SCONUL Community perspectives on library apprenticeships

The HE library sector sees very significant benefits arising from apprenticeships and traineeships being included within their library teams. The findings were identified by a recent survey the full results of which are available here: SCONUL Community perspectives on library apprenticeships (available for members: please log in for access).

Benefits highlighted include

• increased diversity within the workforce
• improving staff retention
• bringing fresh thinking and new perspectives
• developing the skills of current staff.

Respondents commented:

“We all learn from offering an apprenticeship. It provides an opportunity for all my team to reflect on their professional practice as they train and mentor a new entrant to specialist academic library work.”

and

“This will help to open up the profession to people who can't afford the time and /or money for a postgrad study. This will help to diversify librarianship which will in itself benefit the service we provide.”

and

“We see great value in having an apprentice as through their study they bring their knowledge to the workplace. They also bring their understanding about being a student to help them support all the students studying at [our university].”

The survey was carried out as part of a project run by SCONUL’s Organisational Development Strategy Group which is exploring the scope for apprenticeships to support the development of a diverse, representative and committed workforce.