Library School: How to Apply and What to Expect

LIBRARY SCHOOL: HOW TO
APPLY AND WHAT TO EXPECT

Library school
What to expect and how to decide

Choosing a LIS course:
• most taught Master’s courses have comparable
content overall
• many schools have particular specializations or
lean towards a certain type of information work
• differences may simply consist in which modules
are compulsory or optional
• different names may be used for the same
subjects, or content may be packaged differently
• generally speaking students can assemble a
programme to suit their interests
• DO mention at interview anything you particularly
want to do
Department of Information Studies University College London

Typical programme content:

• a modular structure to the programme
• a taught element of the course, consisting of:
– compulsory modules which may include (for example)
• principles of computing
• management
• cataloguing and classification
• information sources and retrieval
• collection management
• professional awareness
– optional modules
• this normally leads to a Diploma in LIS, or equivalent


LIS programme content:

• the research element of the course
– research skills training
– dissertation of approx. 12-15,000 words

• converts Diploma to Master’s Degree
• both the Diploma and the Master’s
are qualificatory for CILIP


Full-time v. modular:

• applications are increasing for part-time study
• course content is spread over two years
• course takes place on one day each week (but you can
arrange to attend on other days if you wish)
• students gain from their broader experience and the
working environment
• course can be extended for up to five years if
necessary
• distance learning is another alternative


University College London
Department of Information Studies


Master’s programmes at DIS UCL
• MA Library & Information Studies
• MSc Information Science
• both accredited by CILIP

• MA Archives & Records Management
• MA Publishing
• MA Electronic Communication & Publishing
• MA Digital Humanities

• MRes


MA Library & Information Studies at UCL:

• provides a broadly based professional education
• equips students for all sectors of the information
profession
• offers a skills-based rather than sector-based
programme
• exploits the School’s very strong links with the
profession


Characteristics of the UCL course:
• traditional LIS core subjects such as cataloguing,
classification, and bibliography
• rare books and manuscript studies specializations
• children and young persons option
• new technology
– electronic publishing
– XML
– web technologies
– digital resources in the humanities
– programming and database design

• www.ucl.ac.uk/dis/

Optional courses:

historical bibliography
manuscript studies
information work with children and young people
advanced cataloguing and classification
database design
digital resources in the humanities
oral history
publishing today
electronic publishing
web publishing


Teaching and learning:

• teaching may differ from your first degree
• teaching methods
– formal lectures
– small group work
– seminars
– lab sessions
– practical classes
– project work
– students’ independent research and investigation

• there will probably be more emphasis on independent
learning
• there will probably be more practical work, and more contact
time

Assessment:

• assessment may also be more varied than in a
typical humanities degree
• coursework
– essays
– management reports
– presentations
– practical exercises
– portfolios
• written examinations


Your application:

• keep your paperwork reasonably concise, so that your
application is straightforward to deal with
• try and make things neat and legible
• tailor your CV to the situation
• don’t tell us about ourselves
• tell us about yourself, but keep it relevant
• make sure you have an academic referee


Pre-Library school experience:

• graduate traineeships usually provide a good all-
round foundation for the MA
• however, many students apply from posts as
standard library or information assistants
• try to get a realistic sense of what life as an
information professional is like
• ask your employers if you can have some exposure
to professional level work
• observe what professional staff are doing
• read CILIP publications
• go to some events, talks or meetings in your region


Good things to have on your CV:

• good first degree (although subject isn’t important)
• good IT skills with knowledge of several applications
(e.g. office apps, social media, desktop publishing)
• student membership of CILIP
• attendance at professional events and/or training
• relevant voluntary work
• evidence of a life outside work

• not ALL of these are vital
• remember this isn’t a job application

The ideal candidate!

• has at least one year’s work experience in the
field
• has good basic IT skills
• has a commitment to the profession, and a
realistic view of opportunities
• has a first or second class degree in any subject
• BUT we do like to have applications from students
with varied backgrounds, so don’t be put off if you
don’t exactly fit this ideal


The interview:
• we know you’re nervous!
• give yourself enough time to allow for any delays, and to find
the department
• try and look as if you care whether you get a place
• do write yourself a list of things you particularly want to
know
• don’t assume that an interview automatically guarantees you
a place
• many departments hold open days or provide tours of
facilities (UCL’s is Wednesday November 21
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/dis/openday)
• interview styles and formats can vary a lot
• graduate trainee websites usually include some personal
accounts of interviews in various places


Recent changes to AHRC funding:

• AHRC replaced the open competition with a Block Grant
system in 2009
• universities apply for a lump sum for the whole of their arts
and humanities research
• individual institutions then allocate the funds to
departments
• this allows us to make our own decisions about who gets the
money
• 75% of AHRC funds are committed to this

• however, the Professional Preparation Master’s awards have
been cut back this year
• they will disappear entirely in the next round


Sources of funding:

• competition for AHRC funding will be fierce
• only students with first class degrees are likely to be
successful
• other sources of funds include career development
loans
• some departments have local scholarships or bursaries
• the majority of full-time students do some paid work
• this is often useful in terms of the course
• fifteen hours a week is probably the maximum you will
manage
• if you need to work more than this, part-time study
might be better

UCL DIS student financial support:

• we shall have 7 AHRC awards for 2013
entry (fees + maintenance)
• fourteen Vickery bursaries (fee waivers)
• we also have a bursary funded by the
Worshipful Company of Stationers (fees)
www.stationers.org/postgraduate-bursary-scheme.html


Student support:

• all institutions will have good support for students
with, for example, disabilities
• every year we have students with various kinds of
disabilities and they normally cope very well
• don’t feel that LIS is not a career for you
• there is currently a pilot plan in development to
encourage recruitment to the profession from
ethnic minority groups (Encompass)
• the pilot will apply initially to the M25 area
• details on the CILIP website


Placements:

• most courses include placements for full-time
students
– range of employment types, particularly so in
London
– aim to widen students’ existing work experience
– on some courses more substantial practical work or
projects may be undertaken
– contacts can lead to full-time employment
opportunities


Employment opportunities:
• UCL students enter all sectors
– traditionally we have a bias towards academic, research
and government libraries
• opportunities in public libraries were getting
better
• current cuts in local authority posts may not have
seriously affected professional posts
• we have a very high rate of ‘graduate’ employment
– virtually all students are employed three months after
qualification
• employers often approach us when recruiting
• there are an increasing number of ‘non-
conventional’ jobs available

Some recent student destinations:

• Courtauld Institute • RSPB
• Eton College • Department for Education & Skills
• Arts & Humanities Data • London Borough of Brent
Service • National Institute for Clinical
• Victoria & Albert Museum Excellence (NICE)
• Slaughter and May • Inst. of Advanced Legal Studies
• Guildhall School of Music • Friends’ House (Quakers)
• Sackler Library Oxford • National Autistic Society
• Scotland Yard • National Maritime Museum
• Special collections UCL • National Trust
• Imperial College London • St. Bride Printing Library
• Natural History Museum • Hillingdon Schools Library Service
• London Library • Netherlands National Library
• Lambeth Palace • SOAS
• Fire Services College • Caius College Cambridge

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