Thing 10

I started my library career in a high school library in South Auckland (a lower socio-economic area, for those outside of Auckland). Before that, I was juggling five part-time jobs with motherhood. Once my youngest started school, it was easier to be in one place all day. I have considered teaching on many occasions, and this provided a good opportunity to see both teaching and librarianship side-by-side. I really loved working in the library and decided that it would suit me better than teaching - besides, books don't answer back! That being the case, I found another library job that paid better, with fewer hours, which gave me the chance to study towards a Masters in Library and Information Studies (MLIS), as I already had a conjoint degree (BCom/BA). I worked as Senior Library Assistant (I still wonder who I was senior to, as there were only two staff, and I was at the bottom of that ladder) at the Homai Special Formats Library for three years.

Timing is everything, and my manager was promoted just as I finished the research project, which was the last component of my MLIS. I applied for her job, and got it. I thoroughly enjoyed my time there. Being a small library, I really was involved in every aspect, from strategic management to day to day operations. I was not looking for another job, but saw the position of Subject Librarian, Law come up at the University of Auckland, Davis Law Library. This was my dream job and I decided to throw my hat in the ring.

Three years later, I am still a Law Subject Librarian and love it. One of the best parts about my job, is that there is a large teaching component, so I feel I have come full-circle. I am also studying part-time towards the LLB degree - so I am a staff member, current student and alumni of the University of Auckland, as this is where I completed my undergraduate work.

I became a registered member of LIANZA about a year after registration was introduced in New Zealand. Having to fill in a revalidation journal makes me think about my career and ensures that I am always developing. My three years is up in April next year. This is one of the reasons I signed up for cpd23, and I am glad that I have. It is providing opportunities to try tools that I might not otherwise make time for. I also think it is great that I am getting the opportunity for some of that self-reflection that is a vital part of the revalidation journal.