Chairs:

Maria Giovanna de Simone originally wanted to be a journalist! But working on a manuscript for her Italian BA dissertation changed her mind and made her discover her true professional love: information, libraries and archives. She is currently working as Information Assistant for the CU Careers Service Library in Cambridge and has just embarked in the Chartership process. She is a wannabe photographer, a keen cat-lover, an amateur dancer, a novice crocheter, an avid book reader, and a lover of films that make her cry (Mike Leigh ‘s “Secrets and Lies” being her favourite). Her first full name is Maria Giovanna, not Maria; she is aware it is a long and difficult name, but if you try to get it right she will be very grateful!

Niamh Tumelty has worked in a range of different library settings, from music to public sector to medical and most recently the English Faculty Library in Cambridge. Already qualified as a teacher, she's now working towards the MSc Information and Library Studies from Aberystwyth and has a particular interest in the educational role of the librarian. She's learning to play the early Irish harp and has a student version of the one in Trinity College, Dublin. Don't ask her to perform with it just yet though!

Secretary:

Jo Harcus spent twelve years working as an administrator in local government and higher education before finally realising she wanted to be a librarian. She graduated from London Metropolitan University with a MA in Information Services Management in 2010 whilst working as a Library Assistant at Anglia Ruskin University. Jo is now part-time Assistant Librarian at St Catharine's College, Cambridge but also works at the university's Central Science and English Faculty libraries as an evening invigilator and volunteer cataloguer. In her spare time, Jo enjoys sewing, watching zombie films and reading. Her favourite writer is Oscar Wilde but her favourite novel is 'The Heart is a Lonely Hunter' by Carson McCullers.

Outgoing Treasurer: Janet Bayliss

Treasurer Elect:

Neil Dixon recently resumed branch activities after enjoying a productive stint with Yorkshire and Humberside.  Working in Government, he is currently preparing for Chartership.  His interests include keeping fit and gaming.

Sunrise Editors: 

Jenni Kuziw has worked for government, NHS and HE information services in the past and currently works at Anglia Ruskin University within the Science and Technology faculty. She completed her M.A in Information Management at Loughborough University in 2009 and is currently pursuing chartership. Jenni enjoys spending her spare time reading her way through a massive pile of books, singing, travelling to new places and trying not to buy too many pairs of shoes at once. Her favourite book is Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks.

Simon Barlow, BA (Hons), MA, MSc, is a Library Assistant at the Haddon Library of Archaeology & Anthropology in the University of Cambridge. He studied at Bedford College of Higher Education, Anglia Polytechnic University – now Anglia Ruskin University – and City University. He spent over sixteen years working for the Minstry of Defence in Cambridge, Waterbeach & London – the last seven as an information manager. After a brief spell as an Assistant Records Manager at the British Library, he was unemployed for nine months before getting his present post. He joined CILIP in 2005 and was a committee member of the Government Libraries & Information Group – now Government Information Group – from 2008 to 2010. He is currently preparing to register for Chartership. In his spare time he enjoys watching Formula 1 on TV, scuba-diving on holiday and reading. His favourite author is Douglas Adams but his favourite book is The Seven Pillars of Wisdom by TE Lawrence, (a.k.a. Lawrence of Arabia). Simon has reently become the third co-editor of Sunrise, taking over from Doreen Wilson.

Web Editors:

Louise Auckland previously worked as a Teaching Assistnat before taking on her current role as a Library Assistant at Anglia Ruskin University in Peterborough.  She is currently in the final year of an MA in Information Management at London Metropolitan University and her particular interest is in developing an understanding of student perceptions of e-books.

Lisa Elmer originally wanted to be a lawyer!  But after finishing university and working part time in libraries as a second job she had a change of heart.  Lisa has worked in Public Libraries and in January 2012 moved to a role with the Arts Council - she completed her post graduate qualification via distance learning in 2009 and is now working through the chartership process.  Lisa's hobbies include reading, trying to keep fit and finding new recipes to try out on friends and family - current favourite is still chocolate brownies!  Her favourite book is the Silver Sword by Ian Serraillier and she lives by the following words of Better Midler(!) - "Give a girl the right shoes and she can conquer the world."

Events Coordinator:

Carol Fisher

Ordinary Members:  Rosie Crook and Darren Smart

Sally Heard, BA (Hons) is Team Librarian at Bedford Central Library. After twenty five years working for auction houses in the West Country and London, Sally moved to Bedford and started a family - continuing to work part time as a consultant before getting a job in the local auction centre.  Sally then trained to be a teacher, but a year in a primary school convinced her that it wasn't for her and she started working as a supervisor at Bedford Central Library.  Sally immediately felt at home and a couple of years later she was appointed Outreach Worker with special responsibility for diversity to promote the library service in the wider community.  Sally then became a team librarian and worked towards chartership - she was awarded MCLIP in 2010.  Out of work Sally enjoys music, painting, travelling to a very special place in Crete in the summer and following the progress of her (now grown up) children

 SIG Representatives: Janine Bhandol (CDG), James Yardley (ISG), Louise Aldridge and Anne Worthington (YLG)