What is the Librarians in Training Shadowing Scheme?
Formerly known as Penumbra, the shadowing scheme offers the chance for libraries to share the skills, experiences and knowledge of its staff to other libraries’ staff who want to learn from those within the Cambridge library community. It’s a chance to learn from the best, by either shadowing some skills or engaging in a discussion about experiences, or both!
The LiT hopes to continue the scheme in order to support professional development whether at the initial stages of choosing librarianship as a profession or seeking advice on how to progress within the professional Cambridge library community.
This scheme is open to any current staff from any library that lives under the Cambridge University Libraries umbrella (Colleges, Faculty & Departmental, UL).
Current placements at Cambridge Libraries
How to set up a placement:
- Take a look at the knowledge and skills that the libraries are happy to share with others on their placement pages.
- Once you know where you want to go (and you have checked with your line manager), approach the library contact via email about going to visit.
- Make sure you know what you want to gain from the placement, so research the library, think of questions to ask and go with an open mind (and a notepad!).
- Don’t forget to look at any suggested timings and length of visit- you may prefer to attend a traditional morning or afternoon session shadowing different members of staff or alternatively just want to speak to one individual about their skills/role.
Interested in becoming a placement library?
Great! You will be offering shadowing time, as much or as little as you want. Have a chat with your colleagues as to what you feel able to offer to a potential visitor in terms of interest and specialisms and then get in touch with the LiT Committee who will create your placement page.
The LiT Shadowing Scheme Team
July 2023
Cambridge Librarians in Training 