Workshop 2
April 11, 2011
Everyone has been asking me what kind of library I want to work in, but as new student I am ill equipped to answer this question. I was looking forward to hearing from real librarians.
Paula Callan - E-research Access Coordinator
Paula's special needs toy library interested me because in high school, I worked as a peer tutor for a special needs boy. I love the idea of seeing a need in the community and working out how to meet it.
Alex Main - Records Manager for the QLD Nurses' Union
Sofie Falkenbach - Web Content Manager at QLD Museum Library, and now QUT
Alex's role was unexpected; I've never thought about records management outside a business context, but now it seems obvious that information needs to be managed and catalogued and preserved. Sofie manages a lot of information in her role as well, and told us that metadata is very valuable.
Rachel Wray - Electronic Health Services Librarian
Fiona Winston-Brown - Library Manager of Caboolture & Redcliffe Hospitals
Rachel and Fiona's jobs seem like very important support roles. Rachel liaises between the state library and health libraries, and frequently uses reference interview techniques to learn what her clients need. Fiona is a solo librarian for two hospitals. I don't think I would enjoy working alone, but it suits Fiona. She is careful to note that she is an information specialist, not a medical specialist.
The panel was very diverse, but they agreed that you need people skills in the LIS profession. Because people may not understand what skills we have as librarians, we can help them by demonstrating what skills and ideas we have.
Kate Davis has told me I don't need to decide what 'type' of librarian I want to be yet, but until tonight I had no idea there were so many options! I noticed that three out of five panellists have "e" related roles. With the rise of all things digital, I expect there will be even more roles available by the time I graduate.
The speakers advised us to try different sectors, and take whatever work placements we can. At the moment, I think I'd be happy in a public, state, or academic library. Law and medical libraries don't appeal to me; I think I would prefer the variety of local people and students walking through the doors.
This workshop gave me a much better idea of the specifics of a library job, but it left me thinking about the wider world of information professionals.
