pss - librarians - over here

[nomoremagnolia]

Just wondered who you are as I have noticed in my browsing that there are a few of us around!

I've just sent off for the prospectus as well. I actually went to Northumbria University (was a mere Poly then). And I knew a girl who was the daughter of a friend of my mum's who was doing her degree in...librarianship. And then I remebered that my mum has her occupation as librarian on her wedding certificate. Gosh, it's all meant To Be

one of the funniest bits in It's A wonderful Life. Ol' George Bailey has gone beserk, looking for his old life, is drunk and grabs Clarence yelling 'Where's Mary?! Where is she?!'

And Clarence says 'oo you won't like it George. She's just locking up the library!'

And there's old maid Mary, scurrying about like a frightened mouse

(this is prob only funny due to people I know who are librarians)

LOL pointydog, we saw that about a week ago. Fate worse than death: she becomes a librarian!

It's not just me then, eff. (And teh librarians I know are not like mary)

LOL pointydog Go and watch The Mummy forthwith and remember all the librarians on Mn look just like Rachel Weisz, ahem
Tinker, embrace your destiny! I initially got into librarianship by sheer fluke and have never regretted it for a second. It may not pay huge £££ but the places I've worked in during my career have all been fascinating and populated with a host of original, kindly, erudite colleagues Best of luck with your plans.
Glad we have helped you too winemakesmummyclever! I qualified f/t yonks ago at Sheffield so can't really add much to the very positive vibe coming out from Northumbria
Turq - lib assts are not grubby and inferior round my way. Equal team members

I'm a school librarian (officially called Learning Resource Centre Leader) in a secondary school. I used to be a teacher but decided to do something something different after the dc were born. So I'm on summer hols atm!

As well as all the library type stuff I run a newspaper reading group for 6th formers, a debating group, a crafts club and a book club. I do study skills lessons and revision sessions for all sorts of subjects and of course library skills lessons. I also do lessons for small groups of "gifted and talented" kids.

I do enjoy it - it's full of challenges and interest. I am sooooooooo enjoying the summe hols tho!

since when did school librarians get summer holidays?

Hi Turquoise Yes, we've met!! I was vict17 but the name was too boring so I changed it! Where do you work now? Is it in C beginning with a K? (very cryptic I know!!)

I assume school librarians get summer holidays because the school is closed over summer!!!

all school librarians I've known work most the summer. Stock check season for one.

Schools are not closed all summer. Teachers go in too.

usual 4-5 week annual hols

It varies compo and pointy. Some contracts are explicitly term-time only, others (usually the ones with really large LRCs) do expect the library to be staffed for some or all of the vac, and offer appropriate terms and conditions.
My school librarian pal has a f/t contract but is expected to take most of her leave in the summer holiday.

and the pay was pretty dire

That's the big downer for the profession. It makes me very angry that such a key role as the librarian in a school or in a hospital setting is paid so poorly, and by default, not seen to be valued by the Trust or the LEA.
University sector is better, but even so

ah I see
And in the public sector the pay is dire too

This is where me and sodding CILIP part company. Why are they not more effective advocates for a proper salary for the profession? They are hissy enough about our Chartership certificates FGS

oh don't get me started on CILIP!
They are there to support us but they never get involved.
So my library authroty has undegone 2 reviews in the last 5 years cutting the number of librarians down drastically as whilst they condemn the actions in their magazine they can't, or won't, intervene.

I have been into work a fair bit over the hols, doing admin things and stock checking, but the only other staff I've seen have been people moving furniture etc and it's been up to me when to go in.

All the jobs are more or les done now so I don't need to go into until the start of Sept

Marina, the good news for NHS Librarians, up here in Scotland anyway, is under Agenda For Change we're finally being recognised financially as skilled professionals rather than admin with quite decent pay hikes as a result, especially for the junior qualified staff who were being paid peanuts.

Where the extra money to pay us is going to come from is unfortunately another matter entirely...

I thought it was you on a thread a few months back, said something which I then realised semi'outed' you, had it deleted, and haven't seen you since! So hi . Yes, tis K in C, although has recently changed name to begun with U!

Marina - thanks

Hi
I missed that thread!! You must have had it deleted very quickly!
Hope you are doing okay xxx

Yes I'm fine thanks - love my job but nervous about cutbacks (last in first out).
Heard there'd been swingeing cutbacks at the public libraries - several of my colleagues came from HB library.

Are you ok? We should have another meetup sometime.