Name: Kristy Newton

Position: Library Professional Cadet

Qualification:

BA (Hons) English

Master of Applied Science (LIM) - in progress

Organisation: University of Wollongong Library

Previous positions: Bookseller, Community Cultural Development Worker, Musician

What’s great about your job?

The cadetship is geared towards allowing cadets to gain an overall experience of library work, and provides an invaluable opportunity to be trained in a variety of library skills. I feel passionate about the role of libraries as providers of information to all sectors of the community, and feel that it is important for our communities to have a place to access varying kinds of information resources, from leisure reading and personal interest through to legal information and materials for professional research.

Libraries are no longer just a repository for aging books and repeated commands to “shush!”, but incorporate a variety of resources including online, electronic, and new media such as podcasts, blogs and wikis.

What’s the most fun experience you’ve had at work?

For a bibliophile like myself it is always fun to browse through the new books that arrive every week, but I think one of the most enjoyable parts of my job is the stimulation of working in a constantly changing environment. I enjoy the flow of ideas that come though interactions with library users, especially in a University context, and am excited about the opportunity the job gives me to offer users access to information and ideas they may not have seen before. I see libraries as a place for people to begin expanding their mental horizons, both in terms of introducing new ideas and technologies and preserving the cultural materials of our history and heritage.

Describe a typical day at work.

I am currently working in Collection Services, which involves liasing with the Faculty Librarians, ordering and processing new materials, and weeding older or irrelevant materials out of the collection. I also do shifts on the Information Desk, and perform various administrative tasks to do with maintaining the catalogue records. As a cadet, my job is not typical because I will rotate the team I work within every three to six months, so my tasks and responsibilities are constantly changing.

What do you find rewarding and challenging about your job?

It is rewarding to be able to help direct people towards finding the information they need, as well as suggesting alternative materials that might interest them, and to see that you have had a positive impact on their research or information needs. It can be challenging in that you need to have enough flexibility to accommodate the gap between your vision for the library and the reality of what budgets and similar considerations will allow, but overall I find it a positive and interesting place to work. It is particularly helpful in my position as a cadet that I am supported in completing my Masters degree while gaining the practical experience I will need to gain employment in the field.

What are the personal skills & attributes that you need to do this job?

A keen eye for detail and well developed literacy skills are essential, and it is also important to be friendly, receptive, and open to changing environments. Modern library users are demanding that libraries be as easy to use as Google, and want to be able to access resources in their preferred format. It is a changing industry at the moment, and you need to be committed to a lifelong learning process in order for the industry to remain fresh and relevant to our communities.

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