Interview with Sci-Tech award winner Niamh Tumelty

SLA Europe DigiComms

Niamh Tumelty, engineering librarian at the University of Cambridge, won the SLA Science-Technology and Engineering Divisions’ Bonnie Hilditch International Librarian of the Year Award, and will be attending the SLA Conference in Vancouver next month. Here, she talks to us about her background and what winning the award means to her…

Niamh TumeltyCan you tell us a bit about your background? How did you first become involved in the information profession?

I originally qualified as a secondary school teacher in Ireland, but both of my subjects (Music and German) were optional in schools. I found myself balancing a part-time teaching post with a part-time post as Music Library Assistant at the Contemporary Music Centre in Dublin. I discovered I much preferred libraries to secondary school teaching, so when a full-time post came up at CMC I applied for and got it!

Where you have worked, and in what sorts of roles?

Contemporary Music Centre, Dublin, first as a library assistant (mostly printing and photocopying scores for the collection and for purchase by performers and researchers), then as Music Information Officer (managing the collections, supporting researchers, putting together lists of works for performers to consider, education and outreach…)

An Chomhairle Leabharlanna/The Library Council (Ireland) as Senior Library Assistant on the Changing Libraries Team. I supervised up to seven library assistants at a time, working mostly on content for the AskAboutIreland.ie website. I also trained public library staff on writing for the web, using our content management system and using electronic databases.

Cambridge University Medical Library: My first job after moving to the UK was as Library Invigilator, supervising the library and working on the circulation desk for four hours one night a week.

English Faculty Library: I had the fantastic opportunity of working with Libby Tilley as Assistant Librarian, working in this exciting, innovative and user-centred library. My role involved reader services, user education, web/VLE work and supervising a team of invigilators.

Department of Engineering Library: I now manage a team of four, delivering library and information services for the largest Department in the University of Cambridge. I’m really loving this role – the Department has a very clear idea of what they expect of a modern library service and it matches my goals exactly! I’ve been able to do a lot already in my first nine months here but have lots more to do over time.

As a former New Professionals Support Officer for CILIP, what advice would you give to someone just starting out as an information professional?

When you’re starting out, say yes! Get involved with things that are happening around you. If someone asks “why doesn’t somebody do…” answer with “maybe we could work together on that”? It’s said a lot but it’s absolutely true, the more you put into the profession the more you get out of it.

I’d like to add for those a few years into the profession, don’t be afraid to learn to say no and be more selective about which opportunities you take up. It’s really important to stay involved but you don’t want to burn out!

What excites you most about attending the SLA annual conference in Vancouver?

I’ve only been to conferences in the UK and Ireland so far and never one of this scale. I’m looking forward to meeting lots of librarians in my subject area, learning from them and sharing my experiences.

How do you think you will benefit professionally from attending the conference?

My plan is to go to the sessions that are most relevant to supporting students and researchers in Engineering. I’m quite new to the subject, and SLA provides much more opportunity to focus on supporting specific areas than other professional organisations do. The contacts I make and the sessions I attend will help me to develop the best services for Engineers at the University of Cambridge.

What are your plans and predictions for 2014?

Personally, I aim to achieve Chartership with CILIP, the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals. For our service, I’m developing sessions on information management/literacy for undergraduate students right through to research staff and planning a major refurbishment, which I’m hoping will be completed in time for the students starting in October 2015.

A final comment

Huge thanks go to the SLA Science-Technology and Engineering Divisions for making it possible for me to attend this conference and to Jo Alcock and Clare Aitken for supporting my application for the Bonnie Hilditch International Librarian Award. I’m really looking forward to the conference and to getting involved with their Awards Committee for next year.

About the author

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