The FE college librarian works with all ages and levels of learners, from those learning basic skills to those undergoing post-graduate professional training. FE librarians support students, researchers and lecturing staff. The majority of senior librarians are placed one tier below senior management.
Job description
FE 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 units, teaching information retrieval skills to students and staff. Many college libraries now provide ‘converged services’, these are often called Learning Resources and may include the library; media resources; reprographics; ILCT; 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.
Pay and conditions
CILIP publishes a regular survey of members’ salaries in Further Education
Further information
CILIP members can join a special interest group, Colleges of Further Education (COFHE)
http://www.cilip.org.uk/specialinterestgroups/
bysubject/cofhe/default.htm
Updated: 14 April 2008