IN DEPTH
What brings people into the profession
Sue Lacey Bryant takes on the role of CILIP President from January, and here she introduces herself and looks at her inspiration and motivation in a career that has spanned sectors – including public and academic libraries, but primarily health. Sue retired from her role as Chief Knowledge Officer for the NHS in England this year and is currently Visiting Professor in Knowledge and Information Mobilisation at Manchester Metropolitan University.
IN my case, I have the staff of Rochester Public library to thank for inspiring me. The Children’s Librarian was ever interested in what I was reading as a child, and she pointed me to different authors. She drew me in as a Saturday helper. Shelving, using Browne issue, choosing my books for the week, and stopping for a hot jam doughnut on the walk back to the bus stop, were all part of the pleasure. It was she who first suggested I might become a librarian but the idea of becoming an information scientist was seeded in my teens.
Inspired at an early age
Attending a consultation on new bus routes held at the library, I saw that people from more disadvantaged areas of the Medway Towns might be impacted more than others. I wondered if, and how, information about these changes was reaching them?
Meanwhile at school I was learning about Rev. Chad Varah – scriptwriter for The Eagle comic, famed as the founder of The Samaritans. The first church service he took was for a 13-year-old so afraid when she started her periods that she took her own life. Chad Varah vowed to do all he could to promote sex education, and to help people con- templating suicide. For me the dreadful penalty of ignorance came across ‘loud and clear’. Scroll on to a spell working as a library assistant one vacation. The Area Librarian gave me a tour of services of every shape and size and described
14 INFORMATION PROFESSIONAL DIGITAL
the different types of careers open to librarians and information specialists. I realised ours is a practical profession through which to make a positive difference.
Fifty years on, I have recently retired as the Chief Knowledge Officer for the NHS in England and have become a Visiting Professor in Knowl- edge and Information Mobilisation at Manchester Metropolitan University.
December 2024
Sue Lacey Bryant is the current Vice President of CILIP and will become CILIP President in 2025.
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