After a degree in Business Management I'd had a variety of jobs; retail manager, HR administrator, remuneration & benefits analyst and latterly full-time parent. However, it was the relocation to a country where I was unable to take up any employment that started me upon a new path. Wanting to be in a position to best support my children's education in a new country, I decided to take up every volunteer opportunity in their schools that I could. I was fortunate enough to get volunteer work in Elementary and Middle School libraries over a period of 5 years, and found that I loved the work. Inspired by the librarians I worked with, I realised that I wanted to study Library Science, with a veiw to working in a library once I returned to the UK.
The postgraduate courses in the USA seemed to be geared toward particular branches of librarianship, and I didn't want to commit to a specific career right away. I did some library classes at the local community college, but I decided I'd be happier with the UK system which offered a more general focus, and decided on distance learning on an MSc in Information and Library Studies at Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, Scotland. I completed most of my study whilst still in the USA, and received my post graduate diploma just after our return to the UK. Back in Scotland I started a part-time library assistant post at a public library within walking distance of my new Scottish home.
 |
| King's College Aberdeen by Colin Smith |
 |
| San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge by Wally Gobetz |
I've since moved to another public library a little further away, in a more senior position. I've been in this role for almost 2 years and have the opportunity to do all sorts of things I love; introduce ICT to folks without knowledge or access (or both) , enthuse children (and adults) with books and reading, market the library and develop relationships and services within the community. I get the opportunity to do a bit of everything and this suits me very well.
Now I feel ready to move on to the next stage, and have located a mentor and am about to embark on CILIP Chartership. I'll keep blogging, and let you know how it progresses - thanks for your support so far!
Really enjoyed reading your story. I didn't realise you could do a distance learning course based at a UK institution from another country!
ReplyDeleteWow, what an interesting route!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments Laura and Jo. There seem to be quite a number of librarians for whom librarianship is a secord (or third) career. Studying as a long-distance learning student with a university in my home country was relatively straight forward, and there were others in a similar situation in Canada and Saudi Arabia, I think.
ReplyDelete