Becci Hutchins, Bodleian Library

Hello!

My name is Becci and I am this year’s Bodleian trainee. I graduated in 2008 with a degree in English at the University of Leicester. Since then I have worked various jobs, including being a hospital administrator, van driver, library assistant and sales assistant. Having enjoyed my previous library jobs and with a keen interest in working with books, I felt that librarianship was an appropriate career choice for me, so I am thoroughly enjoying being able to gain more experience in such a prestigious library.

In previous years the Bodleian has taken on three trainees who would rotate around reader services and more ‘behind the scenes’ aspects of the library, however, this year I am the only trainee and I will be based solely in Reader Services. I will spend my time between all the Bodleian reading rooms, which means that I can gain a broad view of the library as a whole and meet lots of very interesting people! I am looking forward to starting work in the Radcliffe Camera in 0^th week, which I am expecting to be rather busy as the Camera is the Bodleian’s undergraduate reading room.

After my trainee year is finished I hope to be able to undertake a part time MA in Library and Information Studies while working in a library in order to supplement my learning.

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An article for Outline about Divinity School drinks reception for you all to read!

The graduate trainees for the coming year met with other members of staff on 9 September in the Divinity School for a very enjoyable drinks reception. It gave many of the trainees a chance to introduce (and show off!) their respective library staff and vice versa. There was a lot of discussion of our first weeks, and for those still to start, as much advice as possible was being taken in. Mike Heaney, Executive Secretary of the Bodleian Libraries, welcomed us to our posts and spoke to those assembled about what an exciting time it is to be part of librarianship as a whole, but in particular to witness and take part in the projects happening in Oxford in the coming months.  As was pointed out in his speech the trainees are the fresh-faced ones who ask lots of questions! We look forward to meeting many of you during our year here and drawing on your experience, which we heard lots about on Thursday.

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I’m Cate and I’m now the graduate trainee in the Oxford Union Society Library. I graduated this summer from Bath after four years of French, German and European Studies and am excited about starting my career here in Oxford. So far I’m finding there is quite a steep learning curve but I am enjoying all the scanning, stamping and shelving – which, apart from the shelving, are all the kind of jobs I used to find exciting when I was about six, and still do! I’m really looking forward to the varied nature of the year to come and, like Clare, to term time when the library will hopefully be full of people. I may not being saying the same then though!

Do drop me a line if you’d like to know more about the Union or its library!

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Clare Bristow, History Faculty Library

Hello!  I’m the graduate trainee in the History Faculty Library.  I have just finished a degree in Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic at Cambridge University, so I get particularly excited when I get to shelve books on medieval history.  I have done a bit of work experience in public libraries, but this is the first time I have worked in an academic library (as in being employed, not as in studying!) so I’m looking forward to the start of term and meeting lots of readers.

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Welcome to the new trainees!

An induction session to welcome the 2010-11 trainees to the world of Oxford’s libraries took place yesterday.  This photo was taken during the break.

The trainees will be introducing themselves on the blog soon.

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