As Libraries Week 2023 is currently underway, we’re highlighting one of our amazing Library team as part of our People of The Atkinson series.
Laura – Librarian.
I started working at The Atkinson in January 2020, and it’s been a whirlwind three years! After a few weeks, the world went into lockdown, but I’ve still managed to complete two apprenticeships in Customer Service and become a full-time librarian!
I love meeting new people in my role, and every day is different. We have a lovely community of regulars, and I get to know a lot about their lives. I feel like I can be an outlet for people, and I’ve built up a strong rapport with many of our customers. As a library, we’re a hub for the community and provide support to those who need it.
This summer, we had 800 children participate in the Summer Reading Challenge, which was our best year yet. It’s a joy to watch children develop a love of reading, and I’m proud to be a part of that journey. It’s also special to see babies come to the library for Story and Rhyme Time sessions, and then grow up to pick out their first books in the Children’s Library.
One of the highlights of my time here was meeting Princess Anne. It was a wonderful day, and it’s not something that happens every day!
My favourite exhibition in our galleries was Cats On The Page. I also loved Gordon Cheung’s Garden of Perfect Brightness, especially the painting on the wall with the sunflowers. I already can’t wait for next year’s drag panto in our theatre space!
I love doing displays, and I always try to match them to the current events at The Atkinson. This week is Libraries Week, so I’ve done a green display to match the theme of Green Libraries. If you need a book on improving your eco-friendliness, I’m your gal!
I love working with my team. We’re librarians, but we also wear many other hats, such as therapists, social workers, and sometimes even security guards! We’ve seen a lot of changes over the years, and it’s so rewarding to be able to do projects like the ukulele project. We’re here for the people of Sefton, and I hope that shines through in the work that we do across The Atkinson.