Library Apprenticeships
If you enjoy working in a quiet space surrounded by books, where better to serve your apprenticeship than a library? A librarian apprenticeship gives you the opportunity to work in the library and learn about the different needs of members of the public who come in. It can be both a fun and demanding job that is nowhere near as boring as it is made out to be in media stereotypes.
What Are Librarian Apprenticeships?
You will be able to experience the reality of working in a library environment, most likely a municipal library or the library of an educational institution. You will learn the skills that are necessary to succeed in this area and the filing systems that are used to keep the books in order.
As well as keeping the books well ordered and the shelves replenished, you will be expected to be able to assist library users to find what they are looking for with a computer. Some, particularly older library users, may have no computer experience but may have to claim benefits online, so you will need to familiarise yourself with how to help them to do this.
The Benefits of Library Apprenticeships
Library apprenticeships teach a wide array of skills including how to properly file and categorise books, magazines and journals. You will also learn a lot about how to interact with the public and ensure they are able to access what they need. This will help to enhance your people skills, which will stand you in good stead going forward.
A large percentage of apprentices, almost two-thirds, remain in their post after completing their apprenticeship so there is a good chance you will be kept on if you are good at what you do.
What Does a Librarian Apprenticeship Involve?
As with all apprenticeships, taking on a librarian apprenticeship means that you will be able to earn as you learn, with 80% of your time being spent with on-the-job training and the other 20% being spent on off-the-job training. This is the studying component of the apprenticeship and is in keeping with the rules for apprenticeship standards. You will be paid for the time you spend on each of the two parts of the apprenticeship and you will be able to gain relevant experience in this field while studying for a qualification at the same time.
Are you suited for a Library Apprenticeship?
This is really only something that you can answer. People who are well-suited to this role are good self-starters and can work successfully with or without supervision. To succeed as a librarian you should like books and value taking good care of them when they are being handled. You should be comfortable in quiet places but also be able to communicate well when necessary.
Apply for a Librarian Apprenticeship in the UK
If you have decided that you would like to apply for an apprenticeship as a librarian, you can peruse our dedicated apprenticeship jobs board to find the opportunities in your area. In order to craft the best application possible, you may wish to look at the information on how to improve your CV and your cover letter. This will ensure that you put your best foot forward when you apply.
