1. Format: Classroom

NLB Academy (NLBA) is an Approved Training Organisation (ATO) by the Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA) for the WSQ-Advanced Certificate in Library and Information Services (ACLIS).

The WSQ- ACLIS is a Workforce Skills Qualification (WSQ) course within the Creative Industries Clusters:  Library and Information Services Framework. It is a complete course that covers the lifecycle of library management, including acquisitions, collection maintenance, circulation, bibliographic control and more.

CU 1 ACLIS - Administer Library Operations

This unit covers the administration of library operations. Skills include supervising routine library work; monitoring budgets for routine and specific functions; preparing and reporting statistics; planning and supervising staff roster; carrying out regular and preventive maintenance of library facilities and equipment; assessing and responding to emergencies and breaches of safety and security; and supervising fixed asset inventory.

At the end of this module participants will be able to:

1. Supervise routine library work in accordance to library’s policies and procedures
2. Monitor budgets for routine and specific functions and services to ensure optimal utilisation
3. Prepare and report statistics in accordance to library’s policies and procedures
4. Plan and supervise staff roster for frontline services to meet library’s service objectives
5. Carry out regular and preventive maintenance of library facilities and equipment to ensure they function optimally for all users
6. Assess and respond to emergencies and breaches of safety and security in accordance to library’s policies and procedures
7. Supervise fixed asset inventory in accordance to library’s policies and procedures

CU 2 ACLIS - Support General Reference and Information Services

This unit covers providing support in the provision of general reference and information services. Skills include conducting reference interviews; performing advanced searches; providing responses and following up on enquiries; providing guidance and assistance to facilitate the provision of reference services and providing basic readers’ advisory service to library patrons.

At the end of this module participants will be able to:

1. Conduct reference interviews to determine the information needs of patrons in accordance to the established organisation guidelines and service standards
2. Determine the appropriate information sources for the enquiries based on information gathered from the reference interview
3. Perform advanced searches using appropriate tools, techniques and database sources to meet established information needs
4. Provide appropriate responses, follow-up and closure to meet enquiry needs in accordance to established organisation policies,procedures and service standards
5. Provide guidance and assistance to junior staff and providing resolution or remedies when required
6. Provide administrative support to facilitate reference services as stipulated by work requirements
7. Provide basic readers’ advisory service to library patrons in accordance with organisation policies, procedures and service standards 

CU 3 ACLIS - Support the Management of Promotion and Outreach Activities

This unit covers assisting in the planning and setting up of book displays and library exhibitions; preparing and producing promotional materials; planning and conducting user education programmes and guided tours; providing the logistics for outreach activities; collating post-activity feedback received; and providing the necessary administrative support.

At the end of this module participants will be able to:

1. Assist librarians in planning and setting up book displays and library exhibitions in accordance with organisational procedures
2. Assist librarians in preparing and producing promotional materials in appropriate formats
3. Assist librarians in planning and conducting user education programmes and guided tours to reach out to users
4. Provide logistics for promotion and outreach activities to support organisation’s strategic objectives
5. Collate feedback received after carrying out the programme/activity to facilitate assessment of effectiveness and quality of the programme
6. Provide administrative support to facilitate promotion and outreach activities as stipulated by work requirements

CU 4 ACLIS: Support the Management of Bibliographic Control Work

This unit covers the cataloguing and classifying of materials in a library’s collection. Skills include searching, identifying, selecting and downloading appropriate bibliographic records; performing clone and original cataloguing; and assisting with the quality assurance of bibliographic records.

At the end of this module participants will be able to:

1. Search, review, select and download appropriate quality records from bibliographic utilities and other sources to local system in accordance with established requirements
2. Perform clone and original cataloguing in multiple formats in accordance with established standards and guidelines with the amount of description appropriate to the collection
3. Determine access points and perform authority control in accordance with established standards and guidelines
4. Perform subject analysis and classification in accordance with established standards and guidelines
5. Supervise cataloguing work of junior staff and physical processing workflow and smooth flow of materials
6. Assist in quality assurance of bibliographic records to ensure accuracy and consistency of information
7. Provide administrative support to facilitate bibliographic control work as stipulated by work requirement 

CU 5 ACLIS - Support the Management of Circulation and Membership Services

This unit covers the management of loan and membership services. Skills include supervising the processing of loan transaction, membership applications, renewals and terminations, fines and other fees; organising and conducting user education; assisting staff at work; and making recommendations to improve service delivery.

At the end of this module participants will be able to:

1. Supervise loan transaction process to meet service delivery requirements
2. Supervise membership application, renewal and termination processes in accordance to established policies, procedures and guidelines of the organisations
3. Supervise the processing of fines and other fees in accordance to established policies, procedures and guidelines
4. Organise and conduct user education for loans and membership services using appropriate education methods based on users’ profiles
5. Assist in evaluating the quality and effectiveness of circulation & membership services and user education sessions through established feedback channels
6. Guide staff in handling disputes and difficult enquiries and resolving them in a timely manner
7. Provide administrative support to facilitate circulation and membership services 

CU 6 ACLIS - Support the Management of Acquisitions and Serials Work

This unit covers the provision of support to manage acquisition and serials work. Skills include managing workflows within acquisitions and serials maintenance work; troubleshooting problems in ordering, subscription and renewing of serials, receiving, invoicing and recording in the library system; monitoring budgets, commitments and expenditures; preparing reports for management; managing publishers, vendors and subscription agents; providing on-the-job supervision and training of junior staff as well as administrative support.

At the end of this module participants will be able to:

1. Manage specific workflows within acquisitions and serials maintenance in order for processes to function efficiently in accordance with organisational procedures
2. Troubleshoot problems in ordering, subscription and renewal of serials, receiving, invoicing and recording in the library system to maintain smooth workflows
3. Monitor budgets, commitments and expenditures so as to provide accurate reports to management
4. Prepare reports for management to facilitate decision making
5. Liaise with publishers, vendors and subscription agents to maintain smooth acquisitions and serials workflow and process
6. Provide on-the-job supervision and training of junior staff to enable them to effectively perform the required support functions
7. Provide administrative support to facilitate acquisition and serials work as stipulated by work requirements 

CU 7 ACLIS - Coach Service Teams and Individuals

On completion of this unit the learner will have knowledge and application skills in providing coaching in organisational service environments where ‘buddy systems’ and on the job coaching are extremely important. It includes preparing to coach, coaching on the job and following up on the results of coaching.

At the end of the module participants will be able to:

1. Prepare for coaching.
2. Coach service teams and individuals on the job to achieve service objectives.
3. Evaluate and follow up service coaching.

*NLBA will offer all CUs except for CU 7 ACLIS - Support Coach Service Teams and Individuals. This unit will be provided by an external provider below. Please note that this unit SHOULD NOT be completed as the last CU.

CU 8 ACLIS - Support the Management of Collection Maintenance Work

This unit covers supervising collection weeding, relegation, shelf-reading, shelf maintenance, stock-taking, maintenance of reserved collection, processing materials for binding and physical processing, managing open shelves and closed stacks, and reading areas, as well as managing and monitoring vendor performance on collection maintenance.

At the end of this module participants will be able to:

1. Supervise collection weeding and relegation work to maintain the collection in good and up-to-date conditions
2. Supervise shelf-reading and shelf maintenance in accordance with established guidelines and procedures
3. Manage and maintain open shelves and closed stacks in accordance with established guidelines and procedures
4. Supervise stock-taking process and workflow to maintain accurate account of collection
5. Supervise the processing of materials for binding and physical processing in accordance with established procedures
6. Manage and monitor vendor performance on collection maintenance in accordance with agreed terms
7. Provide administrative support to facilitate the management of collection maintenance work as stipulated by work requirements 

Faqs

• What is the Framework of WSQ-Advanced Certificate in Library and Information Services?

  The WSQ-ACLIS focuses on building supervisory competencies at competency standard Level 3. There are a total of 8 Competency Unit (CUs). Learning is by way of classroom learning and self-directed learning. There is assessment at end of each CU and it may be written test, written assignment, oral questioning, practical performance, etc.

  The NLB Academy will offer 7 CUs except SV-PP-301G-0 Coach Service Teams and Individuals. This CU will be provided by an external provider. Please note that this unit SHOULD NOT be completed as the last CU.

  Definition: Competency Unit (CU) = The knowledge and skill and the application of that knowledge and skills to the standard of performance expected in the workplace, i.e. a statement of a key function or role in a particular job or occupation.

  Competency Code	Competency Unit (CU)	Credit Value
  CI-LI-336C-0	Administer Library Operations	2
  CI-LI-341S-0	Support General Reference and Information Enquiries	2
  CI-LI-346S-0	Support the Management of Promotion and Outreach Activities	3
  CI-LI-340S-0	Support the Management of Bibliographic Control Work	3
  CI-LI-344S-0	Support the Management of Circulation and Membership Services	3
  CI-LI-343S-0	Support the Management of Acquisitions and Serials Work	3
  SV-PP-301G-0	Coach Service Teams and Individuals	3
  CI-LI-345S-0	Support the Management of Collection Maintenance Work	2

   

• What qualification is obtained upon completion of WSQ-Advanced Certificate in Library and Information Services?

  The Statement of Attainment (SOA) is obtained by attending and successfully completing the assessment for each CU. To qualify for the Advanced Certificate, one will need to complete all 8 CUs, successfully complete assessment for each CU, and achieve 75% attendance. Both the SOA and Advanced Certificate are issued by the WDA. The total credit value is 20* or equivalent to a total of 200 hours.

  * Note: A total of 20 credit value for 7 CUs (excluding SV-PP-301G-0)
   

• Application for WSQ Funding

  For more information about WSQ Funding and other funding matters, please visit the website available at: www.skillsconnect.gov.sg or contact at Tel: 6883 5885 or Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

• Who trains in WSQ-Advanced Certificate in Library and Information Services?

  The trainers and assessors may be NLB staff or qualified external persons contracted by NLB to deliver WSQ-Advanced Certificate in Library and Information Services.

  He/she must be:

  • Advanced Certificate in Training and Assessment (ACTA) certified;
  • A qualified Librarian who possessed at least a general degree and/or Masters degree in Library and Information Studies; and
  • Acquired at least 3 and more years of work experience in a library setup.

  He/she is expected to:

  • Enhance learning and sustain interest through a variety of methodologies and approaches;
  • Ensure transferable skills and knowledge to learner’s workplace;
  • Share real-life experiences, knowledge and attitude relevant and applicable to this module; and
  • Facilitate learning retention and transfers into the workplace through application of established knowledge, skills and attitude.

• More information on WSQ

  Please visit the website available at:

  Singapore Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ)
  List of Training Programme under WDA – Creative Industry

NLBA supports The Library Association of Singapore (LAS) Professional Development Scheme (PDS) and the PDS points apply.