Oliver, 3^rd Year Psychology student, Pendle College

"Being a Library Student Ambassador has been such a great experience for me because it has provided me with so many opportunities to develop both personally and professionally. I have particularly enjoyed Open Days, where meeting and chatting to new people has really boosted my confidence, and working as part of a team with the other ambassadors has been so much fun! I've also developed a lot of other skills by being involved in other projects, such as helping to develop and write content for the library newsletter, collecting feedback from current students on the Library's resources and communications, and collating e-books and audiobooks on Libby to contribute to the Library Student Ambassador Picks collection. Overall, the experience has been really rewarding!"

Clémence, 3rd year Criminology and Psychology student, Furness College

Being a library ambassador has enriched my personal, academic and professional growth. Engaging in Open Days and public lectures has not only increased my confidence but also sharpened my communication skills, reinforcing my role as a university representative in both the library and public settings in Lancaster. Attending library management team meetings has provided invaluable insights into decision-making processes, benefiting my part-time administrative and society executive roles. I found it especially fulfilling to contribute to the library's academic integrity group, where I assisted in tailoring resources to address students' needs, providing relevant materials for students of all years. This experience has deepened my understanding and appreciation of the library's multifaceted roles, particularly highlighted during my participation at the ‘Student as co-creators’ ALN conference where I gained insights into university dynamics and efforts towards student inclusivity. The supportive team and staff have made this journey fulfilling and highlighted the essential role the library plays in our academic and personal development.

Uzma, Second Year Law student, Bowland College

I have thoroughly enjoyed working as a Library Student Ambassador for the Library! I have had the privilege of being involved in the behind-the-scenes work that the library does. The projects I have taken part in work with students, staff, and the public. It is apparent that my voice as a student is really valued. I particularly enjoyed contributing towards the Academic Integrity Group, where I not only was able to give my personal opinions on services that students use, but also learnt how to really take advantage of the library. For example, the Learning Development team can help with your essays which I find really useful as a law student. I also really feel like getting involved with events such as ‘Welcome Week’ and open days has really helped me develop my own inter-personal communication and public speaking skills; I never would’ve imagined myself sitting on student panels and working public events but this role helped me to become a really confident version of myself.

The Library Schools Engagement Ambassadors were recruited through the Lancaster Success Programme and Grow Your Future schemes.

Shannon

“Hi, I am Shannon, and I am a second-year History (BA) undergraduate. I am currently a Library Schools Engagement Ambassador at Lancaster University Library working with A-Level students to aid them with their EPQ projects. I work mostly with these students regarding information literacy and aiding their transition to university providing personal tips and tricks for this transition. Furthermore, I am a friendly face to the students to whom they can voice their worries or questions about their EPQ projects and the transition into university. I enjoy helping students in this way because I understand what it is like to be faced with the daunting decision of university or not. I have been able to extend my advice and presentation skills much further because of this, it is a great way to give back to students!”

Elisha

“In my role as a Library Schools Engagement Ambassador, I work alongside the Faculty Librarian team to assist with a range of projects, from creating informational resources to providing support for library research days and outreach trips to schools and colleges. As part of this, I help students in Years 12-13 research and complete their Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) and share my experiences of Higher Education, with the aim of helping students to experience university before applying and encourage access to higher education. Working as part of the Library Schools Engagement Team has given me experience working as part of a wider team on a dynamic project in a professional setting. Being in this role has helped to develop my knowledge of information literacy- it has been invaluable for me in my degree, and it is really rewarding to be able to share this with school and college pupils considering higher education.”

Charlotte

“Hi, I’m Charlotte and I’m a 1^st year medical student. In my role as a Library Schools Engagement Ambassador, I’ve been able to work with the wider Teaching and Engagement Team, with a variety of projects ranging from EPQ information searching days, outreach visits to schools and presentations about transitioning to university. Having done an EPQ in college, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed being able to help college students with information searching and planning for their own EPQ. In addition, I’ve also been able to talk to students about life as a medical student, the transition from college to university and widening access to Higher Education. Working in this role has been an invaluable experience of working in a team, building knowledge of information literacy and being able to pass on my knowledge to college students. I’m looking forward to what else my role as Library Schools Engagement ambassador brings!”

Eleanor

"Hello! I'm Eleanor, one of the Library School Engagement Ambassadors and I'm a first-year student studying Psychology (BSc). I work alongside Faculty Librarians in creating library content for both existing and upcoming students, as well as assisting college students with their Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) when they visit the University to use our resources. As a widening participation student, I like to share my experiences of university experience as a mature student, and to spread the word that university is for everyone who wants to feed their need for curiosity and knowledge! Working in this role has helped to develop my communication and leadership skills, and I have had the great opportunity of learning more about the library facilities and being able to use them for my own degree. Despite being in my first year within the role, I have gained so much experience already and I can't wait to carry on being a Library School Engagement Ambassador next year!"

"I loved seeing how diverse the careers in the library are, and the opportunities staff have to try new things and collaborate. I enjoyed talking to everyone about how they contribute to the successful running of the library and how they are working to make the space and its resources better for everyone. The staff were so friendly and supportive, the space is amazing and the community that the library promotes is wonderful. The experience gave me confidence in my future plans and confirmed that I want to work in academic libraries."

If you would like to learn more about participating in a career taster day please email library@lancaster.ac.uk.