Every day a new opportunity
There’s a very good reason public libraries are always spruiking themselves as the place to go for lifelong learning. As Melinda Allan points out, educational offerings of today’s libraries are as diverse and exciting as the communities we serve; all you have to do is flick through the ‘what’s on’ section of a library website to discover that when it comes to learning, there really is something for everyone.
Having had the privilege of working in public libraries for the past ten years, I’ve come to realise that library staff benefit from this lifelong learning ethos as much as – or perhaps even more than – our customers. My passion for reading and literacy inspired me to become a librarian in the first place, but little did I know when I began this career what kinds of interesting and unexpected things I would learn along the way.
In terms of professional development, the opportunities are endless. The library and information sector offers an ongoing myriad of workshops, seminars and conferences, tackling everything from leadership to early literacy. When I once mentioned to a friend that I was attending a seminar at the State Library of Victoria, she asked in half-earnest if we were going to be discussing the Dewey Decimal System all day. My friend would probably be surprised to learn that some of the topics covered on the day were
STEM programs including robotics and coding, trends in the publishing industry and delivering storytimes to vulnerable groups.
As a librarian focusing on children’s services, I’ve been lucky enough to gain an education in early childhood literacy development. Books, journals, workshops, seminars and on-the-joblearning have all worked in harmony to equip me with the skills knowledge and skills to serve our youngest patrons. Every day at work, I’m surrounded by colleagues who are developing their own unique educations: honing leaderships skills, learning coding, brushing up on effective social media use, events management, collection development, facilitating writer’s groups, running festivals – the list goes on.
When it comes to the programs and events that public libraries run for our customers, education is always at the heart of our offerings. Through my role in organising and facilitating a kaleidoscope of library programs, I’ve gained an education in areas I may not have thought to explore otherwise. Some of the things I’ve learnt: the art of researching a historical novel, creative gift wrapping, charcoal drawing, local history, writing comedy, cake decorating, songwriting and much more.
Public libraries offer so many wonderful learning opportunities for the public, and as librarians, we are lucky enough to learn right alongside our customers. It’s a privilege to work in an industry that values education and fosters lifelong learning in both its patrons and staff. Every day in a public library is different, and every day offers a new opportunity to learn.