By Darren Bevin
Q1: Introduce your service! What’s the main aim of the service, and what sort of users does your service cater to?
My name is Darren Bevin and for the last two years have been the Library Manager of the Plymouth Proprietary Library, an old institution that has survived at various locations. The building we are now in used to be a church hall. It is a subscription library and for an annual fee members can borrow from a wide variety of books and get discounted rates on a range of talks and activities. The library does not currently cater for children and many of the users are locals who like to get involved in what we do.
Q2: What has been a profound/memorable moment in your library? (it can be funny, something that made you change your practice, a learning moment, something poignant, anything!)
We were a venue for a vampire movie filmed by a local company. Fortunately, the actors were just using the library to conduct research on vampires rather than fighting evil!
Q3: What has been your most successful library service offer or resource to date?
The monthly coffee mornings (with homemade cakes) are always popular and a chance for members to meet up and exchange books. I try and tie them in with an event such as a book launch or a book/plant sale. Our fortnightly talks can also occasionally reach full capacity (there is seating for thirty-five).
Q4: What top tip, or piece of advice, can you offer to aspiring library and information professionals?
Don’t give up if it is something you really want to pursue. When I began (a long time ago) I wrote to over a hundred academic libraries which eventually got me a graduate trainee position at a Latin American library in London.
Q5: What top tip can you offer to experienced library and information professionals?
If time allows, consider getting involved in library related activities outside of the workplace. I used to be on the committee of the Independent Libraries Association and I am currently preparing a talk for their AGM in Penzance in May. I am also Chair of CILIP South West and busy organising our AGM and Professional Development Day at Exeter Central Library in April. To coincide with all this, I am in the process of going for my Fellowship with CILIP. I find all this does support my paid work (which admittedly is part-time).
CILIP South West Member Network 