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 What is your name?
My name is Mary Reynolds.
Where are you from?
I grew up in Whitehall on the north side of Dublin. I now live in Bray.
Where do you work?
I work in the public library service with Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Libraries, and at the moment I am based in Shankill Library. We get the opportunity to work in many of our branch libraries. Some of the branches are larger than others and have two teams of people running them. Shankill would be considered on the smaller side.
What do you spend most of your day doing?
The work is varied, that's what I like about working in a public library. There is much administration work to do such as compiling statistics, dealing with the maintenance of the building and any issues that arise from day to day. A large part of my time at the moment is spent dealing with stock and of course liaising with the public. We have new books, dvds and cds coming in all the time and we try to get them on the shelves as soon as possible. We have many events in the library too, such as class visits and book clubs.
Did you always want to be a Librarian and if not, what did you do before you became one?
I came to libraries rather late. Before that, I worked in our family business. It was in the publishing industry, dealing with books and products for the tourism sector. Of course I used the library when my children were young and then later on, one of my hobbies was entering competitions and I used the library all the time to research answers. So when I saw that the library was looking for staff, I jumped at the opportunity to work in one.
How many people do you work with?
At the moment I work with 2 to 3 people.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
The best thing about working in a public library is the people you meet every day and the range of stock. The staff are great to work with too. I enjoy meeting the public, and helping them with their requests. Seeing all the new books, music and dvds that we process is fun and keeps me up to date with what’s happening in the world of music, books and film. It is not a sedentary job, and I am always on the go.
What do you avoid doing most?
I suppose I avoid repetitive jobs, such as filing membership cards, or shelving books. Then again, in a small branch library, all staff tend to do their fair share of all of the daily tasks.
How do you unwind after a hard day at the office?
Meeting with family and having a chat, or going for walks with friends, is my way to relax. Watching a movie is always a good way too - one that I have borrowed from the library of course!
Are you a typical Librarian, and if so, how, or does this question make you mad?
I have not met the stereotypical librarian yet. I definitely do not think that I am one! This question does make me mad, because librarians are as varied in personality as the general public are.
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