| This is the second of a regular series that features members of the committee answering questions about the job they do and some of the professional (and not so professional!) issues surrounding it. This time it is the turn of Zoë Birch, who is a member of the Career Development Group Committee and the ELIPP Website Sub-group… | ||
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| How did you get where you are today? | ||
| 1st degree in Theatre Studies, then worked in a school library and public library in Lincolnshire, then graduate trainee year at Leeds University, Edward Boyle Science and Engineering Library (where I was introduced to the wonders of the Career Development Group) and then MA in Librarianship at Sheffield, before starting here at English Nature in October 2001. | ||
| What does being a "Assistant Librarian" actually mean? | ||
| My first priority is the cataloguing of all our book stock. We use the Unicorn system and have only had it for about 15 months, so a lot of work is being done on editing work and devising manuals, working guides etc. for use on the system, as well as training staff how to use the system, which is available on their desktops. Also, I do enquiry work, (internal staff, other agency/ organization staff and the public), and assist on project work, such as current awareness services, thesaurus. / taxonomy projects, website and intranet issues… | ||
| What Key skills do you use in your job? | ||
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| What do you find most rewarding in your job? | ||
| Helping someone solve a query, find a book or resource, and knowing all our work in the information management team provides resources for the 'front line' staff to help them in their conservation work. | ||
| Most difficult? | ||
| To remember how our work connects with the actual hands-on conservation work. Like so much information/ library work, sometimes it seems very far away from the action. | ||
| Most exciting? | ||
| Working with the new database system, you never know what's going to happen next. Likewise, you never know what the next enquiry will be... | ||
| Most surprising? | ||
| As part of my job, I read the Hansard reports from Parliament, and filter them through to relevant specialists within the organization. I never thought I'd be interested in politics, but now sometimes find myself listening to ' Today in Parliament' on Radio 4, and knowing some politicians names. I also scan the Financial Times most mornings and find it an interesting read! | ||
| Are you happy to offer to field questions from those interested in working in your area? | ||
| I am happy to answer any questions. Please email me. | ||
| What professional-related groups do you participate in and why? | ||
| Career Development Group (East of England branch) and ELIPP (see website!). Being new to the area as well as being in my 1st job "professional" job since my MA, I wanted to meet, share ideas and knowledge with information/ library worker from different sectors in the region. The idea of 'networking' has always been a daunting one, but these contacts are a very useful, supportive and friendly bunch! I'm also half way through my Route A chartership programme, so network doubly important. | ||
| If you weren't a "Knowledge Manager ", what do you think you would be? | ||
| A theatre actress… | ||
| What are your current top 3 favourite websites? | ||
| Google www.google.com
(finds me something every time) Internet Movie Database www.imdb.com (to feed my film habit) Website of the French composer Yann Tiersen www.yanntiersen.com (a current favourite - he did music for the film "Amelie") |
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| What was the last stimulating book you read? | ||
| Jasper Fforde's Lost in a Good Book and The Eyre Affair | ||
| Enthralling film you saw? | ||
| Amelie | ||
| Memorable piece of music you heard? | ||
| Yann Tiersen's album L'absente, can I say him again! | ||
| What country would you like to visit? | ||
| Canada | ||
| Can you identify (unlikely or unusual) things in your social/ personal life that have helped you in your career? | ||
| Playing the oboe! When I applied to be a relief librarian at my local public library, the manager also noticed my musical skills on my CV, and mentioned that the group she played with had recently lost their oboist - and was I interested… I said yes to the job and the musical sideline! | ||
| Tell the world about your secret passion for? | ||
| French, I would love to be able to think and dream in French! |