This blog is from our October event, "Shhhh... in other
languages": My experience of working in libraries in different countries". Many thanks to Emily Green for writing it for us.
Our
speaker for the October meeting of CILIP Thames Valley was Marina Sotiriou,
Library Assistant at the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust. Speaking about
her experiences of working in different countries and libraries, Marina
delivered an entertaining and informative presentation entitled “Shhhh…in other
languages”.
Having
studied library and information management in Greece, Marina worked first for
the Library of Visual and Applied Arts at the Aristotle University of
Thessaloniki and the Library of the 21st Ephorate of Byzantine
Antiquities in Corfu. Following these interesting posts, she made a bold move
to the UK; working first at Belfast Metropolitan College before taking up her
current role. By this time, Marina’s varied experience meant she had already
worked with numerous library management systems, classification systems,
library structures and colleagues.
Based on
these experiences and some detailed research, Marina was able to summarise the
key differences between Greek and UK libraries across sectors. Describing
health, school, public, and academic libraries, she provided an interesting
insight into the strengths and challenges present in each country.
Drawing
on personal experience, she then turned to those skills that she considers particularly
important when working in different countries. Perhaps most striking was her
emphasis on the importance of flexibility and her enthusiasm for constantly learning
and meeting new people with different approaches and ideas.
Following
Marina’s presentation, an opportunity for questions developed into an informal
chat amongst attendees about the current state of UK and Greek libraries across
sectors. Sharing our thoughts and experiences on the issue rounded off the
evening well.
Emily Green – Assistant
Librarian, University College, Oxford
