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.