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Library and knowledge services assistant
How to become a senior library and knowledge services assistant
To become a senior library and knowledge services assistant, you’ll need relevant experience working in a health library environment.
What is a senior library and knowledge services assistant?
Senior library and knowledge services assistants provides support to the wider knowledge team. They take part in a range of daily tasks to keep systems timely and accurate. They provide a range of specialist information and knowledge to service users who are accessing the library's services.
Starting your career as a senior library and knowledge services assistant
Choosing subjects at school
School subjects that could lead to a career as a senior library and knowledge services assistant include:
- English
- Maths
- Information Systems
- Business Studies
Work placements and volunteering
You may find it helpful to get some healthcare experience by doing a work placement or volunteering. You’ll get training, increase your knowledge, and learn new skills. This could help you when applying to college or a new job with NHSScotland.
Education and training pathway
College and university
You will need 5 National 5 qualifications including English and Maths to apply for a role as a senior library and knowledge services assistant.
You could also complete an HNC or HND level qualification to apply for a role as a senior library and knowledge services assistant.
There are several courses that are useful if you want to pursue a career in knowledge services. Courses that could lead to a job as a senior library and knowledge services assistant:
- Library and information services HNC
- Administration and information technology HNC
You can also become a senior library and knowledge services assistant if you have 4 years of experience working in a library environment.
You can then apply for vacancies on our recruitment website.
Get to know the role
As a senior library and knowledge services assistant you’ll be organising and maintaining library resources.
Your tasks could include:
- assist both internal and external users to help them access information on complex systems and databases
- manage library operations and make sure that resources are up-to-date and accessible
- contribute to research projects by sourcing information, compiling data, and supporting evidence-based decision-making within NHSScotland
Senior library and knowledge services assistant need these skills:
- customer service
- focussing
- attention to detail
- multi-tasking
- teamwork
You could work with:
- library and knowledge services assistant
- clinical librarian
- library services manager
You could work in:
- a hospital library
- a community library
- a public health library
Learning and development
You will be encouraged to develop your career in the NHS. As well as learning specific to your role, you'll need to complete mandatory training, including:
- occupational health
- health and safety
- fire safety
- counter-fraud
- moving and handling
- safe information handling
Your NHS employer will confirm their mandatory training requirements during your induction.
Career progression
You’ll be encouraged to develop in your role at NHSScotland. With experience you could progress to:
- clinical librarian
Speak to your line manager about training and development opportunities available to you.
Professional bodies
You may also have the chance to work towards gaining your Chartered Institute of Library and Information professionals (CILIP) certification. Speak to your line manager about what opportunities are available to you.
Once you are a member of CILIP you can access further training and development in your career as a knowledge services professional.
Related careers
Help with recruitment
We'll guide you through the recruitment process, from applying online to interview preparation.
Help with recruitment
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Discover the skills and qualifications you’ll need for each role and what the work will be like in our handy blog.
Find the career for you in NHSScotland