Library Ireland Week 8-13 March 2010: @ Your Library

Where do you work?

I’m the ever helpful face of inter-library loans at Institute of Technology Tallaght (ITT Dublin)

What do you spend most of your day doing?

Depending on the weekly rota, I am generally at my desk by 9a.m., although the start time can be later depending on what late night duties that I am on. After settling down at my desk, my first task usually involves sorting through interlibrary loan requests and forwarding them on to the appropriate lending library. I log all the loans that have come in or being returned. Incoming loans are sorted for collection by the person who requires them.

While part of my job is routine, most days are different. Obviously, exams are the busiest time for us. Students, in particular, final year students, are always anxious to have the latest reference. Every little bit helps them answering that final question.

My other tasks are varied and not uncommon to those carried out by other library assistants who work in academic institutes. These include answering all manner of queries and steering people to specific areas. Guided tours are mostly conducted for incoming students and staff during the start of term.

What do I enjoy most about the job?

ITT Dublin is a relatively small institute, with approximately 3,500 students. Being a small campus, there is a degree of personal interaction that is not possible in a bigger establishment. The most rewarding part of the job is the feedback that I get from staff and students alike, and in particular, the cosmopolitan nature of the multicultural student body.

Where did you work prior to coming to ITT Dublin?

Prior to moving to ITT Dublin, I learned my trade in the law library at the Four Courts, where I spent a number of years searching for legal documents and the occasional barristers wig!

In terms of modern libraries and how they function, do you have any specific interests?

The widespread availability of computers and the internet has resulted in reference material becoming more widely available. But not all of the information is readily available and interlibrary loans are still necessary for many students looking for key information. We use many tools to source the relevant information, articles and books for our students. In particular Subito, a German tool, has been invaluable to us in the hunt for that important article. 

Parting is such sweet sorrow. Any last piece of advice for users of the library?

As I will be retiring later this year I wanted to take this opportunity to say good bye and good luck to everyone. My time in ITT Dublin has been incredibly interesting, challenging at times but always enjoyable. I have been fortunate to work with and get to know some great people, those I now count as friends. As W.B Yeats said:

“"Think where man's glory most begins and ends
And say my glory was I had such friends."