Are you considering a career in library and information management? Would you like to gain practical experience in the unique surroundings of St Deiniol’s Residential Library?

St Deiniol’s Library offers an annual graduate traineeship, commencing in late August each year.  The primary aim of this scheme is to provide varied practical experience and training for recent graduates who are thinking of undertaking a postgraduate qualification in library and information management. The post is residential and the trainee is a key member of the constantly changing library community, which welcomes readers from all over the world. The majority of library users reside on the premises for periods ranging from a few days to several months, but we are also open to External Readers and visiting groups. We are looking for someone who is flexible and enthusiastic, with good organisational and interpersonal skills, who would enjoy living and working in a friendly and stimulating environment.

The trainee holds the position of Assistant Librarian and is responsible to the Librarian, Patsy Williams, who oversees the training programme, and to the Warden, Peter Francis. The trainee will gain practical experience in many areas of library management and operations, including cataloguing and classifying recent acquisitions, both new and rare, periodical control, reader enquiries, oversight of the External Readers scheme, and general library administration. St Deiniol’s Library uses the HERITAGE IV automated library system and is currently undertaking an extensive retrospective conversion project.  Visits will be arranged to the Flintshire County Library Service and Record Office and further valuable experience will be provided by a four-week placement at the National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth.

In lieu of salary, the trainee receives a weekly honorarium/‘pocket money’ (currently £50), free board and lodging including all meals, heating, laundry facilities, etc.  In addition, St Deiniol’s will pay travel expenses for up to three visits home during the course of the year, three interviews at Library School, and all travel, accommodation and maintenance costs incurred during the four weeks spent at the National Library of Wales.

The trainee works four days per week plus alternate Saturdays (approximately 38 hrs) and is expected to participate with other staff in residential duties, such as locking up and reception duty. As a resident, he/she has the opportunity to use the Library facilities for personal study and to prepare for Library School. There is an annual leave entitlement of 21 working days and an extended Christmas/New Year break in lieu of working Bank Holidays.

An application form (to be returned by post) is available on this website. If you would like to know more about the traineeship, please contact the Librarian, Patsy Williams.