Even though many of our graduates will have progressed in their careers since completing a case study, they are still of interest to students who wish to gain an understanding of the world of work.

-Day-to-day management of library/resource centre

-Acquisition, cataloguing and classification of media

-Evaluation, implementation, updating and technical support to electronic library management system, including online catalogue

-Information, reference and research services to CDU staff, CDETB teachers and researchers

-Editing and sale of publications-Development and updating of CDVEC CDU web site

-Representing CDVEC CDU at educational exhibitions

Running a one-person library means that you have to do it all and no two days are the same. A typical day usually entails fixing the photocopier or someone’s printer, helping people with their research, a lot of talking, editing of new materials, working on our website, discovering new resources, perhaps some First Aid.

Oh, and being involved with making cappuccinos for the coffee break. Unfortunately it also often includes dealing with accounts and cataloguing, two chores I try to avoid and can only endure with the radio on full blast.

Being the person who brings people and information together.

Because of the nature of my workplace, I hope that in some tiny way I can make a difference to the lives of people who did not have a positive experience of learning and education, but nevertheless give it another go.

Also, the look on my customer’s faces when, with a smug, knowing smile, I miraculously produce that piece of information they had been looking for. I love my job.

I’m the only one in the library, but do have about 60 colleagues working on different projects and programmes.

Some of them are based outside Dublin. So equal access can be a problem depending on their technical equipment.

And of course financial pressures...

Originally I wanted to become a pirate, but my parents advised against it. The career prospects weren’t really that good with people usually ending up in chains in prison.

Then it was archaeology, but Indiana Jones could be blamed for this.

I actually was one of those kids who would read a book a day, so my friend introduced me to our local public library. And the rest, as they say, is history.

My mum found some old books with labels on the spine the other day, which I had made my brother borrow. How sad.

All library/information skills. The library is open to everyone in the CDETB and beyond, so there is a good mix of people coming in looking for teaching materials or with queries related to their own research.

Not much. I'm a member of several professional associations and serve on a committee of one of them. So very much "learning by doing" in my own time.

I worked full-time throughout the PhD (part-time, remote location) and am still in the same job.

Would love to work in research; perhaps becoming a research librarian

Don't give up. Do something you really like even if it's not going to be paid well. Keep an open mind. Opportunities sometimes come in strange disguises, so try out new things.