SCONUL (Society of College, National and University Libraries) formerly ran the CILIP Graduate Training Opportunities scheme. Employers can still use their code of practice to guide training and development.
SCONUL's Code of Practice provides guidance for employers advertising CILIP Graduate Training Opportunities for graduates intending to work for a year before taking a university course in librarianship, information science or a related subject. It specifies a minimum standard for suitable work programmes for such trainees.
If a post meets the Code of Practice, any employer may advertise a one-year trainee post for graduates as a 'SCONUL trainee' position.
The code of practice is as follows:
The Aim of the Code is to give graduates systematically planned and supervised experience of library work, prior to possible attendance at departments of information and library studies.
Employers formally undertake:
1. to provide the trainees with an overall view of the library system, including its relationship with other libraries, so that they can appreciate how different elements within the library are integrated
2. to aim to give the trainees work experience at a level commensurate with their abilities, in the day-to-day operation of a major area of activity
3. to provide structured training whether by giving work experience in several departments and/or by participating in a formal internal training programme