The Museums Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) and Lifelong Learning UK (LLUK) have announced a partnership agreement to develop better career opportunities for librarians and archivists.
The MLA and LLUK signed a three-year deal this week to focus more on training and development for employees working in libraries and archives.
The partnership will look at ways to attract more staff to the sector and to increase the opportunities of new recruits. It will also focus on enhancing leadership skills and diversity in the sector’s workforce.
David Hunter, chief executive at LLUK, said that in a knowledge-driven economy, libraries and archives staff had a vital role to play.
“This ambitious work plan is an opportunity to foster the career development of existing staff [and] also to create opportunities that will attract growing numbers of high calibre new entrants,” he said.
“We will work with our employers across the UK in developing a top quality workforce, meeting both their needs and those of the wider economy.”
David Ruse, director of libraries at Westminster City Council, said: “We are pleased that through this partnership a new framework of staff competencies and qualifications can be developed which will assist us in redefining and developing the skills of our people.
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“This is becoming especially important in an increasingly IT-based environment where communities look to libraries for support and guidance in accessing information.”
