Education and route in:

GCSEs, GNVQ Intermediate ICT, NVQ Level 2 Information Technology, Level 3 Progression Award in Library and Information Services. 

Personal viewpoints:

I feel that since leaving school I have worked harder and better, and am hopeful that I can learn more and more skills as I go along in life. 

Life and times of a Modern Apprentice in Library and Information Services … Selina’s story so far! 

I chose this career route because I knew it would be the first step to gaining the qualifications to my dream job. It dawned on me after working Saturday’s in my local library that working full time in a library was what I wanted to.  

My apprenticeship took a little over three years to complete. It involved exams, study and training across all different areas within the library sector. At the end of the apprenticeship, I gained a Level 2 and 3 NVQ in Library and Information Services, as well as Key Skills and a technical certificate. 

Looking back, I realise the apprenticeship was harder than I initially expected. There was a lot more study involved than I first realised. As time went by and my confidence and knowledge increased, it got easier. The on-the-job training helped a lot with that. 

During the course of the apprenticeship I gained exposure to all sorts of different aspects of the library workplace. For instance, I spent a day with a bookbinder, so I could understand how to care for books properly.  I spent time in a reference library and time with the stock manager at our main headquarters, learning about library stock. All of this was vitally important to the apprenticeship and from my perspective, were some of the best parts of the learning process. 

For people contemplating joining an apprenticeship scheme I would say go for it. Although you are studying hard, you’re also getting time to do real library work and gain skills. This is a crucial part to gaining experience and knowledge to study and help with the exams. Apprenticeships are a better way of learning and understanding the job you want to do. 

My job now, as a full time library assistant, involves serving the public and helping in any way that I can. This includes helping with their enquiries, finding books, maintaining the library by shelf checking, shelving books away and processing stock, plus so much more. I am still applying everything I learned on the apprenticeship programme, which may eventually lead to me becoming a librarian.

Best bits about my job:

Being able to help people. The whole point of a library is to be able to help children, adults and older people to learn, read and make a difference to their lives, which I feel I do daily. 

Any downsides?

Like many jobs in the public domain, the pay isn’t high and working with the public can sometimes be stressful. But the positive aspects of the job balance everything out. 

Selina’s tips:

• If you are looking to do an apprenticeship in Information and Library services or wanting to become a library assistant/librarian then I would recommend that you apply for the apprenticeship, as it’s a better way of learning the job and finding out if the job suits you. I have come to love working in the library and wouldn’t do anything else.

·         Work hard, talk to librarians and library assistants about their job and find out as much information as you can. Be prepared for challenges and ready to help people. Good luck!