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INTERVIEW


By the Dart INTERVIEW


ROWENA MARSHALL


DARTmOuTH LIBRARY suPeRvIsOR


“I


read voraciously,” says Rowena marshall, Library


supervisor at Dartmouth Library. “I try to read a wide range of books – I love being able to talk to people about the books they might want to take out of the library. I love matching a book to a person – it’s a subtle art.” Born on the Isle of Wight, Rowena


has loved books almost from the moment she first picked one up. she studied English at the University of North Wales – where she joined the Sailing Club and met a nice man called Arthur, whom she would later marry – before taking a diploma in Librarianship. her first job after this was working in a specialist children’s bookshop before taking a role with the Library Service in Essex. With her now husband Arthur,


Rowena moved to Devon around the time of the birth of the couple’s first child in 1983. They chose a cottage in Strawberry Valley, and have lived there to this day. Rowena soon started work


at Stoke Fleming and Kingswear Libraries, before spending time at the Children’s Library in Newton Abbot. Then in May 2005 she took the role of Library Supervisor at Dartmouth’s brand new library, in the newly opened Flavel Arts Centre. At the heart of the town, the library has been attracting thousands of visitors every year since and Rowena said she loves working there.


“I love books and I love working with people, “ she said. “So it is the perfect place for me! I enjoy interacting with people and finding out what they are reading. If someone wants a recommendation I often ask ‘What did you last enjoy reading?’” “You notice certain trends that


transcend formats – everyone loves Murder mysteries! Our best issuing author is M.C. Beaton, who writes light-hearted murder mysteries. They’re clearly addictive: having


“I love matching a book to a person – it’s a subtle art.”


sampled one, people tend to devour the series! September’s best-issuing book is “A respectable trade” by Philippa Gregory. Rowena said her favourite books


this year have been “ Wolf Hall” by Hilary Mantel and “The Blind Man’s Garden” by Nadeem Aslam. Her childhood favourite was “The Secret Garden” by Frances Hodgson Burnett. She said that being a librarian can


be very rewarding. “I recently recommended a


library member, who works as a social worker in Plymouth, to take out some audio books for her car journeys,” she said. “She wrote to me and said it had made a big difference


to her, in helping her relax on her trips to and from work. Or there’s the 102 year-old lady who couldn’t hold a book to read anymore – she now listens to audio books and this has allowed her to maintain her love of fiction.” Rowena and her team have been


working to develop the library, with the help and guidance of the Devon Library Service, so that it can be the best possible community asset. She said: “We want to make sure


that all feel welcome - the library needs to be a free, open, non- judgemental space for people to use. So we have computers, reading tables, and comfortable chairs. We also try to make sure everyone is aware that we have the support of the library network, so if someone needs a book we don’t have here, we can source it from another library. “Computers are playing an increasing role in the work of the library – we offer support to all so that if someone wants to develop their computer skills we can help. The library service in Devon has been very positive and proactive in trying out new ways to develop and enhance their services and I like being part of an organisation that is always trying new things.” Rowena has seen many changes


during her time as a Librarian, and recently the library was remodelled to include ‘self service’ sections for visitors. Part of this drive to keep up with developments is using new


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