Working at the British Library

• A Civil Service pension defined-benefit scheme with the Library contributing 28.97%.
• Help with study costs.
• Interest-free season ticket loan.
• Access to a discount platform.

• Generous holiday allowance, starting at 25 days (pro rata) plus bank holidays.
• Depending on the role, we offer up to 20 days flexible working leave per annum (pro rata), part-time working, compressed hours and a range of start and finish times.

• Shared parental/maternity leave and pay.
• Paternity leave.
• Paid adoption leave.
• Leave for caring responsibilities.

• An employer-paid medical cash benefits scheme.
• A comprehensive well-being programme, including yoga and Pilates.
• An employee assistance programme, including on-site counselling.
• Inclusive and social staff networks.

• Free admission to national and regional museums.
• Access to collection items and Reading Rooms.
• British Library Shop discounts.
• Sports and social clubs.
• A subsidised staff restaurant.
• Free parking at our Boston Spa site.
• Shower cabins.
• Meditation/quiet rooms.
• Relocation expenses (for certain vacancies only).

You can view our latest vacancies here. Simply select the vacancy you are interested in and select ‘Apply’. You will also be able to download a copy of the job description to see the key duties of the role along with the essential criteria.

If you need support or assistance when applying for a role with us, please contact our recruitment team at bl-recruitment@bl.uk and a member of the team will advise on how to proceed.

Yes of course! But please make sure you read through the job description’s essential criteria to ensure you have the experience and skills suitable to the roles you wish to apply for.

Yes, you can save and exit as many times as you wish. Just make sure you are aware of the closing date of the vacancy you are applying for so you can complete your application before the vacancy closes.

Disability Confident is a government scheme designed to encourage employers to recruit and retain disabled people and individuals with health conditions. The British Library is a Disability Confident employer. This means we have made a commitment to recruit and support disabled people. We guarantee an interview for disabled candidates who meet the minimum essential criteria for the role.

When there is an update on your applications status, we will send you an email to notify you. However, you can check the status of your application at any time by logging into the candidate portal.

Once submitted, you won't be able to amend your application, but you can go back in and download your current application, withdraw the incorrect application and resubmit a new one.

If you have been shortlisted for an interview, you will receive an email inviting you to attend an interview. All the details you need to know will be included in this email including the date, time and location of your interview, who you will be meeting and what, if anything, you need to bring or prepare for.

Please note you will receive email correspondence from us regardless of the outcome of your application.

Wherever possible we will seek to make reasonable adjustments that allow you to feel comfortable at your interview and enable you to perform to your full potential.

We will listen to you to try and understand your circumstances and discuss potential adjustments that may be accommodated.

The British Library carries out competency-based interviews in line with our values-based approach to recruitment. You will be asked a series of questions by the interview panel that will seek to build an understanding of your skillset and previous experience.

You will also be invited to ask questions of your own at the end of the interview.

You will hear back regarding the outcome of your interview either by phone or email. If you have been successful, you will receive a written conditional offer from our Employee Services Recruitment team outlining the main details of the role and what the next steps are regarding recruitment checks.

If you have been unsuccessful, you will receive an email from the Employee Services Recruitment team informing you of this. You have the right to request feedback and this will be provided to you upon request.

The timeline for pre-employment checks can vary depending on the individual and the role they have applied for. Therefore, it isn’t possible to say how long this may take for you.

There are several elements that make up the pre-employment process. The checks involved include a Right to Work Check, DBS check, health assessment and receiving suitable references. Our Employee Services Recruitment team will inform you of what you need to provide to them as part of this process.

You will also receive a link to our onboarding portal where you will be asked to complete some new starter information so the sooner you complete any information asked of you the sooner the checks are likely to be completed.

No, we will send a link for you to complete an online health questionnaire.

We’d love you to start tomorrow! However, the British Library needs to ensure that all relevant checks are completed and considered satisfactory before you can start your employment with us.

A start date will be discussed with you during your recruitment checks or shortly after these are completed.

This varies, as the time checks take to be completed can vary from a couple of days to a few weeks on average.

If you are on a five-week notice period, or less, we recommend handing your notice in once your pre-employment checks are completed and the hiring manager has arranged a start date with you.

If you don't want us to contact your current reference until you have handed your notice in, please inform bl-recruitment@bl.uk as soon as possible after accepting your offer.

If you are on a three-month notice period, you can hand in your notice once you have accepted your offer, because it’s very rare that the pre-employment checks take this long.

Please email bl-recruitment@bl.uk and they will be able to re-set your access.

Please go to Employer forms - Civil Service Pension Scheme and select the pension questionnaire option within the ‘New entrants and rejoiners’ section.