Paula Philips

Community Librarian: Children’s and Teenagers at Greerton Library
Tauranga City Council

“I love the interaction and the passing on of good books to read”

Helping children find books, music and DVDs

My job as a Community Librarian – Children’s and Teenagers means that as well as the everyday issuing books and helping customers, I run our half-hour Toddler Time programme every Wednesday, host class visits twice a week, and help children and teens find books, music, DVDs, sites which really connect with them.

During the school holidays I run the holiday programmes held at the Greerton branch and attend lots of training and meetings such as the SLANZA (School Librarians NZ Association) and NZ Post Book Award talks. In my spare time, I help whenever I can in any activities done outside of work hours involving children and teenagers.  I have just recently become heavily involved in the running of the Tauranga City Libraries Bebo page (www.bebo.com/TaurangaC ).

My love for books led me to a career in the library

I started working at the Papamoa Library as a part-time branch library assistant when I was 19. I am 21 now and have been working for over 2 years.

Prior to starting at the library, I had been a school librarian most of my schooling life. I say to work in a library you need to be customer–orientated and be able to get on with the majority of customers, and if you’re a voracious reader like myself, that definitely helps .

Since starting at the library, I have begun my Level 5 Diploma in Library and Information Studies and a Certificate in Literature and Library Services for Children and Young People Level 6. I shall complete both at the end of Semester 2 in 2009.

Many reasons why I love my job as a Community Librarian

In doing my job it is quite difficult to decide what I love about it the most. I’ll give you my top three things I love about working at the library.

I love reading and would have to put that as one of my favourite hobbies. The first good thing about working at the library is the amazing array of books and the fact that we get to see the new books, and read and borrow them from the library rather than spending $30-50 per book., In fact the majority of us only read a book once or twice at the most, so why buy it?

The second thing is the children. With my job I get to have a huge interaction role with the younger members of the library and in Toddler Time and holiday programmes I get to read children’s stories and sing kids rhymes and songs. I get paid to act like a big kid!

The last but not least thing is the customers. I love the interaction and the passing on of good books to read and we even get the occasional grateful customer who brings us morning tea and treats.

Perks with working in a council

In working at the library and in a branch, we tend to be distanced from the council so I don’t really consider that aspect much but the best thing about the council is the little things e.g holidays, perks and the social club which we all have fun dressing up and having a good time socialising and we even have the occasional inter-council events.

Supportive and awesome place to work

The best thing about working for the Tauranga City Libraries is the amazing array of opportunities that are presented to us: different training opportunities, library social-do and the whole friendliness of the library workers no matter where you are, or what level of position you are be it management or library assistant or even relief staff.

It’s like a close-knit community, full of laughs and the occasional crazy days. Overall I find the Tauranga City Libraries a very supportive and awesome place to work for, the best I have been in so far.