Supporting the employability agenda in university libraries. A case study from the University of Sheffield
| Date | 08 January 2018 |
| Pages | 101-108 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/ILS-04-2017-0027 |
| Published date | 08 January 2018 |
| Author | Maria Mawson,Amy C. Haworth |
| Subject Matter | Library & information science,Librarianship/library management,Library & information services |
Supporting the employability
agenda in university libraries
A case study from the University of Sheffield
Maria Mawson and Amy C. Haworth
University Library, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
Abstract
Purpose –This paper aims to outline work to support the employability agenda in the Library at the
University of Sheffield, set in the context of debatesabout the nature of employability, employability skills
and informationliteracy in the workplace.
Design/methodology/approach –The paper starts with a brief review of literature on employability
and student skills in the UK higher education sector, the place of information literacy as an employability
attribute and information literacy in the workplace. It goes on to outline work done in the Library at the
University of Sheffield to supportthe employability agenda. This includes the development of a commercial
awareness workshop in collaborationwith other services and the incorporation of student and alumni voices
in an employabilityguide.
Findings –The literaturereviewed highlights the differences between informationliteracy in the workplace
and academia. This could present challenges and opportunities in promoting information literacy as an
employabilityattribute. The case study highlights the benefits of working in collaboration withstudents and
servicesbeyond the library in the employability arena.
Originality/value –The approaches taken in Sheffieldmay be of interest to other institutions looking to
developsupport for the employability agenda.
Keywords Information literacy, Commercial awareness, Academic libraries, Employability, Skills,
Workplace literacy
Paper type Case study
Introduction
Student employability and skills are key priorities for the HE sector. The forthcoming
Teaching Excellence Framework will include as a core metric “the proportion of students
who are in highly skilled employment or further studysix months after graduation”(Blyth
and Cleminson, 2016, p.5). The University of Sheffield Learning and Teaching Plan
(University of Sheffield, 2016) states that “We want to ensure we equip our students
effectively for their chosen path, recognising that employability is an important dimension
to our education [...]”. Support for developing employability is offered by the University of
Sheffield Careers Service (2017) and this will be common across other institutions. The
University of Sheffield Library has been working to develop a new vision for information
and digital literacy (IDL). The resulting university-wide framework, currently in its final
stages of development, states that IDL is “for education, employment and citizenship”
(University of Sheffield Library, 2017b). More specifically, the development of IDL
throughout a student’stime at University will:
Position them well for graduate level employment and will equip them with life skills which are
transferable to the demands of an increasingly complex digital world. (University of Sheffield,
2017b).
Agenda in
university
libraries
101
Received26 May 2017
Revised7 September 2017
Accepted12 December 2017
Informationand Learning Science
Vol.119 No. 1/2, 2018
pp. 101-108
© Emerald Publishing Limited
2398-5348
DOI 10.1108/ILS-04-2017-0027
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:
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