Professional Experience FAQs
- What is Professional Experience?
- How do I register for my preferred study visit?
- How should I schedule my study visit in relation to my professional placement?
- I am an Information Studies student - When should I enrol in my study visit subject?
- I am enrolled in a teacher librarianship program. Where can I do my placement?
- What are the options for meeting the placement requirements in terms of time?
- What if I can't meet my professional experience commitments within the session timeframe?
- Can I make initial contact with my preferred placement host?
- How do I pick a good placement host?
- I have worked in a library for many years. Can I get credit for my professional experience subject?
What is Professional Experience
The term 'professional experience' is used in the School of Information Studies to describe those subjects which focus specifically on providing you with practical exposure to, and involvement with, the workplace and working professionals. There are two major components to professional experience – study visits and placements. Study visits entail students visiting a series of libraries (generally about seven) in a formal way over four days to observe their operations and discuss professional issues. Study visits are normally undertaken on a group basis led by a lecturer from the School of Information Studies. Placements essentially entail the student undertaking a placement (internship) in an appropriate library or information centre. Information Studies students undertake three week placements while Teacher Librarianship students undertake two week placements.
In Information Studies courses, most students undertake a placement as one subject, called 'professional experience', and a study visit as another subject, called 'professional study visit'.
In Teacher Librarianship (TL) courses, the study visit and placement are undertaken in a single subject titled 'Professional Experience'. These subjects are ETL510 or ETL507 in the MEd(TL) course.
How do I register for my preferred study visit?
You can register for your preferred study visit by:
- Submitting the online Preference Form; or
- Emailing the Professional Experience Officer noting your name, student number and preferred visit
How should I schedule my study visit in relation to my professional placement?
Our recommendation is that, if circumstances allow, you complete your study visit before you do your placement. Study visits are excellent opportunities for identifying the type of library or agency you would prefer for your placement.
I am an Information Studies student - when should I enrol in my study visit subject?
Before enrolling in your study visit subject, look at the Study Visit schedule and determine which visit you would like to attend. Students in BA LIS/LIM (INF118) and MAppSci(LIM) (INF444) your enrolment will be for one session only. Students in BInfoStud (INF110) and MInfoStud (INF407) you will be required to enrol in two consecutive sessions but you only need to attend one Study Visit. If you have any questions regarding your enrolment in the study visit subject please contact the Professional Experience officer.
I am enrolled in a teacher librarianship program. Where can I do my placement?
If you are not currently working, or have not recently worked, as a teacher librarian then you can choose your placement site from the full range of types of libraries and information agencies including schools libraries. If you are currently working or have recently worked, as a full time or part time teacher librarian you are not eligible to undertake your placement in a school library. Working in a different type of library or information agency enables you to see and experience roles with which you are familiar applied in a different context and frequently in differing ways and on a different scale. Doing your placement in a library or information agency other than a school library also gives you the opportunity to undertake your placement during school holidays.
What are the options for meeting the placement requirements in terms of time?
The quality of the experience is best served by completing your placement within a block of consecutive days. More often than not, host organisations prefer to schedule their staff for block commitments. We acknowledge that there are individuals, and host organisations, whose preferences are best met with a flexible approach to the placement in terms of attendance. All enquiries, in the first instance, should be directed to your Subject Coordinator.
What if I can't meet my professional experience commitments within the session timeframe?
Some of the professional experience subjects are offered for only one session in the academic year, whilst others are full year subjects. There are many circumstances, such as work or family commitments, which may prevent you from meeting some of your professional experience commitments within the timeframe of the subject.
It is preferrable that you complete at least one element of your subject, prior to seeking Special Consideration 44Kb [PDF] from your Subject Coordinator.
It is important that you contact your Subject Coordinator as soon as possible if you need to arrange Special Consideration.
Can I make initial contact with my preferred placement host?
It is important to understand the protocols for organising your placement. Only ETL510 and ETL507 students are required to liaise with their preferred host. Please be aware that any arrangements you do make must be confirmed by the University for insurance and quality assurance purposes. All student initiated arrangements must be acknowledged and confirmed by the School of Information Studies prior to the commencement of the placement.
How do I pick a good placement host?
Choice of a placement host is guided by the following minimum criteria:
- that the organisation be managed by a professionally qualified librarian
- that the organisation ooperates on a full–time rather than part–time basis.
- that the collection and services of the organisation reflect the size and nature of the administrative unit to which the organisation reports.
We recommend that you use the Australian Libraries Gateway to help you choose a placement host.
If necessary, the Professional Experience Officer is available to assist you in your selection.
I have worked in a library for many years. Can I get credit for my professional experience subject?
In order to receive credit students must be able to demonstrate a range of diverse experience in professional library work. It is unlikely that teacher librarianship students would receive credit for their work in school libraries, for example, as the objectives of their professional experience subjects have been developed to achieve experience in the wider information environment, which includes various types of libraries, such as academic, special and corporate as well as a range of cultural agencies such as museums and art galleries.
Enquiries about credit should be directed in the first instance to your Subject Coordinator.