Education and route in: 

MA, Chartership 

Personal viewpoints:

I always wanted to work on a specific subject, supporting users interested in that subject area. Plus, I wanted some kind of managerial role, which would develop my managerial skills and enable me to make decisions. Working as a librarian at the Islamic Foundation Library has provided just that. I manage the library and have a user group who are at postgraduate level or work as research fellows. 

Over the years my responsibilities have expanded. I have become an editor of a library e-newsletter, started organising events on literature, art and music in Muslim countries, which opened the library to external people and provided external membership. I have done a lot of marketing to increase external membership and generate extra income for the library. I have also fostered relationships with different library groups in which I play an active role as a bulletin editor or a committee member. 

I did not expect, when I started working full time five years ago, that a library job would give me so many opportunities and roles to play that make a genuine difference. I am a librarian, manager, editor, event organiser, marketing person, and researcher. The list goes on and so on. Playing different roles was one of the reasons I chose to be a librarian. My current job fulfils all this and more. 

What’s next?

In the future, I would like to carry on working in an academic library to reach a wider audience and to work in a bigger environment.  I would also like to undertake more academic study. I’m thinking about starting a PhD on Education and Libraries. 

Best bit about my job: 

Definitely the people I work with and the people I provide a service too. 

Any downsides? 

The environment can sometimes seem too planned and organised. 

Humeyra’s tip:

Be confident and take up each challenge and advantage of every opportunity