Careers Brief - Libraries, Museums and Galleries FdA
Overview
The Foundation degree in Libraries, Museums and Galleries offers opportunities for progression onto Honours degree courses and direct job entry.
There are a wide range of roles within the information services and cultural heritage sectors. However, these are also popular and small professions. Competition is high for the relatively limited number of entry level posts. This has resulted in many applicants having higher qualifications and experience than required for the demands of the post.
Related experience and/or volunteer work (to build up your skills, experience and contacts) are often essential to get into cultural heritage and information services.
This course aims to give you knowledge and understanding of these employment sectors, practical training and relevant skill development.
Key skills within this course can also be applied to a wide variety of jobs in a broader context. Skills such as client-centred customer service, researching and evaluating information, writing reports, IT, use of reference and electronic resources, team working, planning, organising, time management and problem solving.
Use the Resources links below for further information.
To consider a wider choice of careers, use Prospects Planner or other internet career matching tools listed in the Career Planning section of this Guide.
Further Study
Progression to the final year of a BA (Hons) degree is possible. Entry point into the course would depend on your grades, experience and overlap between courses.
To find suitable courses use www.ucas.com/ (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service for the UK). Use the university/college links for course details.
Top-up degree programmes are designed as a direct progression from Foundation degree to Ordinary or Honours degree.
One-year top-up honours degree courses which currently could be of interest are available at the following institutions: Leeds Metropolitan University 'Managing Cultural & Major Events'; Truro & Penwith College 'Archaeology'.
You will need to use UCAS to apply for courses. Contact the Course Tutor of your chosen course to find out your position, before you make your formal application.
Find out how much this will cost you. Where is the funding coming from? Refer to the university/college website for information on course costs and to www.direct.gov.uk/uni/ for information on student support.
Professional qualifications studied part-time or full-time will be required for career progression. Use the links to the relevant professional bodies below for more information.
Resources
Graduate Prospects is the careers website for HE students studying in the UK:
- Drop down 'Jobs & work' and go to 'Explore types of jobs' - 'Information services'
- Drop down 'Jobs & work' and click on 'What jobs would suit me?' to use 'Prospects Planner' a free career matching service
CILIP: Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals in the UK - go to sections 'Jobs and careers' and 'Qualifications and professional development'
Aslib: Association for Information Management - go to 'Training' - click on 'Career information'
Society of Archivists: the principal professional body for archivists, archive conservators and records management. Go to 'Career Development' - 'Starting Out' and 'Related Files' including 'A Career in Archives' 'A Career in Records Management' 'A Career in Archive Conservation'.
The National Archives - UK government records and information management
Museums Association - go to 'Jobs and careers'
Creative Choices is produced by Creative & Cultural Skills - Sector Skills Council for Advertising, Crafts, Cultural Heritage, Design, Music, Performing, Literacy and Visual Arts. Go to 'Cultural Heritage'.
The Institute of Conservation - lead voice for the conservation of cultural heritage
www.guidance-research.org/future-trends/arts
Warwick Institute for Employment Research - 'Creative and cultural industries'
The British Library
Office of Public Sector Information
www.learndirect-advice.co.uk/helpwithyourcareer/jobprofiles/
Learn Direct Careers Advice
www.connexions-direct.com/jobs4u
Jobs4U Careers Database - click on 'Job Families' or Quick Search by typing in job title
http://jobseekers.direct.gov.uk/
Careers database and links to jobs nationally. Search by either clicking on 'careers' and choose a category or type in job title.
A Career Change - careers articles. Go to 'The Arts' for 'Working in Museums, Galleries and Tourism'.
Working in further and higher education
