Welcome to our new format professional profiles where we ask budding young professionals about their experiences studying, working and gaining experience in the GLAMR industries.

This month we speak with Anna Rubinowski, Ada Booth Librarian and our very own ALIA SNGG convenor. Originally from Germany, Anna graduated from RMIT University with a Master of Information Management in 2014 and started in her current position in 2015, in which she is responsible to develop and promote one of the leading academic Slavic collections in the Southern hemisphere.

What did you wish you knew before entering the library and information industry? No degree can relate how varied the industry is and the roles are. It is really important to stay up-to-date with many current developments not only relating to my respective subject areas, but also regarding education (both pedagogy and educational design), technology (from the more traditional Excel spreadsheet to augmented and virtual reality), research data, copyright, collection management, development and access, and so many others that would take much too long to list. You don’t have to be an expert starting out, but you need to be aware of the developments and trends in your chosen field.

What advice would you give students and new graduates starting out in the industry? You need dedication and passion. Be willing and show initiative for learning new skills even if you never expected it to be part of your role. Build your network and engage with other students and professionals – volunteer, and attend events in your area or online (there are many free webinars or you can participate or follow #auslibchat). Don’t hesitate to try new things!

You can find Anna at www.linkedin.com/in/annarubinowski