Current Graduate Trainees

Introducing the trainees of 2011 - 2012, describing our various backgrounds, what made us decide to pursue a career in the information sector, and what we hope to do next.

Christ's ♦ Classics ♦ Emmanuel ♦ Pembroke ♦ Newnham ♦ St John's ♦ Trinity

Christ's College

Tom Guest

I studied English Literature at University, and so had made use of a wide array of library resources whilst an undergraduate. It wasn't until after I had graduated, however, that I considered a career within libraries myself. After researching the sector more closely I became aware of the existence of Traineeships at various Universities, which seemed the ideal opportunity to learn more about what working in a library involves. I am pleased to be a Trainee in a Cambridge library due to the diversity of the work, which includes cataloguing, circulation and enquiries. I also enjoy working in the contrasting environments of the Working Library and the Old Library. As part of a small team at Christ's, I have the opportunity to contribute to all aspects of the Library, as well as observe what is involved in the more senior positions within the Library. The various training opportunities that form an integral part of the role also attracted me, and help to give a more holistic view of what it is like to work in an academic library. I am particularly looking forward to having the opportunity to curate an exhibition in the College's Old Library.

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Classics Faculty

Philip Keates

Emerging dazed and exhausted from my third and final round of gruelling (well, Arts subject gruelling, at least) Classics exams at Cambridge, I realised I'd completely failed to consider what I was going to do next. I'd always harboured a vague notion about continuing into academia, so after a somewhat aimless year spent (mostly) working to save up money, I embarked on an MA in Ancient History in London. About halfway through, it clicked that my dream job had actually been in the back of my mind all along - I realised that the idea that I'd enjoy library work had been rattling around somewhere in my subconscious for years! I love working in a scholarly environment - that feeling of being surrounded by thousands of years of knowledge - I like helping people, and I am, if I'm honest, a bit of a pedant.

So, after completing my rather expensive revelatory experience, I got stuck into a year's worth of librarianship applications, and eventually (with a lot of luck) landed a job at the very library I'd left three years before. I am genuinely thrilled to be working here, in a library that is without doubt one of the finest Classical research libraries in the world, but is also capable of looking after lowly undergrads as confused and flustered as I was! The work is incredibly varied, and on any one day I could be shelving, working at the issue desk, ordering books, deciding where the new deliveries are going to go, dealing with email enquiries, processing new books, grappling with the cataloguing complexities of AACR2 rules and MARC21 coding - or I could be out on one of the many training courses laid on for the personnal and professional development of us lucky trainees. As a the only faculty library in the traineeship scheme, mine can get extremely busy at times - you learn to fear the pre-lecture rush five minutes before every hour - but the work is always enjoyable. Even the more mundane jobs like list checking and book labelling can be fun, although I accept that this probably reflects more my unsound mind than the tasks' genuine universal appeal. The best thing about my job? No contest. Senior Member's borrowing rights from the Cambridge Classical Faculty library, anyone?

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Emmanuel College

Jonathan Pearson

Having completed my undergraduate degree in Ancient and Modern History at Oxford, I knew that I did not want to continue on and become an academic, nor did I want to become a teacher - the two careers which seem to best suit a history degree! Having used libraries extensively in my undergraduate degree I knew how invaluable they were, and the thought of being involved in helping users make the most of the resources available, and going some way to enable people to enjoy studying as much as I did in my three years as a student was an appealing prospect. It also meant that, as part of the academic world, albeit not as a student, there could be the possibility for me to go on and pursue my interests, without it being my only focus. I also have an interest in books as objects, in particular antiquarian books, and the possibility of working with objects such as these, or at least being involved with them to an extent, could give a job satisfaction unobtainable in any other career.

The Trainee course at Cambridge provides such a good basis for understanding what library work entails, and prepares you excellently for applying for postgraduate qualifications in Library studies - both in that it provides you with the necessary experience which many establishments look for, but it also gives you a real sense of what working in a library involves - both in terms of the jobs you undertake personally, but also seeing how a library functions, and what are the more general issues within a serious academic library.

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Newnham College

Polly Harper

Whilst studying for my A Levels I worked as a library assistant at Worcester City public library, and again in my smaller, more local, public library during my gap year before studying English at the University of Hull. Both of these jobs I really loved, so from quite early on the seeds of the idea of a future in librarianship had been planted.

The world of working within an academic library, however, I knew would be significantly different, so having spent time at my University Library, helping and discussing librarianship with the staff there, I felt really drawn towards exploring academic librarianship further. This certainly encouraged me to apply for a Library Graduate Traineeship which, very fortunately, I found at lovely Newnham!! So far, the job is varied and interesting and I feel like I have learnt an enormous amount in a short space of time already, through which I have felt fully supported. I know, however, on the horizon lies much more for me to learn...

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Pembroke College

Joe Sandham

Having spent most of my adult life in research and education, it is perhaps unsurprising that I feel quite at home in libraries. I had already worked part-time in various college libraries in Cambridge before starting this position, so I knew something about the role from the outset. As anticipated, I am greatly enjoying my work: the practical side of things has provided a welcome change from the theoretical toil of my preceeding academic years; the variety of tasks involved in my day-to-day work means that it is always interesting, and the continual learning process generates an encouraging sense of ascendency. I have been pleasantly surprised by my new-found fascination with the computer-based aspects of the training. The opportunity to gain new practical and sellable skills -as well as relevant experience- was one of the points that attracted me to the position in the first place. I am happy to say that I am finding that librarianship ticks many of the boxes for an interesting and rewarding career. As for the immediate future, I would like to remain working in libraries, and hope to simultaneously enrol on a distance learning course to gain an accredited library qualification.

Pembroke College has decided to admit a Graduate Trainee Librarian only this year. I hope that I will be able to convince the College that the decision was a good one.

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St John's College

Rachel Walker

Being a scientist, the idea of becoming a librarian was not one I considered until late on in my degree. I thoroughly enjoyed my time at University, studying Theoretical Physics in Durham, but as the time it came to think about what to move onto next I knew I didn't want to continue into a career directly using my studies. After a friend began volunteering in the college library I thought I'd give it a go and that lead to me spending my summer between 3rd and 4th year volunteering in the university library. Here I learnt so much about the behind-the-scenes of a large academic library and was eager to explore it further. During my final year studies I continued to work one afternoon a week, and by Christmas last year I had discovered the CILIP accredited graduate trainee programme online. I applied to many of these across the country, and after one interview down in Cambridge here I am at St. John's!

I have been here for three months now and I love the variety. With the library being reasonably large, especially compared to my college library at University, there is so much to do. I have experienced all areas of the Working Library, from helping students and old Johnians and giving tours, to purchasing and cataloguing books. There is also the Old Library where I have helped set up exhibitions, steward events for the public and assisted with childrens activities. Finally, and probably my favourite part, is working with the Biographical Office. Here I help with the momentous task of updating the online database of Johnians, dealing with enquiries from researchers using the archives and looking through various media sources on a daily basis to find anything relating to the college and its members.

I am very excited about the year ahead, and it does shock me sometimes when I think how different my life is compared to this time last year! I love being able to work and learn at the same time, and next year I hope I can continue this by studying and working part-time.

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Trinity College

Fiona Watson

I completed my BA in English Literature and Classical Studies at Newcastle University and very much enjoyed it but had no idea what career I wanted to pursue. In my second year I began to think seriously about library work, which would combine an environment I was always very happy in with a field where my degree could be really useful. I then was lucky enough to be given a role in the University Classics Library managing the other student Library Aides. This was a valuable introduction to an academic library in miniature.

After my degree I stayed in Newcastle working part time and volunteering with the National Trust giving guided tours. I also spent several months working at the Nicholas Wood Library for the Institute of Mining and Mechanical Engineers. This included everything from cataloguing books and journals to helping repaint a reading room. While researching CILIP accredited universities for a Masters in Librarianship I learned about the Graduate Traineeships. These seemed an ideal way to experience a bigger, more well used library before committing to another year in education.

I have now spent over two months at Trinity College Library and am thoroughly enjoying it. The work is very varied, most of the staff rotate desk duties as well as their other work. This includes sitting on the issue desk, reception in the Wren Library and supervising visiting academics while they read rare books or archival material. I particularly enjoy working in the Wren and when I have the time I am already researching possible ideas for an exhibition. So far my time at Trinity has only confirmed my aspiration to complete a Masters in Librarianship and continue working in academic or private libraries.

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