Just in case you'd like to know a bit more about who you'd be working with, here's some `CV` style personal history:
My `A` Levels were in English (A), History (A) and Economics & Political Science (B). My first degree, from the University of Reading, was in English Language and Literature (2:1). I then obtained a Master of Library Studies degree from Loughborough University, before starting work with Sheffield City Libraries.
When I had overall responsibility for cataloguing and classification procedures at Sheffield Libraries, I successfully oversaw the transfer from card through fiche to an online catalogue. This included fundamental change from a local set of rules to MARC and AACR2. I was also central to the process of designing the requirements for the specification of the new system.
I arrived at the University of Leicester Library just before the arrival of a new integrated computer system, and oversaw the transfer from the old one, which also involved a change from UKMARC to USMARC (and subsequently MARC21).
I reorganized the Cataloguing Section, moving away from a heavily subject based approach to a more flexible one (though without cataloguers losing their subject specialisms), involving all staff in the decision making process (something I have always done as a line manager).
When I arrived the library was using several editions of Dewey, many of them `localized`, plus a number of special schemes, and I have organized and managed a series of major reclassification exercises so that the vast majority of the library’s stock is now classified by standard DDC22.
I have also overseen a project to catalogue the library’s entire Special Collections (pre-1850 material), and subsequently managed the library end of an outsourced retrospective conversion project.
I was central to the process of transforming discrete Acquisitions and Cataloguing Sections into a single Bibliographic Services function, incorporating a Books Team and a Serials Team, the managers of which reported to me.
I have led a process which has fundamentally altered the working methods of the Books Team, leading to a `quasi-shelf-ready` approach which eliminates artificial barriers between ordering and cataloguing functions, and which has dramatically speeded up the progress of material onto the shelves, while ensuring the maintenance of a high quality of bibliographic control.
As well as indexing, I now work part-time and semester only in the library at Oxford Brookes University as Extended Hours Team Coordinator.
My principal personal interests are literature, politics, social history, walking, music and fine art. I have been a branch officer and chief shop steward in Nalgo and Unison in Sheffield, as well as a National Executive Committee member of UCU (University and College Union) and President of the local AUT and UCU in Leicester. I’m also a member of the Campaign for Real Ale and the Wine Society (a rare combination, I should imagine!).
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