This June, we have a new professional profile in our #GLAMR Professional Profile series!
This month Michelle Coxsen (AALIA DCP), ALIA SNGG Social Media Coordinator for Facebook, interviewed Linda Fryer, Manager of Library Service, TAFE West Region.
Thank you to Linda for the GLAMR Profile interview!
Interview:
Linda Answer 1:
My journey with libraries began with my mother and trips to the Canterbury Branch Library as a young child borrowing Jellybeans for breakfast. My career in libraries started in public libraries after a professional development placement during my degree studies in a library in a biscuit factory. While it was a positive experience, I learnt that special libraries weren’t a space I wanted to work in.
Linda Answer 2:
Libraries have the potential to be part of the social infrastructure of a community. Whether a local government area for public libraries or a learning community for academic libraries.
I have a strong social conscience, and libraries have this excellent capacity; to bring people together and support their endeavors. (Whether their goals are belonging, learning or doing). I find it stimulating to turn up to a welcoming shared space each day, meet a diverse group of people and possibly have some impact. No two days are the same.
Linda Answer 3:
I definitely didn’t come out of library studies with the skill set that I use now. I was a qualified apprentice. The biggest skill I have developed is, my understanding of the necessity and advantages of change and personal ability to go with it. Resilience, curiosity, adaptability, and lifelong learning are critical. Technology has been the big call out; you will never know it all. Engage with it. Explore it and look for the opportunities it offers to share, improve processes and reach new audiences.
Linda Answer 4:
I am six months into a new senior role and still learning, but the best part is leading library services and a brilliant team of professional staff across two large regions. I am a member of the senior leadership group and have input into strategic goals and contribute to planning and direction to ensure the; whole library service provides impact and has value to our customers and the organisation.
Linda Answer 5:
Be an active, professional participant in the service. Take part in any professional development opportunities available, and if invited, attend staff meetings. Be willing to ask questions, and always call out a knowledge gap or error as a learning opportunity; no-one will judge you. Accept any constructive feedback and connect and make it a networking opportunity. Employment opportunities do sometimes come out of work placement. Be your best professional self.
Linda Answer 6:
The GLAMR sector offers interesting, varied and challenging work. It’s an opportunity to build connections with people and culture – If you’re open to it, you will learn something new; each day. The colleagues and clients you will interact with are diverse and generally interested in learning, culture, politics and society. People who work in the GLAMR sector are passionate and consider their work a vocation; it’s intellectually stimulating, and you give and get back in equal measure.
Linda Answer 7:
I’ve never second-guessed my career choice, and landing in vocational libraries has been personally and professionally satisfying. I truly, enjoy working in a space where community, education, personal goals, and endeavour come together. Find your space!
For more information visit the TAFE NSW Libraries contacts page.
Stay turned to our ALIANewGrads Blog for our next GLAMR Profile!
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