Wednesday 7 December 2016

Library Staff profiles

Have you ever wanted to find out more about the people who work at Avery Hill and Stockwell Street Library? Of course you have! We continue our weekly profiles of the various staff you may spot or speak to at our libraries. Find out what they do, both inside and outside of working at the University of Greenwich!

This week, we profile the Head of Library Services at Stockwell Street Library and Avery Hill Library, Ginny Malone:

Ginny Malone

HOW LONG HAVE YOU WORKED AT THE UNIVERSITY/LIBRARY?
I started working at Avery Hill Library in January 1988. I was periodicals librarian and subject librarian for Special Needs Education and Theology.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR ROLE IN THE LIBRARY?
I manage a great team of people making sure Library Services and Academic Skills supports our users to reach their potential, and become confident users of the fantastic resources that are available to them within the University.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT WORKING IN THE LIBRARY?
The fact that most of the time the library team are concentrating on helping students. Though we do have to enforce library rules, and sometimes we are made to feel like the "noise police", but that is because we are trying to make the library a place where everyone can study!

WHICH BOOKS IN THE LIBRARY DO YOU FIND MOST INTERESTING?
At Stockwell Street, I love the displays of Folio books which are on the second floor. Many of them are architecture and landscape and have stunning illustrations. At Avery Hill, they have started a collection of books for small children and, again, the art work in some of them is just gorgeous

WHERE IS YOUR FAVOURITE PLACE IN GREENWICH TO EAT/HAVE LUNCH?
Heaps Sausage Shop just round the corner from Stockwell Street Library – you get 10% off if you show your University ID card! Great coffee, as well.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO OUTSIDE OF WORK?
I like spending time with friends, listening to music, eating delicious food and drinking good wine.

FAVOURITE BOOK, MUSIC AND FILM?
Book – I am struggling to say just one so will exercise my rights as Head of Library Services to pick two! Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte and Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro.

Music – Blue by Joni Mitchell.

Film – Christmas is coming so I expect to wallow in It's A Wonderful Life which I watch once a year at least. I love the scene where Clarence the Angel (2nd class!) is showing George Bailey how awful life would have been if he had never been born. It shows his wife, Mary, instead of being a happy housewife with lots of kids, would have become the town librarian – the horror of it! It's made to seem like a fate worse than death!

WHERE IN THE WORLD WOULD YOU LIKE TO VISIT?
Anywhere that can guarantee a good show of the Northern Lights!

IF YOU COULD HAVE ANY SUPERHUMAN POWER, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
To please everyone.

HAVE YOU VISITED THE CUTTY SARK, NATIONAL MARITIME MUSEUM, ROYAL OBSERVATORY AND QUEEN’S HOUSE?
I haven't been to the Cutty Sark in its new incarnation, and I also need to revisit the Queen’s House now it is open again.

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