Employment at the Library
The University Library sits within the Academic Division and plays a pivotal role supporting the learning, teaching and research needs of the University community. Library staff work in partnership with the University community to provide access to high quality information resources and information management services, tailored programs of student and researcher support, and a first-class learning environment.
At the library we have a strong focus on building strong workforce capabilities and culture, we live our values, value our staff and always look to the future. If you are interested in working in the library, advertised jobs can be found on the University website.
Student Employment Opportunities
Student employment opportunities in the Library offer valuable work experience, improving career readiness and providing a source of income in a supportive environment. All roles are created, managed and supported in line with the Library’s Students as Partners Framework.
- These roles are filled through a competitive process designed to be a learning experience for all applicants.
- We value diversity and strive to ensure that our recruitment processes are equitable, inclusive and barrier-free. Students requiring reasonable adjustments or any further considerations through their recruitment and employment will be supported effectively.
- Feedback is available to all applicants, making the process a valuable learning opportunity regardless of outcome.
All student employment is administered and advertised through Jobs on Campus.
Examples of employment opportunities for students within the Library include:
The Library Student Peer Support Assistants contribute to the delivery of high quality, client focused services and engagement activities across Library locations. As student employees, SPSAs deliver peer to peer support which guides our student-clients in connecting to vital services and resources; contribute to the smooth running of Library service points; and assist in the development, organisation and delivery of student engagement activities and programs.
SPSAs are also employed to support the Library Makerspaces. Their role includes delivery of workshops that encourage digital dexterity and creativity; in-person support for the use of Makerspace technologies and equipment; and promotion of the Makerspace service to the student community. Makerspace workshops teach a variety of skills such as playing chess, sewing, 3D imaging and printing, and electronics.
From fresh out of high school to now an established member of the greater University of Newcastle community. The Student Peer Support Assistant role has opened the door to new opportunities and helped fuel my passion to give back to my peers and UoN community through a rewarding and fulfilling experience.
Gabe
Student Peer Support Assistant
Our internships provide students with a range of opportunities that support employability and future life skills. The internship projects are designed to be valuable learning opportunities for our interns, which expose them to a variety of professional experiences and provide opportunities to develop both their employability skills and their professional identities.
Subject to need and resourcing, internships vary each year and may be offered within and across a variety of arenas of work within the Library, including client-facing and ‘back-end’ Library teams. Examples of recent internship projects include:
- Business Improvement and Administration project: The Library Student Intern worked with Library staff to review, refresh and redesign the current templates and documents used by staff across the Library for core business functions. The project involved a high degree of stakeholder consultation, research into best practice, data analysis and user experience testing.
- Indigenous Engagement project: This project supported the University’s Reconciliation Action Plan in building culturally safe spaces, services and collections while also building cultural capabilities of staff. The Library Student Intern provided administrative support to the Library’s Indigenous Action Plan, facilitated discussions and workshops in bringing the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander student voice into projects, and conducted research into better understanding the landscape of cultural empowerment.
- User Experience (UX) Research project: The Library Student Intern assisted in conducting a UX research project focused on understanding the needs and preferences of our online-only student community, both generally and specifically in relation to the Library. The findings of the research project will inform the development of tailored library services and engagement activities, thereby enhancing the online student experience and improving the Library’s services and engagement opportunities for online only students.
- Vera Deacon Internship project: A project offered through the Vera Deacon Regional History Fund yearly provides a student with the opportunity to engage in an internship focused on making our region’s cultural heritage accessible to students, researchers, academics, and the community. The Internship offers the opportunity to develop a broad range of Galleries Libraries Archives and Museums industry skills and to contribute to the accession, digitisation, discoverability, and promotion of a range of special collections. This role supports the operational objectives of Special Collections to deliver a quality research service to the University and community whilst enabling best practice in the storage, preservation, and management of our special collections
By offering these internships, the Library has been able to structure a program of professional development and support around a set of diverse internship projects embedded across multiple Library teams. This professional development and support is offered not only to the interns themselves, but also, in parallel to the Library staff who take on supervisory roles.
I have learned so much! I’m sure my career has taken a jump forwards. I have been trained in different processes, I now have practical experience, and I understand more about the context of archiving. It has absolutely fuelled my passion – I’m really loving it!
Rhys
Vera Deacon Intern 2024
At times, students are recruited through Jobs on Campus to join Library staff on specific projects - often involving large-scale, time-critical activities. Students learn new skills and gain valuable professional experience while helping the Library meet significant deadlines. These projects can involve working in any number of teams across the Library (such as business administration, user experience, internal communications, collection management, digital library systems etc.)
Examples of recent project-based student employment include:
- Hunter Valley Climate Data: Wollong Station Project: This opportunity provided paid work and experience for two students to be part of a project of international significance in assisting scientists to understand our climate and the implications of ongoing human practices that influence it. The students involved in this project contributed to the digitisation, and distribution to climate scientists, of a significant set of historical climate data from regional NSW.
- Collection Consolidation Project: In line with the Library’s strategic goals of enhancing the student experience and re-imagining our spaces and places, a project was initiated to systematically review and streamline our Library collections for relevance and currency. Ten Library Project Assistants supported the project in various ways. Their key tasks involved manual handling and data entry, all requiring a high attention to detail and the ability to work autonomously.
Professional Experience Opportunities
The Library offers students professional experience opportunities to apply their theoretical knowledge in real-world, meaningful work environments, through placement opportunities. Library staff coordinate these activities and work with academics to ensure that they provide valuable learning experiences for the students.
‘Career-Ready Placements for All’ is a key priority outlined in the University’s Looking Ahead Strategic Plan 2020-2025. Career-ready placements within the Library provide a meaningful and relevant experience to our students, involve clearly stated outcomes, are recognised throug assessment and credit, and are consistent with quality teaching and learning.
- 1855 Joshua Diary Project: In 2023, a Bachelor of Arts student brought a previously unidentified historic diary to life. The student digitized, transcribed, and researched the diary, identifying the author and providing context. The resulting digital assets are now accessible on the Living Histories digital repository, offering researchers and the public a unique historical resource. This project provided the student with hands-on experience in digital humanities, historical research, and academic writing.
- 50 Years Fifty Stories Project: In 2024, a Bachelor of Arts student worked on a University-wide project celebrating 50 Years of Open Foundation and gained hands-on experience in digital curation. The student 3D scanned an exhibition, edited contributor text and images, and curated the online version. The resulting digital exhibit is now accessible on the Living Histories digital repository, offering the community a valuable resource commemorating memories and stories of our alumni
To undertake a placement at the University of Newcastle Library, students must liaise with their Course Coordinator or Program Convenor. More information can be found on the University of Newcastle Career-ready placements page.
On a placement you are in the work environment. I liked collaborating with others who work in the field of history, archives and special collections. The experience allowed me to put into practice some of what I’d learnt in my degree. I was able to create and manage a small project, which was much different to other assessments. I learnt a lot about the history of the University, especially the Central Coast campus. The team helped me every step of the way, and I developed skills I can use in future projects that I work on. This placement helped me build a network, something that has been important post degree because you never know what doors may open for future employment.
Jeffrey
Bachelor of Arts
As part of our community engagement and commitment to the Galleries, Libraries, Archives and Museum (GLAM) sector, the Library welcomes applicants for industry or professional placements from tertiary students undertaking Galleries, Libraries, Archives and Museum studies; and from secondary students interested in GLAM professions.
To undertake a placement with the University of Newcastle Library, students must liaise with the placement coordinator at their home institution. Library-Business-Services@newcastle.edu.au can be contacted for further information.
The University of Newcastle acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas: Awabakal, Darkinjung, Biripai, Worimi, Wonnarua, and Eora Nations. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present.