastic about the opportunity to assist in organising library events, helping patrons navigate both physical and digital resources, and contributing to a welcoming and inclusive environment for all visitors.

My strong IT skills, combined with a keen attention to detail, will allow me to effectively support the cataloguing and management of library materials. Additionally, my approachable and patient manner ensures that I can provide exceptional service to all library users.

I am excited about the possibility of contributing to the success of Kentish Town Library and would welcome the opportunity to discuss my application further. Thank you for considering my application.

Yours sincerely,

Anna McDonald

How to Write a Library Assistant Cover Letter

Writing your library assistant cover letter doesn’t have to be pure agony. Though it’s not exactly controversial to dislike writing cover letters, it’s worth bearing in mind that they fulfil an important role. From an employer’s point of view, cover letters are there to allow them to get a better understanding of what you’re like and whether you’re suitable for the role. After all, a CV offers a mere outline of you as an applicant given that it’s essentially just a list. Your covering letter, on the other hand, gives you a voice and allows you to make a case for why you should be hired.

To make sure you make your case convincingly, we now bring you a comprehensive guide on writing a cover letter for a library assistant. Keep reading to find out how to craft a cover letter that truly gets you noticed

cover letter library assistant

Here’s your library assistant cover letter step by step:

Step 1: Get Researching

To give your cover letter that extra something, really familiarise yourself with the library you’re applying to. Consider things like: what are they like? What kinds of programmes do they run? What values do they lead by? Weave the answers to these questions into your cover letter and explain how that lines up with what you believe in, how you approach work and what you can bring to the role. Employers nowadays often look for people who can demonstrate fitness across many different areas, not simply work experience.

With that in mind, it’s probably becoming clear why using the same cover letter for multiple applications is not likely to offer great returns. It’s not hard for hiring managers to spot an untailored cover letter, but it’s very easy for them to dismiss it right away. Always tailor your library assistant cover letter; not just based on company characteristics, but also the content of the job description to get past applicant tracking systems (ATS).

Step 2: Add Your Contact Information and Date

Of course, you wouldn’t have sent off your application without your contact information. What would be the point? You’re obviously right on that one, but your cover letter format needs to adhere to some convention if it’s to look professional.

So, start your cover letter by writing down your full name, home address, phone number and email address in the top left corner. Add a space underneath, write today’s date, then add another space below. Now, write down the hiring manager’s contact information, i.e. their name and email address, followed by the company/library name and postcode.

In the end, you should end up with something like what you see below:

Samantha James
4 Bold Street
Liverpool L1 4JG
07912 345 678
samantha.james@example.com

21.08.2024

Paul Piper
Kentish Town Library
NW5 2AA
p.piper@kentishtownlibrary.co.uk

Step 3: Start with a Fitting Salutation

Ideally, you would start your cover letter by greeting your hiring manager by their surname. In some cases, the hiring manager’s name is provided in the job description, and you’re good to go. Of course that’s the best case scenario. Other times, you may need to go to some effort to find it, whether on LinkedIn or the company website. If you’re feeling extra brave, you may even contact the organisation by phone and ask for the name. Given that you’re applying for a library position, it wouldn’t be surprising if the person who picks up has an answer for you right away. In any case, the gesture is worth the time investment (within reason, of course).

However, if you aren’t able to get your hands on the hiring manager’s name despite your best attempts, it’s best to go with “Dear Hiring Manager”, and move on. There’s plenty more work and impressing to be done, after all.

Impersonal greetings such as “To Whom It May Concern” or “Dear Sir or Madam” are best kept clear of. While not a crime, they won’t help as far as endearing you to your reader.

Dear Mr. Wright

OR

Dear Hiring Manager

Step 4: Capture Your Reader’s Attention

A good opener can mean the difference between your reader staying focused and your reader remembering it’s almost time for lunch. First impressions aren’t reserved for in-person interactions, they can also take place in writing. And if the very first impression of you is as someone who’s boring, sloppy or chaotic, you don’t stand a chance.

So, be sure to invest a good chunk of time in writing a captivating cover letter opener. Apart from that, start by telling your reader why you’re contacting them, what position you are applying for and where you found it. Then, introduce yourself in a few words and explain why you believe you are the right fit for the advertised position. Also, see to it that your reader can feel your enthusiasm throughout.

I am writing to express my interest in the Library Assistant position at Wood Green Library, as advertised on Indeed. With a passion for literature, strong customer service experience, and a commitment to fostering community engagement, I believe I would be a valuable addition to your team.

OR

I am writing to apply for the Library Assistant position at Kentish Town Library, as advertised on Gumtree. With a strong background in customer service and a deep enthusiasm for community-driven learning environments, I am eager to contribute to the ongoing success and vibrant atmosphere of your library.

Step 5: Prove Your Suitability

Selling the hiring manager on your suitability is going to take some time, effort and savviness. After all, their job is to find someone who doesn’t just look good on paper but also has the qualities needed to excel in the role over the long haul. Some of these qualities are mentioned in the job description, some aren’t, which is why it’s important you cover all your bases. Work with the job description to ensure you address the most important criteria, but go beyond it when citing your achievements and past experiences.

To excel in any library assistant role, skills such as customer service skills, excellent communication, attention to detail, teamwork and great organisational skills are crucial. Make sure to demonstrate these in your library assistant cover letter to get the hiring manager’s consideration.

When citing your qualifications, experience, skills and so forth, always remember to extrapolate the ways in which these things align with the role requirements or demonstrate your capacity to offer value as a new employee. Be clear as to these things, even if it feels like you’re spelling them out to the hiring manager.

I have over two years of experience working in a busy customer-facing environment, where I developed excellent organisational and communication skills. In my previous role as a customer service assistant, I was responsible for managing inquiries, maintaining records, and providing assistance to a diverse range of people. My ability to work efficiently, both independently and as part of a team, means I could be of immediate value to the Wood Green Library team.

OR

In my previous role as a customer service assistant, I honed my ability to communicate effectively with a diverse audience and manage multiple tasks with accuracy and efficiency. These skills are directly transferable to the responsibilities of a library assistant, including helping patrons locate resources, managing book loans, and supporting various programmes and services such as those led by Kentish Town Library.

Step 6: End on a Memorable Note

You’re probably wondering how to end your cover letter memorably. After all, this is your last opportunity to impress the hiring manager before you leave the rest to fate.

Start by mentioning what it is that has compelled you to apply for this role at this particular library. Whether it’s their reputation, their work, their values, or their services, make it as personal as you can, and state how that fits in with you and your skills and experience.

The tone is just as important here as the content of your words, so consider it carefully and make sure it’s consistent with the kind of person you proclaimed yourself to be.

What excites me most about the opportunity at Kentish Town Library is the chance to engage with a dynamic and culturally rich community. I am particularly interested in supporting your initiatives to make the library an inclusive space where everyone feels welcome and inspired. My experience in organising events and my ability to adapt to new technologies will enable me to contribute meaningfully to your team.

OR

I am particularly drawn to this role at Wood Green Library because of your reputation for delivering excellent services and supporting community initiatives. I am enthusiastic about the opportunity to assist in organising library events, helping patrons navigate both physical and digital resources, and contributing to a welcoming and inclusive environment for all visitors.

Step 7: Sign Off Appropriately

Signing off your cover letter in a way that speaks professionalism and tact also makes up a fraction of the impression you make. So, be sure to thank the hiring manager for their time and close with one of the following: “Yours sincerely” if you referred to them by their surname, or “Yours faithfully” if you didn’t. Other sign-offs such as “Kind regards” or “Best wishes” are also acceptable, particularly if you feel they match the tone of your cover letter better.

I am excited about the possibility of contributing to the success of Wood Green Library and would welcome the opportunity to discuss my application further. Thank you for considering my application.
Yours sincerely,
Samantha James

OR

Thank you for considering my application. I would be delighted to further discuss how my skills and experiences align with the needs of Kentish Town Library.
Kind regards,
Samantha James

Step 8: Scan for Errors

When writing your cover letter, errors are pretty much a given. Even if you feel like you learnt your cover letter off by heart as you wrote, there’s no good reason to take risks that could sabotage its reception. Rest your eyes and come back to give it a fresher look, or get someone else to read your cover letter for you – other people’s mistakes are far easier to catch than our own.

Remember to also scan for formatting errors, which can be just as harmful to the overall presentation of your library assistant cover letter. In case you’re wondering, the best font for your cover letter is something more conventional like Arial, Times New Roman or Calibri in size that ranges from 10 to 12 points. Other than that, ensure 1-inch margins and consistent spacing throughout to improve readability.

Create a Memorable Library Assistant Application

Supercharge your career success with a polished library assistant CV alongside your cover letter. Our cover letter and CV builders are on hand to help you craft a job application that makes recruitment a breeze.

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Frequently Asked Questions About a Library Assistant Cover Letter

How to write a library assistant cover letter with no experience?

While having work experience can often help our chances of landing a job, not having it doesn’t have to be the be-all and end-all of your career aspirations as a library assistant.

The good news is that working as a library assistant is based heavily on soft skills such as communication, attention to detail, organisation and customer service skills, which are transferable and can be developed outside formal work experience. Make sure to emphasise such skills and describe the experiences that allowed you to hone them, as you write your cover letter.

What to include in a library assistant cover letter?

When assessing your suitability as a library assistant, hiring managers will primarily want to see that you possess the skills necessary to excel in the role. As mentioned above, these include customer service skills, attention to detail, communication skills, and the ability to organise yourself well.

Beyond demonstrating your skills, include any career experiences directly or indirectly relevant to the library assistant role you’re pursuing. The significance of work experience will depend largely on the setting in which you’re looking to work, whether a public library or an educational institution, for example.

Other than that, hiring managers also look for individuals with good work ethic and a positive attitude, so be sure to get these across as well.

How long should a library assistant cover letter be?

As far as the optimal length of a cover letter goes, 250 to 400 words is it. This is more than enough space to show hiring managers that you’re worth inviting for an interview without accidentally overdoing it.

Fast-Track Your Library Assistant Career

Get your dream career off the ground with a library assistant cover letter that does what it says on the box. Our cover letter examples, templates, and expert tips are all yours to make use of when writing your cover letter for library assistant jobs you really want.

cover letter for library assistant

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