The further education college librarian or learning resources manager works with all ages and levels of learners, from those learning basic skills to those undergoing post-graduate professional training. They support students, researchers and lecturing staff.
Job description
Further education librarians may be responsible for a particular subject area or for a particular function, such as ordering, loans or IT. They are often increasingly involved in learning and teaching; teaching information literacy skills to students and staff. Many college libraries are converged services, often called Learning Resources, and include combinations of library; media resources; reprographics; IT; careers guidance and counselling. A large proportion of the work is involved in electronic resources and can involve database and web page development.
Listed below is a range of tasks typically undertaken:
- Choosing, acquiring, cataloguing, classifying and exploiting information, using specialised library and information software;
- Setting up and managing online and networked information resources; and making sure they are kept up to date;
- Answering users' enquiries;
- Planning and delivering information skills courses for students and staff;
- Conducting literature searches for users using computer databases, printed resources, CD-ROM or the internet;
- Being responsible for the information needs of staff and students within a specific subject area;
- Liaising with academic staff in departments.
Salary
Recommended salaries can be found in the Further Education salaries guide.
Further information
CILIP members can join a special interest group, the Colleges of Further and Higher Education Group (COFHE)