Former Librarian #9

This week we welcome Helen as Former Librarian #10 to the blog.  When I started this project, I wondered if unemployment might be a driver towards moving beyond the profession, but this is the first time that it has come up.  What is interesting is that Helen is very clear that her library skills are important to her in her current role and that they are sufficiently important to her that she is aiming towards Fellowship of the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals.

Name: Helen

Current role: Development Officer at a professional member organisation

Former role: Support for Learning Manager (three departments including Learning Resources) at an FE college.

What led you to move on from libraries? Redundancy. After a few months of unemployment I widened my search parameters beyond the specific libraries field.

What do you do in your current role? I work on accreditation of learning providers and career development for members as well as general member support (wider team responsibility)

What library skills do you use in your current role? Organisation, desk research, project management, and general knowledge & reference skills

Do you think that your library skills helped you to get this position? Definitely.

What other skills have you had to acquire since leaving the library profession in order to enable you to carry out your work? Techology! Most of the contact and support is remote, and we make the most of the products available.

Do you maintain any professional memberships or are there new ones which are more appropriate? I have continued with my CILIP membership as it is the most relevant.

Do you have any future plans/aspirations? Fellowship of CILIP!

Anything else that you’d like to tell us? This isn’t the first time I have moved sideways from the profession in my long career. I’ve always found the experience interesting, enjoyable and relevant.