Certificate IV in Library/Information Services

Course overview

This course is for people who want to work in middle-level jobs in libraries and other information agencies.

You will learn about the issues relevant to the library and information industry in Australia. You will acquire the relevant competencies to be able to organise, maintain and promote library collections. You will also learn how to assist in providing clients with the material and information they require. You will acquire skills in searching data bases, using cataloguing tools, using multimedia and provide quality service to customers.

Student Responsibilities in Work Placement

In many TAFE NSW courses, some of the learning and assessment occurs in the workplace or a simulated workplace. A simulated workplace is very similar to a real workplace and may have clients, but is usually within a TAFE NSW campus.

TAFE NSW has a responsibility to protect members of the public (and the students themselves) from being harmed by students taking part in workplace or simulated workplace learning. If there is evidence that your skills or behaviour could present a risk to yourself or other people in the workplace, you may not be allowed to participate in a work placement, at least for a period of time.

To help you understand your responsibilities in the workplace, you will be given a code of practice which indicates expected standards of behaviour. Your teacher will explain to you and your workplace supervisor the range of duties for which you have the skills and knowledge.

You must  not carry out duties other than those indicated by your teacher. You need to take particular care if workplace clients are people who may be in vulnerable circumstances - for example, people who are frail, children, young people, people with a disability or people who are receiving a type of service which may put them in vulnerable circumstances (for example, massage therapy or nursing care).

A NSW Commission for Children and Young People Volunteer/Student Declaration must be signed by students in courses where contact will be made with children and young people. This form declares that the student is not prohibited from working with children and young people. In some circumstances students may be required to undertake a criminal records check or a Working with Children Check. Your teacher will give you more information about this.

Students who have committed a breach of discipline or who are assessed as presenting a significant risk to themselves or others during work placement may be prevented from undertaking or continuing further work placement. This may mean they will not complete the course. Your teacher or an enrolling officer can provide you with more information about this policy. If you are unsure about whether it may prevent you from completing a course you could discuss the matter with a staff member of TAFE NSW Counselling and Career Services.

Course structure

The course structure below shows what you must do to complete this course. Units/modules are arranged in groups and sometimes also in subgroups.

You must complete each group as specified as well as following the course completion instructions. If a course contains optional groups there will be a statement at the top of the course indicating how many you must do. At the top of any group containing optional subgroups there will be a statement saying how many you must do

Course content

Online study option

A total of 16 units must be completed - 10 core units and 6 elective units.

CORE UNITS

All 10 Core module/Units must be completed 

Modules/Units	Name
ICAU2006B	Operate computing packages
CUEOHS01C	Implement workplace health, safety and security procedures
CULLB001B	Develop and apply knowledge of the library/information services industry
CULLB005B	Search databases
CULLB302C	Use cataloguing tools
BSBFLM412A	Promote team effectiveness
CULLB002B	Obtain information from external and networked sources to meet customer needs
CULLB401C	Assist customers to access information
CULLB412C	Undertake cataloguing activities
CULLB602C	Use, evaluate and extend own information literacy skills

ELECTIVE UNITS

At least 6 module/units must be completed

Modules/Units	Name
BSBCMN205A	Use business technology
BSBCMN213A	Produce simple word processed documents
BSBCMN214A	Create and use simple spreadsheets
CULLB004B	Process information resource orders
CULLB205C	Process and maintain information resources
CULLB206C	Assist with circulation services
CULLB307C	Use multimedia
CULLB506C	Catalogue and classify material
CULMS207C	Assist with the presentation of public activities and events
CULMS406C	Deliver information, activities and events
ICAB4169B	Use development software and IT tools to build a basic website
ICAU3126B	Use advanced features of computer applications

Career Opportunities

Library assistant.

Entry Requirements

 NSW School Certificate or equivalent.

Computer Skills

Students will need to be able to operate a personal computer to access:

Web pages

Manage files

Conduct research

Use email (with attachments)

Computer Requirements (hardware/software)

Home/Office computer

Windows, or equivalent

Microsoft Office, or equivalent

Articulation

When you finish this course you can apply for advanced standing in the Diploma of Library/Information Services (CUL50104) and relevant university courses.

Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer

Recognition of prior learning (RPL) is the process of assessing a candidate’s competence based on evidence other than a recent testamur listing identical or equivalent units. Evidence that may be used for recognition includes (but is not limited to)

older testamur listing identical or equivalent units together with evidence of currency

current testamur listing similar, but not equivalent, units of competence together with evidence of competence in the gaps between those units and the target units

evidence of competence gained through informal learning and/or work experience

 Credit Transfer is the process of acknowledging  successful completion of one or more units of competence with TAFE NSW or any other RTO. To have those units credited towards the current qualification, the student must be able to provide a testamur with transcript of competencies achieved.

If the date of the testamur is more than three years prior to the current enrolment the candidate will need to demonstrate that their competencies are still current. This changes the process from credit transfer to recognition.

Note: For Credit Transfer and RPL - Units are only considered ‘equivalent’ if the current Training Package lists them as such in the mapping of units from the immediately previous version of that Training Package.

Sub courses
Use advanced features of computer applications	ICAU3126B
Use business technology	BSBCMN205A
Create and use simple spreadsheets	BSBCMN214A
Promote team effectiveness	BSBFLM412A
Implement workplace health, safety and security procedures	CUEOHS01C
Develop and apply knowledge of the library/information services industry	CULLB001B
Obtain information from external and networked sources to meet customer needs	CULLB002B
Search databases	CULLB005B
Process information resource orders	CULLB004B
Assist with circulation services	CULLB206C
Use cataloguing tools	CULLB302C
Use multimedia	CULLB307C
Assist customers to access information	CULLB401C
Undertake cataloguing activities	CULLB412C
Catalogue and classify material	CULLB506C
Use, evaluate and extend own information literacy skills	CULLB602C
Assist with the presentation of public activities and events	CULMS207C
Deliver information, activities and events	CULMS406C
Use development software and IT tools to build a basic website	ICAB4169B
Operate computing packages	ICAU2006B
Produce simple word processed documents	BSBCMN213A
Process and maintain information resources	CULLB205C