Hello, my name is Mrs Macfadyen, and I am in charge of the Library (also known as the Library Resource Centre or LRC).
What does a Librarian do?
My main responsibilities are
- encouraging everyone to read for fun
- keeping up to date with all the latest releases and authors
- buying the best books for the Library, from new publications to classics
- promoting the resources so that everyone knows about them
- making connections between readers and books
- organising events like author visits, competitions and activities to promote authors and reading
- making sure everyone has all the information they need for their classes and for their own interests. I can find information in books, online resources, posters, leaflets, artefacts or just finding the right person.
- working with departments, sharing ideas, creating and organising investigations and events
- teaching Information Literacy which means knowing what you need to find out, where to find it, how to use it and how to evaluate everything at the end
- using digital literacy to show learners new ways of creating projects, as well as identifying all the best websites to provide quick links for investigations, plus online safety and helping learners to understand evaluate websites for themselves
- managing the Library and everything going on in it, including circulation, classification and cataloguing (including our online catalogue), social media, website, timetabling, research, writing investigations, looking after pupils, working on whole school activities and whatever else happens to be going on
- providing a safe space for everyone, and a friendly ear for anyone who needs it
- working on school committees, shadowing book awards, bidding for additional funding
I also manage the school website, look after Glow and like everyone else, I have responsibilities for Literacy, Numeracy, Health and Well-Being and Developing the Young Workforce.
Every period of every day is different.
Have you read all the books?
I’ve read most of the books, although not always all the way through. Reading should be enjoyable so if there’s a book I don’t like, then I’ll go get something else! On the other hand, people ask me for good reads all the time, so I need to know what every book is about so I can recommend something that they might like.
When I’m cataloguing I skim through every book to identify the most important information or topics inside – that helps everyone to find the resources they need.
My own favourite books are Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, and fantasy like the Earthsea books by Ursula Le Guin, The Dark is Rising series by Susan Cooper, and Harry Potter (I’m a Hufflepuff – don’t mess with badgers).
I’m also fascinated by history, archaeology, mythology, words, photography, maps, music and exploring, so I read all about those too, e.g. Sun Horse, Moon Horse by Rosemary Sutcliff, which is one author’s idea about the Uffington White Horse was created.
Do you like being a Librarian?
Absolutely. It’s busy and it’s exciting and you never know what you’ll be asked (or what you’ll be told!)
One of my favourite parts of the job is teaching pupils how to find information for themselves, and then seeing them use their own imaginations to share it with their class .
And another is when someone tells you something you recommended was BRILLIANT!
A lot of people think all Librarians do is stamp books and stick them back on the shelf when they’re returned. And I do, but that’s a TINY part of my job.
And, no, I never get bored! There’s always something new to read, something new to explore, or someone new to talk to 😀
