Alice Leggatt, Library Manager, Oaks Park High School, Croydon.


What­made­you­want­to­be­part­of­ the­profession? My first ever job was in Croydon Children’s Library; I had always wanted to return to libraries so after years of working in a sixth form college and a SEND school I took a chance and applied for my dream job as a school librarian. I love the huge variety of the work I do – teaching, pastoral care, collection development etc. etc., – and haven’t looked back, for me it really is the best job in the world.


What’s­the­best­part­of­your­job? That magical moment when one of my students finds exactly the right book for them.


How­has­being­part­of­the­CILIP­ Community­helped­you­develop? School librarians are often solo workers, so being part of CILIP has enabled me to feel part of and learn from the wider profession. The work CILIP has done on professional ethics has helped me to develop my own practice and to ensure that my school library is inclusive and forward-looking.


What­is­your­biggest­hope­for­the­ future­of­the­sector?


I would love to see fully funded and pro- fessionally staffed school libraries become a statutory requirement for UK primary and secondary schools.


Rebecca Rule, Senior Library Assistant, University of Portsmouth.


What­made­you­want­to­be­part­of­ the­profession?


I have always loved working in a team and in educational settings. I work in an academic library and I like the variety of opportunities available to me. Everyday is different and challenging in a good way!


What’s­the­best­part­of­your­job? Working with the students and a great team who are passionate about libraries and our clients.


How­has­being­part­of­the­CILIP­ Community­helped­you­develop? I have more self-confidence as I have a better understanding of the profession.


What­is­your­biggest­hope­for­the­ future­of­the­sector?


Corin Peacock, Subject Librarian at Arts University Bournemouth, and CILIP Trustee.


What­made­you­want­to­be­part­of­ the­profession?


I’ve always wanted to be a librarian! For my Business Studies class in Year 8, I created a career plan to go through univer- sity and become an academic librarian. I ended up following it exactly!


What’s­the­best­part­of­your­job? All of the creative and incredibly talented students I get to work with – they never cease to amaze me!


24 INFORMATION PROFESSIONAL January-February 2024


That we can be innovative and adaptive in these changing times but that also we hold on to our fundamental principles.


Career­update


Not as of yet, but I have been encouraged to apply for more senior roles.


Abie Thompson, School’s Librarian, Guille-Allès Library.


What­made­you­want­to­be­part­of­ the­profession?


I always loved libraries as a child and was one of the school librarians that


How­has­being­part­of­the­CILIP­ Community­helped­you­develop? Even while I was a student, CILIP made me feel like a “real” librarian with something valuable to contribute, and that sense of belonging empowered me to pursue opportunities I otherwise wouldn’t have. I owe all of my successes to that confidence that CILIP helped build.


What­is­your­biggest­hope­for­the­ future­of­the­sector?


I hope for a truly diverse workforce and community of practice. I hope that all aspects of librarianship and information management can continue to build on their valuable offering to society. And I hope that society will regard the sector as valuable in turn.


Danielle Stubbs, Library User Ser- vices Coordinator, Imperial College London.


What­made­you­want­to­be­part­of­ the­profession? A philosophy student originally, I joined the profession with the hope to inspire a generation of students to seek, use, and assess information sources, to enable an understanding of the world and its functions.


What’s­the­best­part­of­your­job? Service Improvement & Innovation, within Higher Education libraries.


How­has­being­part­of­the­CILIP­ Community­helped­you­develop? I have been able to network with other information professionals outside of the Higher Education sector through the CILIP Chartership process and through many discounted events/conferences/ workshops. Hence, I have gained a lot of advice and developed innovative ideas for my services.


What­is­your­biggest­hope­for­the­ future­of­the­sector?


My hope for the wider sector is to see the level of support, finances, and new laws, given to UK public libraries, that they deserve. Government budget cuts have emphasised inequalities, commu- nity divisions and the lack of inclusivity within society, uncontrollably.


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