William Stewart
Summary
Experienced professional specializing in literacy program coordination, digital records management, and library management software. Proven skills in information organization, educational outreach, and negotiation, with advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite. Dedicated to enhancing access to information and education through impactful initiatives.
Overview
1
1
Certification
9
9
years of post-secondary education
15
15
years of professional experience
Work history
Customer Service Officer
Colchester City Council
Colchester, Essex
2024.07 - 2026.08
- Providing a warm welcome to customers to the park.
- Preparing and serving drinks and food to customers.
- Taking cash and electronic payments for food, drinks and other items, including children’s toys, souvenirs, books, etc.
- Following the procedures for opening up and closing down.
- ‘Cashing up’ and till reconciliation.
- Ensuring compliance with Health and Safety regulations, including food allergy.
- General housekeeping
- Highwoods country Park, Colchester, Essex
Volunteer Librarian
Marx Memorial Library
Clerkenwell Green, London
2018.09 - 2026.08
- Welcomed readers warmly and assisted with information requirements and enquiries to foster a supportive environment.
- Maintained articles in optimal condition to enhance accessibility for research and reference needs.
- Cataloguing & classifying pamphlets, books and other artefacts relating to the labour, trade union and various socialist movements, parties and theorists.
- Performed general administration tasks, including record keeping and ensuring health & safety compliance, to support library operations.
Library Services Adviser
University of Suffolk
Ipswich, Suffolk
2024.11 - 2025.05
- Provide advice to students, face to face, via phone, live chat (LibAnswers / LibChat) & email on specific & general information resources & needs.
- Referring students to subject librarians (& other staff) where relevant.
- Gathered user experience data and provided actionable suggestions for improvement.
- Participated in projects to enhance library user experience through collaboration and innovation.
- Assisted users with IT issues and resolved general troubleshooting inquiries.
- Monitoring & resolving health & safety & behavioural issues within the library.
- Processing new stock, withdrawals, holds & interlibrary loans.
- Stock acquisition, ordering & related processes.
- Reading list processing.
- Digitisation requests according to copyright law.
- Creating signage and other displays.
- Shelved library materials efficiently and maintained cleanliness throughout the library.
Library Services Adviser
Anglia Ruskin University (ARU Library)
Chelmsford, Essex
2022.03 - 2022.11
- Provide advice to students, face to face, via phone, live chat (LibAnswers / LibChat) & email on specific & general information resources & needs.
- Referring students to subject librarians (& other staff) where relevant.
- Gathered data on user experience and provided actionable suggestions for improvement.
- Participated in projects to develop and enhance the library user experience.
- Assisted users with IT issues and troubleshooting to enhance their access to resources.
- Managed stock acquisition and ordering processes to maintain library inventory.
- Processing new stock, withdrawals, holds & interlibrary loans.
- Reading list processing.
- Digitisation requests according to copyright law.
- Creating signage and other displays.
- Monitoring & resolving health & safety & behavioural issues within the library.
- Organised library materials by shelving books and ensuring cleanliness of the space.
Lead Volunteer
Global Educational Trust – Free Bookshop
Tamworth, West Midlands
2018.01 - 2018.07
- Establishing the shop from the ground, including cleaning, acquiring furniture & book donations, advertising for, interviewing & training volunteers, maintaining close relations with the Ankerside Shopping Centre management team, where the shop was located.
- Managed daily administrative tasks to ensure smooth operations, including record keeping and health and safety compliance.
- Providing a warm welcome to customers customers and assisting them with their requirements.
- Produced press releases, leafletted, established social media presence, and forged contacts with local stakeholders to promote shop opening.
Lettings Manager
Lettings Manager (Self-Employed P/T)
2011.03 - 2018.01
- Interviewing of prospective tenants.
- Referencing and conducting financial background checks.
- Drawing up of necessary contracts and inventories.
- Advertised properties through print media and online to increase visibility and attract potential tenants.
- Coordinated repairs and cleaning while managing third party contractors to maintain property standards and tenant satisfaction.
- Regularly visiting properties to check condition.
- Maintaining ever-current knowledge of relevant property & letting law and regulations.
- Managed accounting and billing functions to ensure accurate financial reporting and timely payments.
- Managed various administrative tasks to ensure smooth office operations.
Education
MA - Comparative History
University of Essex
2000.01 - 2002.01
MA - Information Services Management
University of North London
1997.01 - 1998.01
BA (Hons) - History & Government
University of Essex
1993.01 - 1996.01
A-Level - Government, History, Psychology, Religious Studies
Deben High School / Suffolk College
1990.01 - 1993.01
Skills
- Customer engagement
- Point of sale systems
- Records management
- Information organisation
- Microsoft Office expertise
- Customer education
- Negotiation skills
- Empathy and understanding
Certification
- July 2019: St. Johns Ambulance
- September 2019: St. John’s Ambulance
- First Aid Course
- March 2019: City Fire Training Limited
- Fire Marshall Course
- September – December 2016: Udemy
- Microsoft Excel - Intermediate
- July – October 2015: High Speed Learning
- Retail Customer Service Skills
- Anti-Money Laundering (AML) & Financial Crime
- Equality & Diversity
- January 2010: Essex County Council
- Work Based Health & Safety Certificate
- May – July 2008: University of Ulster
- Certificate in E-Tutoring & Mentoring
- January 2003: Telephone Helplines’ Association
- Certificate in Telephone Counselling
Professional Membership
Chartered Institute of Library & Information Professionals
Chartered Institute of Housing
Timeline
Library Services Adviser
University of Suffolk
2024.11 - 2025.05
Customer Service Officer
Colchester City Council
2024.07 - 2026.08
Library Services Adviser
Anglia Ruskin University (ARU Library)
2022.03 - 2022.11
Volunteer Librarian
Marx Memorial Library
2018.09 - 2026.08
Lead Volunteer
Global Educational Trust – Free Bookshop
2018.01 - 2018.07
Lettings Manager
Lettings Manager (Self-Employed P/T)
2011.03 - 2018.01
MA - Comparative History
University of Essex
2000.01 - 2002.01
MA - Information Services Management
University of North London
1997.01 - 1998.01
BA (Hons) - History & Government
University of Essex
1993.01 - 1996.01
A-Level - Government, History, Psychology, Religious Studies
Deben High School / Suffolk College
1990.01 - 1993.01