Accredited course case studies
Case Sudy 1 – Academic Librarian Lauren Bell
The selection process
The question for me was which subject did I want to specialise in. I had thor- oughly enjoyed my English and Creative Writing degree which blended academic and creative and I was looking for certain essential criteria including ‘creative’ mod- ules, distance learning and accreditation. Then in 2015 I had a thought-provok- ing conversation with a former manager while I was a Library Assistant within the NHS. She told me about her Postgraduate studies at Aberystwyth where she had been a distance-learner – which was the only option for me since I was working full-time. I came out of the conversation feeling buoyed and more certain of the path I wanted to take.
I then began researching distance learning courses offered by UK univer- sities online, comparing the mandatory and optional modules available, how the course was structured and how this content was to be delivered. Another important factor was flexibility and I liked that Aberystwyth allowed students to take time out of their studies via tempo- rary withdrawal – something I used after completing the diploma. They were also offering an almost “mix and match” style degree which wasn’t heavily prescribed but rather something I had a lot of control and influence over especially with the choice of optional modules.
My time at Aberystwyth Throughout both study schools I attended, the staff came across as very knowledgeable, professional and approachable – always making time to speak with students and answer any queries they had.
As a distance-learner, my university experience was slightly different to those on other routes. Alongside the traditional lectures, I would purchase an individual module (in the form of a workbook) and would complete the exercises and reading. There were often two assignments per module which would seek to consolidate
24 INFORMATION PROFESSIONAL
our overall understanding and research on that specific area. I thoroughly appre- ciated this approach to learning as it ena- bled me to work through these at my own pace and keep all my notes on a particular topic, in one place.
The breadth and variety of modules I completed covered many areas within librarianship and demanded different out- comes in the forms of essays, reports and a working website. The course challenged me to look at information in society, how information is used, accessed, and deliv- ered, and the increasing role social media plays in our everyday lives. For other modules, I produced a strategic planning and user service needs reports for my workplace at the time, prompting me to consider the costs involved to deliver a new service to users, as well as critiquing the role of collection development policies within libraries.
Where I am now
After completing my degree at the beginning of 2021, I felt empowered by my newly acquired skills and six months later I had started my role as an Academic Liaison Librarian. This was a position
I had wanted for a while despite my background being resources specific. It presented new challenges in the form of teaching responsibilities – something we had not covered in my modules. I therefore took the opportunity to incor- porate this into my dissertation. Having interviewed some librarians as part of my research and on learning more about what their role entailed made me seriously consider the Subject Librarian route.
A role where liaison was a large aspect was immensely important to me as I pride myself on offering clear and effective communication and wanted to champion the library (both as a space and its services) to students and academic staff, supporting both groups with promoting and delivering informa- tion literacy sessions. I honestly believe that having a master’s in information studies aided me in securing this posi- tion as this is something highly sought after by prospective employers.
Selecting the right course for you – my advice
1. Know why you are undertaking this qualification: to develop your own skills, to enhance your career, to satiate your own interests? Make a list of “es- sential criteria”. You need to be happy with your choice.
2. Look at the different types of cours- es, how they are structured. Compare modules and ask yourself ‘what do I want to get out of this course?’ Are there specific skills mentioned?
3. Attend open days (if you can) because this can give you a real good indication of the place. Remember first impressions do matter. If you can’t, research the location and surrounding area. A comfortable environment is key.
4. Seek out current or recent students’ feedback. What were their experiences like? Would they recommend that Uni- versity and/or that course?
5. Contact staff directly if there are any queries you have about anything. This is an investment in your future.
September 2022
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