Profile: Claire Neild

Claire Nield: Manager, Police Fire, Emergency Services Library

What other roles did you have before working in libraries?

I love a challenge and I thrive on change so my working history is punctuated with glorious chunks of difference. Grape picking in the southern wine districts, managing a record store (yes, with vinyl and cassettes), governessing on a cattle station 7 hours from anywhere, packing meat in a wholesale butcher, helping in an accelerated literacy program, running a craft market stall and managing a family were just some of those chunks and it has been fun.  Eventually in my middle 30’s I found my focus (massive sigh of relief from my family btw!)– getting people excited about information, excited by the opportunities and inspiration it provides. I’ve been working and studying in the information field ever since. 

What would you tell someone who is interested in working in libraries?

Libraries are incredibly diverse and the differences can be enormous so I would suggest visiting, volunteering and using as many different libraries as you can. Working in a specialist library for example will inspire and motivate you in a completely different way from a public library or a school library. Pick the one that suits you and you will love it. There are enormous rewards on so many different levels.

Tell us about one project that you are working on now?

We are developing a suite of training tools, a combination of video, screen recording and commentary, to specifically target user literacy of our online resources. With our customers so geographically dispersed and in many instances, highly isolated, it is important that we can provide them with the skills to access the resources in a timely and effective way. We will embed these tools in our website and throughout our library guides to ensure greatest reach and accessibility.  

What do you think will change about libraries over the next five years?

I really think public libraries have found their mojo, they are forging ahead in interesting directions, they have become innovators and change professionals and have looked out to bring people in. This is an incredibly sustainable approach and as a manager of a specialist library I feel there is much we can learn from their practice.

Technology, of course, will continue to change the way we do business but it is the current social and political climate that I see as a real motivator for library change. In our ‘post truth’ world full of ‘alternative facts’ never has lifelong learning and information literacy been more important. Knowing how to locate and recognise quality information, use it, learn from it, reflect on the process and learn some more, is key. Whether we help create new opportunities for work or study or personal projects, libraries are perfectly placed to make a difference.

“The illiterate of the 21^st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.”[i]

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[i] Google the quote and credit is given to Alvin Toffler but the quote by Herbert Gerjuoy is found in Alvin Toffler’s book ‘Future Shock” and is attributed correctly. Gerjuoy is quoted in Toffler as saying”… Tomorrow’s illiterate will not be the man who can’t read; he will be the man who has not learned how to learn.” I like the plaigiarised web version!