Overview
Librarian (Academic and Digital Services) Jobs in City of Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa at Cornerstone Institute
Title: Librarian (Academic and Digital Services)
Company: Cornerstone Institute
Location: City of Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
Librarian (Academic & Digital Services)
Department: Office of the Executive Dean
Reports to: Faculty Manager
Location: Salt River, Cape Town
Employment Type: Permanent, Full-Time
About Cornerstone Institute:
Cornerstone Institute is an independent, registered and accredited not-for-profit private higher education institution. Our work is rooted in teaching and learning in the service of others, with a commitment to education that advances human dignity, social justice and meaningful transformation.
We offer undergraduate and postgraduate learning opportunities across various disciplines, with many of our programmes offered online and on campus. This means our students are not limited to one place, one life stage or one traditional student journey.
Many of our students are adult learners, working professionals, parents, career changers and people returning to study with purpose. They are often balancing study with work, family, finances and personal growth.
This shapes how we think about student support, access to learning resources, and the role of the library within a modern higher education environment.
About the Role
We are looking for a Librarian to support both our online and campus-based learning environment.
The successful candidate will help stabilise and strengthen library services following a recent campus transition, while progressively enhancing digital and academic support in an online-first institution.
The role requires someone who is operationally organised, digitally capable and comfortable supporting students and lecturers across both physical and online environments.
The Librarian will work closely with academic staff, students and institutional support teams to help ensure learning resources remain accessible, relevant and aligned to teaching and learning needs.
Key Responsibilities
Library Operations and Student Support
• Manage day-to-day library operations and services.
• Support students to access physical and digital learning resources.
• Provide research and referencing support to students and lecturers.
• Support a responsive and student-centred library experience.
• Supervise and support the Library Assistant.
Digital Library and LMS Support
• Support access to digital databases, e-books, journals and academic resources.
• Assist students and lecturers with navigating library resources within the Learning Management System.
• Help maintain and improve library integration within online learning environments.
• Support online students through digital communication and support channels.
Academic and Faculty Collaboration
• Work with lecturers and programme teams to align learning resources with curriculum needs.
• Support prescribed and recommended reading material processes.
• Assist in strengthening students’ information literacy and research capability.
• Contribute to a supportive academic environment for working adult learners.
Quality Assurance and Compliance Support
• Support institutional quality assurance and accreditation processes.
• Maintain organised and audit-ready library documentation and records.
• Participate in regulatory and audit activities where required.
• Help ensure learning resources remain aligned with higher education requirements and programme needs.
Collection Development and Resource Management
• Assist with maintaining relevant and up-to-date academic resources.
• Support digital-first approaches to resource accessibility.
• Monitor and organise library collections and subscriptions.
• Identify resource gaps and improvement opportunities.
We’re Looking for Some Who:
• Understands the realities of supporting working adult learners.
• Is comfortable in digital-first and online learning environments.
• Can balance operational stability with continuous improvement.
• Is organised, responsive and service-oriented.
• Communicates confidently and professionally with students, lecturers and staff.
• Can work collaboratively across teams and departments.
• Brings initiative, adaptability and curiosity to their work.
Minimum Requirements
• A qualification in Library and Information Science or a related field.
• Experience working within an academic library or higher education environment.
• Experience supporting online or blended learning environments.
• Familiarity with Learning Management Systems
• Strong digital literacy, communication and organisational skills.
The following would be advantageous:
• Exposure to higher education accreditation or quality assurance processes.
• Experience supporting adult learners or online students.
• Experience working with academic databases and digital resource platforms.
This Role May Suit You If
- You enjoy helping students access opportunities through learning.
- You are comfortable working in both structured operational environments and evolving digital spaces.
- You understand that student support is not only administrative; it is relational, practical and often deeply connected to confidence, accessibility and belonging.
- You are interested in helping create a library experience that supports modern higher education students navigating work, study, family and personal growth simultaneously.
- You can start on 1 June 2026
How to Apply:
Please submit your application via LinkedIn using the Apply Now button.
Applications submitted by email will not be accepted.
Applicants are invited to submit:
• A CV.
• A short cover letter explaining why this role interests them.
Closing date: 11 May 2026
