Introduction

You have survived your first couple of years in the job and now you want to go further and learn more. This chapter focuses on where you go from here. You may want to look at ways to get more qualifications and training – this chapter will help you think about your career progression. This section is specifically UK-based, however many non-UK libraries are affiliated to CILIP and school librarians have completed Chartership in different parts of the world. If you are not based in the UK, please contact your local Library Association to discover routes that suit you.

As mentioned elsewhere in this book, you will find a lot of quick information at your fingertips in the SLG Key Issues series. There is a Key Issues leaflet on ‘Getting Qualified’ written by Sarah Pavey, one of the authors of this book. You can look at and download the Key Issues leaflets here: https://slgconnect.org.uk/979-2.

Getting qualified

As the ‘Getting Qualified’ leaflet points out, there are many different qualification routes you can follow. You can get an academic qualification, which would be an undergraduate degree or a postgraduate degree via fulltime or distance learning. This gives you sound theoretical knowledge and will allow you to explore librarianship in depth. CILIP have a list of providers of these courses on their website (www.cilip.org.uk/page/ ProfessionalRegistrationLevels).

However, be aware that none of these courses are specifically school library-related, although there will be plenty of information you can relate back to your role as a school librarian. A lot of library work is the same in any venue, for example, the concept of organising resources through a catalogue and classification mode. You will also be more able to move between different sectors of library work, including health, law, pharmaceuticals or academic or public libraries, with one of these qualifications.

Another route to follow is a more practical, vocational based qualification. If you look at the ‘Getting Qualified’ leaflet, you will see there are courses available – although some have yet to be accredited by CILIP. However, that needn't stop you if you wish to take one of those qualifications. The Open College qualification comes highly recommended by participants.