CILIP wins approval for new Apprenticeship standard for Library and Information Sector

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CILIP wins approval for new Apprenticeship standard for Library and Information Sector

The CILIP-led ‘trailblazer' group has successfully won full approval for a Level 3 Apprenticeship Standard for the library and information profession.

The Standard is for Level 3 - Library/Information/Archive Services Assistant and fulfils a vital role in ensuring that employers in all sectors are able to offer high-quality apprenticeships, which help build their information capability and develop up-to-date skills.

Nick Poole, CILIP CEO said, "We are immensely proud to be publishing the first Apprenticeship Standard for the information profession. It sends a clear message to employers and government that information management skills are essential to every business and should be developed and nurtured."

Jacqueline Chelin, Trailblazer group chair adds, "This is fantastic news for the profession as whole and particularly for those looking to build their careers as it recognises the highly specialised skills and knowledge required. We are delighted and excited about this much-anticipated development and would like express our thanks to CILIP and the members of the Trailblazer Group who have worked so hard to bring this to fruition".

The Level 3 standard covers a wide range of professional skills, including digital skills and information literacy. It defines the activities of LIAS Level 3 apprentices as:

"LIAS Assistants help users find the information and resources they need in order to resolve their specific query. They work with people from all parts of society and the workforce, providing essential digital and analogue information services - issuing and returning materials, organising collections, answering research and information queries, improving customers' literacy skills, - quite often at the forefront of innovation."

Over the next two years, CILIP will be working with employers across the sector to encourage engagement with and adoption of this standard as well as working in partnership with the sector to explore the development of further Apprenticeship standards.

The Standard can be viewed in full on the Institute for Apprenticeships' website here: https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/apprenticeship-standards/library-information-archive-services-assistant/

Ends

Press contact

Ayca Ilcen
Ayca.Ilcen@cilip.org.uk
0207 255 0500

Notes for editors

CILIP, the library and information association, is the leading voice for the information, knowledge management and library profession. Our goal is to put information and library skills and professional values at the heart of a democratic, equal and prosperous society. CILIP is a registered charity, no. 313014.