Skip to main content

Introducing the CILIP North West Committee Lorna, Student Representative






Name: Lorna
Role on CILIP NW Committee: Student Rep
Work: Knowledge Service Assistant at an NHS Mental Health Trust
Brief summary of work role/responsibilities:
I look after the book, health promotion and leaflet collections at the Knowledge Service. This includes issuing and returning stock, dealing with reservations and asking people to bring everything back! I also look for new additions to all three collections which is a really enjoyable part of the job. I look after two Twitter accounts: one for the KS and one for the health and wellbeing service who we share a building with. One slightly unrelated responsibility I have is organising the NHS Pride Parade.
Other CILIP member networks you belong to:
Health Libraries Group, Information Literacy Group and Leader’s Network
How has your career developed up to now?
I started as a Graduate Trainee at a university library. This gave me a great grounding in so many different aspects of academic libraries. I then worked for a year in FE where I was heavily involved in things like promoting reading to TESOL students. After a brief stint as a teaching assistant in a primary school, I got my current position in an NHS Mental Health Trust. There is so much variety and I get quite a lot of responsibility which is nice. I also really like being so close to the health and wellbeing team and part of a Mental Health Trust. Health libraries have a great network which gives you so many opportunities to develop and I have benefitted so much from that. I’ve just qualified with a PGDip so am looking for my first professional post … watch this space!
What’s been your best professional moment?
Being told that one of the items from my weekly Public Health Bulletin was used to support a project proposal. At the start, I sent it out into the big wide world and didn’t know if it was useful so it was great to hear it was having such an impact.
What drives you on?
My team. I work with some really amazing people who do so much to such a high standard and yet are still willing to learn new things. It is inspiring and a great example to follow and I am driven to emulate their work ethics.
Do you have any career advice or top tips?
If you’re thinking about getting into libraries, get as much experience as you can – it’s way more than stamping books (I never do that in fact).
Take as many training opportunities as possible: even if they’re not applicable now, they may be in the future.
Don’t be afraid to switch sectors. I thought I wouldn’t get my current job because I had no previous experience in health, but I’m here now, you can be too.
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time? 
I love playing squash and reading. I write poetry and facilitate a poetry group once a month.
What would be your Desert Island read?
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Sustainability, Accessibility and Resilience: Reflections from the CILIP Conference + Expo 2022 by H Kiely

I was lucky enough to be awarded the bursary from CILIP NW to be able to attend the CILIP Conference this year in Liverpool. I am incredibly grateful to have had this opportunity especially as prior to attending I had just started my new job in what is (for me) the brand-new area of academic libraries. I went in feeling as bright-eyed and new as I did the first time I attended a conference some years ago, a little overwhelmed at the choice of so many different talks but looking forward to learning a lot! Spotted my new workplace at the drinks reception! Museum of Liverpool Life. The theme for the CILIP conference was Sustainability in all its forms. Day one opened with an incredibly powerful and moving keynote from Sayf Al Ashquar, Secretary-General of the Libraries, University of Mosul; Director of Central Library, Iraq on the destruction of the Central Library in Iraq by ISIS soldiers. Destruction of Central Library, Iraq. “To control the people, [ISIS] destroyed the knowledge.” ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Professional Registration by Sue McKenzie

"To be, or not to be, that is the question." (Shakespeare).  I have been procrastinating about my professional registration for a while now. It’s easy to put it to one side and blame the day-to-day job for not having time to do it.   So, when I was invited to attend a CILIP Professional Registration workshop at our local Educational Library Service, I decided it was the encouragement and kick I needed to get going. I was to find out that this was exactly the same for several others who were attending as well as a few who had not yet registered. An investment in your future We all know that getting professional acknowledgement will not necessarily get us more pay.  But I decided long ago that it wasn’t about the money - I don’t think many of us work in libraries for the money! For me it was about the recognition of doing my job well. Throughout the professional registration process, the candidate is encouraged to reflect on their learning and become more en...
3 comments
Read more

CILIP North West Careers Panel - Sinead English, Assistant Librarian, University of Football Business Etihad Campus

Sinead English Assistant Librarian, University Campus of Football Business  During the CILIP North West Member Network Career Panel event on 23 April, Sinead spoke about her career journey, particularly about her early career and her move from a Health to Higher Education Library role. Here are some of her reflections on the event and some great tips!  I was incredibly nervous about speaking at this event, filled with the dreaded imposter syndrome telling me that it was too early into my library career to be speaking. However, when I had looked back at my job experiences,  I decided that it may be useful to demonstrate to attendees the way in which I’ve managed to build up my transferable skills in order to get to my current role. Volunteering Opportunities Since giving my presentation I've been reflecting on the similarities between when I was looking for my first role in libraries (following the aftermath of the market crash)...
Post a Comment
Read more