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 What is your name?
My name is Marie Jennings.
Where are you from?
I am from Raheny in Dublin.
Where do you work?
I work as a cataloguer in the Library & Research Service of the Houses of the Oireachtas. The Oireachtas Library & Research Service delivers information and research services to Members of both Houses and their staff, Committees of the Houses and staff of the office.
How many people do you work with?
I work as part of a team of four cataloguers, as well as about thirty other staff, who consist of librarians, researchers and information assistants.
What do you spend most of your time doing?
The Library & Research Service is responsible for managing all the procedures relating to the laying of documents before the Houses. I catalogue government publications and other documents onto Unicorn as part of this process. I also catalogue parliamentary papers from the foundation of the state (1922) as part of a retrospective cataloguing project. I also create authority records.
Did you always want to be a librarian, if not what did you do before you became one?
I used to play “Library” with my friends. We would check books out to each other, so there are a lot of books at home with stamps on them! I studied European Studies in Trinity College and graduated in 1995. I chose this course as I love languages and European history. When I graduated I worked in banking as a German Fund Investigator. I was always interested in information management, so I applied for the Higher Diploma in Library and Information Studies at UCD. While I was in banking, I worked some evenings in the DIT library in Aungiers Street. I enjoyed this immensely, so it confirmed my decision to leave the world of banking and pursue a career as a librarian. I then worked in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Public Library Service. After over five years working in DLR, I worked for the Office of Public Works as a contract cataloguer. This involved relocating to the wilds of Donegal (in winter!) for three months to catalogue the Derek Hill collection at the Glebe House and Gallery. I then secured my present position as a cataloguer in the Houses of the Oireachtas.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
I am proud to be working here and delivering an information service to Members. I must admit I was very star-struck at the beginning! The items I catalogue are extremely interesting, particularly the parliamentary papers from 1922 onwards. It is like witnessing the history of the State, for example the electrification of rural Ireland, as well as other notable events. Recruitment advertisements for the civil service are also included and they are what we would now consider politically incorrect, i.e. only single women may apply for a limited amount of jobs.
What do you enjoy least about your work?
I have been racking my brains and can’t think of anything.
What do you do to unwind after a hard day at the office?
I like to go for a good bracing walk with friends by the coast and cook some nice food. Being a typical librarian I really enjoy reading.
Are you a typical librarian? Or does this question make you mad?
In a way I am, as I enjoy reading and knitting! I haven’t been asked this question until now, but in my experience people seem to think librarians are more out-going than they would have thought. I find the question amusing more than anything else.
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