Media and information services specialist specialising in library services

About the profession

Media and information services specialists help to make information accessible and guide users through large amounts of information. In today's information and knowledge society, this task is more important, but also more demanding than ever. Finding information in a targeted manner rather than by chance requires a systematic approach and sound knowledge of structures, research strategies and search techniques. These skills are taught as part of the three-year vocational training programme and through various internships. At Humboldt University, the library specialisation is trained.

Prerequisites

At least a lower secondary school leaving certificate or equivalent level of education and a good general education are required for employment. If you have good communication skills, are friendly and stress-resistant, also enjoy working with computers and your strengths lie in the humanities rather than maths or physics, then this job is right for you.

Training content

Theory

The theoretical training takes place in block lessons at the vocational school in Lichterfelde S¨¹d. The subjects taught there are

• German
• English
• Social studies
• Economics
• Media and information services (including data processing)
• Service and counselling mediated.
  

Practical training

Practical training takes place at the Humboldt University Library. Teaching content there is

• familiarisation with and use of bibliographic information resources for the acquisition of media
• Checking and processing deliveries and invoices
• Processing media according to formal cataloguing rules
• Contributing to the cataloguing of content
• Organising and managing collections
• Processing loans, returns, reminders and pre-orders of media
• Procuring information and media for customers using electronic and conventional delivery systems.

During this three-year training programme, several internships are completed, e.g. one lasting several months at a public library, in an archive and in an image agency.

At the end of the 3rd year of training, the final examination takes place before the examination board of the Senate Department for Internal Affairs.

Training duration and salary

Duration of training: 3 years

Payment (according to TVA-L BBiG):

• in the 1st year of training € 1,236.82
• in the 2nd year of training € 1,290.96
• in the 3rd year of training € 1,340.61

Training time: 39 hours 24 minutes per week

Holiday: 30 days per year