February 2025: Public Libraries: Not Just About Books

In February we were joined for an online talk by Stephanie Hogan, Area Manager at Manchester Public Libraries. Stephanie shared insights into her career, and showed that public libraries are about so much more than books!

Manchester Central Library

Stephanie began her career at the public library in Bury, a town in the North West of England, as a Saturday Library Assistant. She enjoyed it so much that she decided to undertake a BA (Hons) Information and Library Studies at Northumbria University, returning to work in Bury after completing the course.

Her first professional post, after graduating in 1993, was with Salford Libraries as a community librarian at Broughton Library. Stephanie found this experience eye-opening as she saw those who are marginalised in society and most in need, and how they relied on the service. Stephanie also set up a Jewish collection in response to enquiries about specific authors, subject areas and publications. It was great to hear that this collection is still there.

Stephanie’s career has also involved work in other sectors. While raising her family she worked at a school and then as a Learning Resource Assistant at Bury College. She credits this post with teaching her skills such as managing periodicals and conducting inductions. She also found she really enjoyed working with teenagers! She went on to work as Senior Assistant Librarian at Manchester Met University, providing continuity of service at weekends as well as having managerial responsibility. Here she learned about databases, search strategies, accessing journals, and evaluating sources. There were a lot of changes during her time at MMU; multiple sites merged, and the Library saw the introduction of ‘Library Search’, self-service borrowing and an integrated help desk. Stephanie was involved in a project to create a ‘virtual help desk’ providing a central point of contact for users, and improving the service they received. She also worked on training sessions, introducing automatic renewals and abolishing fines, as well as really enjoying work as a Sconul rep.

Stephanie decided to return to public libraries, where the events and community work really appealed to her. Her next position was as Neighbourhood Librarian with Tameside Libraries. She highlighted her involvement in a programme of events for community groups, reading groups, and class visits. She also coordinated two festivals, and a successful virtual children’s book festival in 2021. She was also involved in moving a library to a warm, bright, accessible space which served the needs of the community much better than the old building had.

Stephanie moved on to be the Head of the Library at a college, Holy Cross, in 2022. Although the space was lovely, Stephanie identified ways to make it more welcoming to students. She also improved the stock by carrying out weeding and making new purchases.

In October 2023 Stephanie began her role as Area Manager with Manchester Libraries. She is responsible for the buildings and around 32 staff. The busiest library is Longsight, a joint venue with adult education. A music charity also uses the community rooms to deliver free music lessons to children and Barclays Bank provides services from there after closing their nearby branch.

Longsight Library

The week after our talk, Stephanie was about to take on another new challenge as the Interim Manager at Manchester Central Library, the busiest UK public library with around 1.7 million visitors per year!

It was inspiring to hear about Stephanie’s career progression, and all the skills she has learned along the way. Her passion for helping the community really came across, and it was inspiring to hear about the difference that libraries can make to an area and a community.

Stephanie shared some thoughts on the bigger picture for public libraries. More than a decade ago it looked like budget cuts might spell the end for public libraries. However, public libraries are surviving and they are still absolutely essential. Books are at the heart of the service, but libraries have changed and evolved to incorporate other services and events. Although funding cuts remain a threat, and there will be more hard times for libraries ahead, Stephanie’s closing words were optimistic. As long as they are still serving their communities, she has hope for the future of public libraries.

April 2025: Graduate Trainee Talk

In April, we hosted our annual Graduate Trainee Talk. This year, we were joined by Caitlin Brinkley from Pembroke College and Elliot Cobb from Queens' College.

We first heard from Caitlin, who primarily discussed her contributions to a small working group looking at the value of public libraries. Caitlin and a couple of other colleagues at Cambridge and Oxford are producing a literature review on this topic, and reporting findings to the University Librarian at Cambridge University and the Associate Director for Academic Library Services at the Bodleian Libraries. This work is part of a wider cross-sector project to advocate for public libraries, inspired by the 175^th anniversary of the Public Libraries Act 1850. It sounded like a very rewarding project and an important contribution to the sector. Cailtin is hoping to stay in Cambridge libraries after the traineeship and pursue a MA in Library and Information Studies once she has secured a job.

Our second speaker, Elliot, discussed their interest in digital humanities and helping students develop their digital research skills. Elliot has developed an AI literacy workshop during their traineeship, which was a steep learning curve but something they consider essential for the role of a librarian. Elliot shared some examples of what is covered in the workshop. Above all, Elliot advocated for a critical approach to AI literacy: knowing that students are using AI, it is important students are equipped with the skills to recognise the opportunities but also the societal and ethical issues inherent with this technology. The AI workshops have had the highest attendance of all the workshops offered at Queens' Library this academic year, demonstrating their value. Elliot is hoping to pursue a career in special collections librarianship after the traineeship, ideally in Cambridge.

Thank you to Caitlin and Elliot for sharing your experience with us. We wish you every success in your future careers.

Post contributed by Lily Swain, CLG Committee Member and Library Services Adviser at Anglia Ruskin University.

March 2025: Scott Polar Research Institute visit

The CLG’s March 2025 visit was to the library of the Scott Polar Research Institute, which supports multidisciplinary research and focuses on the polar regions. We began our tour with a general introduction in the Friends’ Room, home to the ship bell from the Terra Nova expedition to Antarctica of 1910-13 which is rung once a day to signal teatime, before splitting into two groups.

 

Our next stop was special collections. A variety of rare books and archival documents had been laid out for us to see in a reading room, including a copy of the ‘South Polar Times Volume III’, bound in wood and Weddell Seal skin, which was apparently in better condition than other seal skin-bound items; a copy of ‘British Antarctic Expedition 1907-09’, the first book published in the Antarctic, which was presented to Emily Shackleton and bound in a ‘Butter’ packing case; a first edition of ‘Antarctic Adventure, Scott’s Northern Party’ by Raymond E. Priestley, which contains a colourful child’s drawing of flowers inside the front cover, believed to be by Robert Falcon Scott’s son, the noted naturalist Sir Peter Scott ; and a book by John Franklin on his expeditions to the shores of the polar sea, which went so badly wrong that his men ate lichen and boot leather to ward off starvation. Shackleton’s last diary was among the collection, only filled out to the 4th January, as he died that night. The diary’s last line, an observation that he had seen a lone star in the twilight, was apparently much more poetic than his usual style. The Archivist gave a thorough explanation of each item, then left us to browse the collection of items from both successful expeditions and perilous failures. All the items were in excellent condition, especially considering that they had been kept in freezing temperatures, and the staff set each one out with book cushions and book snakes to keep them well preserved. 

 

 

We were then given a tour of the main library. It has a large collection, ranging from scientific material to fiction books, children’s literature, and journals, the latter of which were presented on a regularly updated display. Multiple languages were represented in both adult and children’s materials. The polar region theme of the books was complimented by the various model ships and busts of famous explorers. More books were to be found in the rotunda, a circular tower that contained rounded shelves, a quiet study space overlooking Cambridge, and locked cases full of rare books – visible to readers but unable to be idly browsed through.  Many of the materials were clearly organised by region, and as none of them can leave the library, there was no need for a check-out desk. Readers had plenty of books to browse, spaces to study, and artefacts for inspiration. There was also a display celebrating the 134th year of Crufts in a glass display, due to dogs often being used as transportation and protection in the Arctic and Antarctic. 

 Post contributed by Erin Hutton, CLG committee member.

October 2024: AGM and talk by Steven Archer, Trinity College

For our AGM this year, we were lucky to be hosted at the wonderful Trinity College, by Steven Archer.  

 

Steven joined us to talk about his career in Libraries, and his work to date, and his role at Trinity College Library. His passion for libraries was clear from the start, having worked in public libraries in Sunderland where he realised libraries were a ‘community that needed you!’.  

Realising that a career in Librarianship was for him he was a Graduate Trainee at Trinity before he studied for a Masters in Librarianship at University College London whilst continuing to work at Trinity for a year in a job share, along with a brief part-time stint at Newnham College.  

Steven spoke passionately about the different roles that he has held during his career in Libraries to date, but he always knew from that first job at Trinity, that one day he would want to work there longer and after several different jobs, including a time in Oxford, he finally made that dream a reality, and in 2020 became the Sub-Librarian at Trinity College, Cambridge.  

Steven Archer, Sub-Librarian, Trinity College

At Trinity, Steven oversees a large team of staff and volunteers and is responsible for the running of all of library services comprising the College Library, the Wren Library, the College Archive and the Wren Digital Library.    

After the talk, attendees were lucky to be able to have a tour of the Wren Library, and saw the first edition of Shakespeare’s work, mini books, and various other manuscripts.  

 

Wren Library, Trinity College, Cambridge

 

Tiny Book

 

 

Manuscript, Wren Library

 

 

A huge thank you to Steven Archer for hosting a wonderful evening, and for taking the time show us the Wren Library.  

Post contributed by Katherine Burchell, Social Media Editor

Photo credit: CLG Committee