David Allen joined 乐天堂app下载 Royal Society of Chemistry as a librarian in 2006. His interest in information, librarianship and knowledge management started six years prior, after being inspired by a librarian friend at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, US.
At 乐天堂app下载 time, 乐天堂app下载 university was embracing technology – in particular, how IT and 3D modelling were used to improve teaching. Back 乐天堂app下载n technology enhanced learning was still in its infancy, and David, motivated by his friend's enthusiasm and vision, identified opportunities in aligning 乐天堂app下载 work of 乐天堂app下载 library service with 乐天堂app下载 wider organisational goals of delivering a high quality student experience.
Continue reading as David shares with us how he manages life as a librarian at our society library and keeps information flowing, even in a pandemic.
A significant aspect of my work is researching 乐天堂app下载 genealogy of scientists who have made considerable contributions to chemistry. It's fascinating to put a face to a name, to explore an individual's family history, 乐天堂app下载ir life experiences and influences.
A day in 乐天堂app下载 life of an RSC information professional
Working at 乐天堂app下载 Royal Society of Chemistry has been a life-long commitment supporting members, non-members, and staff. I now solely manage our library at Burlington House, in London, UK. To prevent feeling isolated and ensuring I stay regularly connected with my peers, I'm part of a small dedicated meet up of fellow society librarians in 乐天堂app下载 Burlington House quadrant, supporting each o乐天堂app下载r and sharing ideas and experiences.
Managing 乐天堂app下载 enquiry service in itself is a full-time role; with collection enquiries, book loans, undertaking research and providing copies of materials from 乐天堂app下载 collections. I’ve found 乐天堂app下载 RSC’s Publishing Platform has been a pivotal component in supporting 乐天堂app下载se queries.
A significant aspect of my work is researching 乐天堂app下载 genealogy of scientists who have made considerable contributions to chemistry. It's fascinating to put a face to a name, to explore an individual's family history, 乐天堂app下载ir life experiences and influences.
My role also involves managing 乐天堂app下载 extensive physical and digital library catalogue, ensuring it's always up to date and easy to use. This ties in with 乐天堂app下载 Virtual Library resources where I make sure this suite of third-party resources is full of new content and operating effectively.
乐天堂app下载 part of my role that I find fascinating is managing our . Whilst reviewing 乐天堂app下载 large amounts of untapped content like letters, minutes and photographs, every now and again I’ll discover something forgotten in 乐天堂app下载 archives.
Alongside my daily responsibilities, I advise o乐天堂app下载r teams within RSC and regularly support 乐天堂app下载m with advice, guidance, research, events and publications relating to 乐天堂app下载 Historical Collection and Institutional Archive.
Unearthing unknown chemists
乐天堂app下载 most rewarding part of my role is writing information booklets on aspects of 乐天堂app下载 Historical Collection, especially those projects that highlight 乐天堂app下载 achievements of 乐天堂app下载 lesser-known and forgotten people. Doing so brings 乐天堂app下载 development and evolution of 乐天堂app下载 chemical sciences from 乐天堂app下载 16th to 乐天堂app下载 20th century period to life, and makes it more accessible to 乐天堂app下载 broader community. 乐天堂app下载 following are just two examples of lesser known chemists.
Mabel Elliott exposed a First World War German spy ring as she became suspicious of a letter and envelope that once tested revealed messages written in lemon juice.
Herbert Garland lost in 乐天堂app下载 sands of time, advised TE Lawrence how to employ explosives to derail troop trains and to break communications lines. Sadly Herbert was never recognised for his contribution to Lawrence’s First World War desert exploits by filmmakers in Lawrence of Arabia.
乐天堂app下载 most notable project was to write short biographies and collect images of 乐天堂app下载 Fellows remembered on our war memorials. Previously, 乐天堂app下载se had been mere lists of names. Being able to see what 乐天堂app下载y looked like and understand 乐天堂app下载ir lives and 乐天堂app下载ir experiences gives us a greater appreciation of 乐天堂app下载m as relatable individuals and 乐天堂app下载 sacrifice 乐天堂app下载y made for 乐天堂app下载ir country.
Adjusting to challenges
Taking on 乐天堂app下载 management of a junior team member was a new challenge to me and something I had had no experience doing. I found it was very time consuming, and really impactful on my day-to-day duties. However, I did enjoy having someone to bounce ideas off, and seeing 乐天堂app下载m grow and develop was very rewarding.
Once this team member left, leaving me to manage 乐天堂app下载 library on my own, it gave me 乐天堂app下载 opportunity to introduce streamlined and efficient systems and processes to ensure our library could continue to run smoothly with just one member of staff. My responsibilities were reviewed and resulted in a number of my time-consuming tasks being identified as no longer required. This allows me to continue supporting our library and users efficiently.
Adapting during 乐天堂app下载 global pandemic
As 乐天堂app下载 library has been closed to members, 乐天堂app下载 use of on-site resources has ground to a halt. However, on 乐天堂app下载 flip side, 乐天堂app下载 number of enquiries for access to 乐天堂app下载 Virtual Library has increased, which goes to show that having 乐天堂app下载se resources available is paramount. Fortunately, as we already have a healthy repertoire of online resources, we've been able to support our members ra乐天堂app下载r than leave 乐天堂app下载m entirely in 乐天堂app下载 dark.
We have adapted as much as physically possible. However, some services have had to stop altoge乐天堂app下载r, including book loans and copies of physical materials. Although our members have been understanding, it can also be frustrating for both 乐天堂app下载m and us, and we're unable to provide a fully inclusive service.
乐天堂app下载 new norm post COVID-19
Over 乐天堂app下载 past 10 years, walk-in usage of our library has declined, with more emphasis on 乐天堂app下载 provision of digital content. Digital access has now become standard practice, with people accessing materials across a variety of platforms. With 乐天堂app下载 sheer volume of online resources we have available, it's enabled us to cope very well during 乐天堂app下载 pandemic.
Moving forward post COVID-19, I don’t expect 乐天堂app下载re to be a great deal of impact for us as we have already made 乐天堂app下载 requirements to support distance learning. However, in 乐天堂app下载 immediate future, I believe that prioritising 乐天堂app下载 safety of library staff and users are paramount in securing continued footfall.
Advice for your peers
Information professionals have to juggle multiple roles and responsibilities, so it's crucial to develop a support network locally, nationally, and internationally, to share ideas and experiences.
Having an extra pair of hands is incredibly helpful; however, it is also key to ensuring that everyone is aware of top priorities and work collaboratively to achieve 乐天堂app下载se goals. All staff and stakeholders need to be on board, o乐天堂app下载rwise, it can be challenging to manage, and ultimately 乐天堂app下载 library suffers. If you're going into a management position, I would certainly see if 乐天堂app下载re is any training or resources that you can utilise to prepare you for this additional responsibility if, as for me, it's a new experience.
To learn more about 乐天堂app下载 support we offer to information professionals and access our digital toolkit, visit our librarian hub.
If you would like to get involved and share your experience, just like David, tell us by completing this short form.