Chat is Offline
Home › Public Sites▻Library▻About▻Work Experience & Employment Opportunities

Work Experience & Employment Opportunities

Description

Work experience is an opportunity to gain an understanding of what is involved in the provision of high-quality Academic Library Services, the diversity of these services and delivery methods. All of our placements for AY 2023/24 are currently full.

The Library welcomes applications from those seeking work experience who match one of the following categories:

  • Secondary School Transition Year Student
  • Library & Information Studies Student (Postgraduate Course)
  • Library & Information Studies Student (Undergraduate Course)
  • Archives Studies Student
  • Post Professional Qualification (Library or Archives) Work Experience Applicant

Please note that all Library Work Experience Placements are unpaid, except for the Job Bridge Scheme, which is government funded, and that while we cannot offer any accommodation or help with travel arrangements.

Secondary School Transition Year Student Placements

TY Placements for the 2023/24 Academic Year

Currently Full for AY 2023/24

Two placements are offered to secondary school transition year students (1 each between September/December and January/May) who are interested in the Library profession, or in undertaking Library studies, if it forms part of their school curriculum. One placement is also available in the Library MakerSpace for students who are interested in pursuing engineering, creative technologies, or digital media.

The following conditions apply:

  • One week duration, running daily from 09.00-13.00 Monday to Friday in the specified week, or one day per week over several weeks to a maximum of six weeks.
  • Dress requirements during placements are neat casual with appropriate footwear.
  • All participating students must be covered by their school’s relevant insurance.

Application Process:

If you are interested in applying for one of the Secondary School Transition Year Student Placements, you should e-mail a brief CV and cover letter to library@universityofgalway.ie. Your cover letter should include your year level, school name, teacher’s name and contact details, preferred placement dates and the reasons why you want to undertake work experience with us. The next available placement is September/December 2024.

Library & Information Studies Student (Postgraduate Course) Placement 

Currently Full for AY 2023/24

Most Library & Information Studies Schools have a requirement for either pre-Library School work experience, or placement as part of the programme. The Library in support of the profession is committed to providing a 6-week placement for one student who has been accepted on an Irish or UK Library School postgraduate course.

The following conditions apply:

  • Six continuous weeks duration, running daily 09.30-17.00 Monday to Friday, preferably during the summer months from late May to late August.
  • Evidence is required of a confirmed offer of a place on a postgraduate Library School course commencing at the start of the next academic year.
  • Work experience placement will be project based but with the opportunity to experience other areas of the Library in the latter part of the programme.

Application Process:

If you are interested in applying for the Library & Information Studies Student (Postgraduate Course) Placement, you should e-mail a copy of your CV, along with a cover letter and confirmation of your Library School offer to library@universityofgalway.ie 

Your cover letter should include your preferred placement dates and the reasons why you want to undertake this work experience with us. 

Library & Information Studies Student (Undergraduate Course) Placements

Currently Full for AY 2023/24

Several Library & Information Studies undergraduate courses require students to undertake a work placement for anything from two to several months in duration during study. The Library is pleased to receive expressions of interest in undertaking such placements with us from students based in Ireland, UK or further afield. These placements are highly sought after, and it may not be possible to facilitate all requests received.

The following conditions apply:

  • Minimum duration two months, running daily 09.30-17.00 Monday to Friday.
  • Evidence of English language ability such as to be able to undertake and benefit from the work experience programme. 
  • All Work Experience related documentation required by your home institution must be received by the James Hardiman Library at least three weeks prior to the commencement of the placement.
  • The work experience placement will be project based but with the opportunity to experience other areas of the Library throughout the programme.

Application Process:

If you are interested in applying for a Library & Information Studies Student (Undergraduate Course) Placement you should e-mail a copy of your CV, along with a cover letter, and details of your University’s work placement requirements to library@universityofgalway.ie at least six weeks in advance of your preferred placement dates. Your cover letter should include your preferred placement dates, your preferred area of Library activities, and the reasons why you want to undertake this work experience with us. While we will endeavour to allocate you to your preferred work area this may not always be possible. Please note that a short interview by phone may form part of the application procedure.

Archives Studies Student Placement 

Currently Full for AY 2023/24

The Library offers an Archives Studies Student the opportunity of working with our unique collections either, during or post completion of their course of study. Tasks can range from assisting with the box-listing of part of a collection, sorting newly acquired archival material to assisting in mounting a small to major exhibition. These placements are typically of 2-to-4 week duration.

The following conditions apply:

  • Minimum duration two weeks, preferably running daily 09.30-17.00 Monday to Friday. 
  • The work experience placement will be project based but with the opportunity to experience other areas of the Archive's service.

Application Process:

If you are interested in applying for the Archives Studies Student Placement you should e-mail a copy of your CV, along with a cover letter, and details of your University’s work placement requirements to at least four weeks in advance of your preferred placement date. Your cover letter should include your preferred placement dates and the reasons why you want to undertake this work experience with us.

Post Professional Qualification (Library or Archives) Work Experience Applicant

Currently Full for AY 2023/24

The Library recognises that due to the lack of employment opportunities resulting from the current economic climate that those with a professional Library or Archives qualification may welcome the opportunity to undertake an unpaid placement that would allow them to apply their learning, knowledge and skills in a real world setting and to gain practical experience in the professional field for which they have trained. To this end the Library welcomes expressions of interest in undertaking a post qualification placement with us.

The following conditions apply:

  • Minimum duration two months, preferably running daily 09.30-17.00 Monday to Friday, but a shorter working week can also be accommodated.
  • Maximum duration six months, to facilitate several applicants over the year.  Please note that the duration may be dictated by the project being undertaken during the course of the programme.
  • The work experience placement will be project based but with the opportunity to experience other areas of the Library or Archives service during the programme.

Application Process:

If you are interested in applying for a Post Professional Qualification Work Experience Placement you should e-mail a copy of your CV, along with a cover letter, to library@universityofgalway.ie at least six weeks in advance of your preferred commencement date. Your cover letter should include your preferred placement dates, your preferred area of Library or Archives activities, and the reasons why you want to undertake this placement with us. While we will endeavour to allocate you to your preferred work area this may not always be possible.

Employment Opportunities

Paid employment opportunities in the Library are generally managed through the Human Resources department. The University’s recruitment procedure is to advertise publicly, typically in the national or local papers and on the University’s website.  

The Library also employs postgraduate students as Assistant Shelvers to work from September to mid-December, and from mid-January to late May of the academic year. The posts are of 10 hours duration per week, 2 hours per day Monday to Friday. The hours are generally 08.30 to 10.30 and the minimum wage pay is €11.30 per hour (i.e., may vary in the future). The work involves reshelving of book stock and the shelf reading of material on the shelves to ensure it is in the correct class number sequence. Expressions of interest in these posts should be e-mailed to sonia.freaney@universityofgalway.ie, along with your CV and proof of your registration on a University of Galway postgraduate course.