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)

The development of the library workforce has been one of the major issues for our members over recent years, and these were explored through the Libraries after Lockdown programme which looked at the recruitment lifecycle and the development of an agile and flexible workforce and which facilitated conversations with library leaders in the US, Europe and Australia to share views and experiences.

Recordings of these discussions are available here:

• Evolution of the working environment: An international perspective, This event explored the development of flexible and remote working in response to the pandemic, plus its impact on recruitment and retention and included contributions from international partners June 2022 (Available for members: please log in for access).

• The recruitment lifecycle – Part 1, June 2022 (Available for members: please log in for access).

• The recruitment lifecycle – Part 2, June 2022 (Available for members: please log in for access).

Two linked events looking at the recruitment lifecycle post-pandemic. Part 1 looked at the planning and conception of new roles. Part 2 looked at interviews (and alternatives); interview techniques; shortlisting (including blind shortlist).  Both events included considerations around diverse recruitment and recruitment for diversity.

• Embracing new ways of working post-pandemic, Exploring the long-standing pressures faced by those leading libraries in developing their workforce, and the need to develop and agile, flexible workforce which brings the skills and attributes needed to meet the institutional challenges and changes. March 2022 (Available for members: please log in for access).

• Developing a resilient and agile workforce, Colleagues from across the UK and Ireland came together to explore emerging practice developed during the pandemic and considered methods for embedding positive changes and addressing ongoing challenges, November 2021 (Available for members: please log in for access).

• The library workforce post-pandemic: exchange of experience, An event exploring evolving demands on the library post pandemic and the implications of this for the workforce and workforce development, July 2021 (Available for members: please log in for access).

SCONUL also produced a range of resources designed to support those leading libraries to manage change effectively with its “Leading Libraries” project:

• Supporting members This provides an overview of the outputs of the “Leading Libraries” project. October 2017

• Directory of leadership courses The directory was produced as one of the outputs of the Leading Libraries project. October 2017

• The view from beyond Interviews with international library leaders on the view of those leading libraries. October 2017

• The view from above Interviews with institutional leaders across the UK exploring attitudes to and views on the position of the library within the institution and of those leading libraries. October 2017

• Leading in uncertain times: a literature review A paper from the “Leading libraries” series exploring leadership responses to change and uncertainty. October 2017

• Briefing paper on coaching and mentoring A paper from the “Leading libraries” series exploring the approaches and benefits of coaching and mentoring respectively. October 2017

• Briefing paper on action learning sets A paper from the “Leading libraries” series examining the uses of action learning sets. October 2017

• A review of the literature on current practice in the development of employability skills Prepared by Megan Wiley, University of Bristol for SCONUL. June 2014

If you would like to recommend resources to be added here, please contact sconul@sconul.ac.uk