Committee members - CILIP: the library and information association

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Julie Reid - Chair

I have worked in public libraries since 1995. My first job as a temporary part time library assistant in East Belfast sparked a love for libraries and what they do for local communities. I have had various roles in libraries including frontline, training and development, marketing and management. Until recently I had responsibility for the delivery of the Health service priority across Libraries NI. My current role is as Deputy Head of Services for Libraries NI, a position I took up in January 2020.

Robert Whan - Vice-Chair

I am currently the Customer Experience Manager for the McClay Library at Queen's University Belfast. I have been Director of Armagh Robinson Library, Northern Ireland’s oldest public library, since 2018. Previously, I taught history at Queen’s University Belfast and Ulster University, and held positions at Down County Museum, National Museums Northern Ireland, and Newry and Mourne Museum. I am a Fellow of both the Royal Historical Society and the Higher Education Academy. Currently, I am also a Queen’s University Belfast Visiting Research Fellow and I sit on the Board of National Museums Northern Ireland, which consists of the Ulster Museum in Belfast, the Ulster Folk Museum and the Ulster Transport Museum at Cultra, and the Ulster American Folk Park, Omagh.

Gerardine Blee - CILIP Ireland Community Development Manager

As CILIP Ireland Community Development Manager, I support the CILIP Ireland Committee to fully deliver CILIP's membership offer to CILIP Ireland Members. I studied LIS at Aberystwyth University and I gained chartered membership of CILIP in 2010. I commenced my role with CILIP Ireland in September 2015.

It is my aim to represent and support all members of CILIP who live or work in Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland. I firmly believe CILIP Ireland can act as strong united voice of the Library, Information and Knowledge Management community advocating on behalf of all our members. I am working to increase visibility and build influence among key decision makers in Government at the Northern Ireland Assembly. By producing briefings, responses and policy statements we are contributing to National Policy Development.

It is one of my key aims to develop a strong sense of community amongst members in this region. I work closely with the CILIP Ireland Committee to organise events including conferences and training opportunities. These events are aimed at providing support for members in continuing their professional development. I welcome any suggestions for future events, please contact me by email at gerardine.blee@cilip.org.uk.

I am also working to build value with employers by supporting CILIP members to enhance their professional skills and standards. Finally, I encourage you to get involved and I look forward to meeting you at upcoming events.

Nikki Terlik - Secretary

I graduated from the University of Ulster with a degree in Fine and Applied Arts although it is no surprise I ended up working in libraries as I spent most of my time in the library there.

I have worked for the public library sector since 1998 starting as a Library Assistant then as a Branch Library Manager. From 2013 to 2020 I took on the role of Targeting Social Exclusion Community Project Officer and it was within this time that I experienced the difference libraries make to people’s lives and my love of libraries deepened. Following this role I worked as the District Manager for Lisburn and Castlereagh libraries before moving to my current position in February 2022 as Senior Services Manager for Customer Experience with Libraries NI.

I joined CILIP at the end of April 2021 and started my Chartership a few months later. Being part of CILIP and the CILIP Ireland committee has introduced me to the extended library family outside of public libraries. I enjoy working with other professionals and advocating for the work we do.

Sionnán Ní Nualláin- Social Media Manager

I began my Library career in 2022 at Belfast Metropolitan College, having wanted to work in libraries for years. My background is in theatre and storytelling, and I completed a BA in Drama and Theatre Studies at Trinity College Dublin in 2016, and a masters in creative writing in 2020 at Queen’s University. I’ve previously worked in the tourism sector, museums, and theatres. Libraries have always been my happy place, where I feel the most calm and at home so it is a privilege to work in one. Having always been a lover of books and stories, I am interested in how social media can broaden a library’s horizon and tell the stories of both the people in them and the libraries themselves. I’m excited to be a part of CILIP and to continue to work in libraries, building on what I’ve learned!

Stuart Temple - Treasurer

Libraries have always been a place that I have simply liked to be in. While studying for my English Literature Degree I was fortunate to find myself a position working for Libraries NI. Since 2013 I have worked in various public libraries around the Northwest. Completing my degree I considered there was no better place to be than surrounded by books and people who are enthusiastic about the cause of libraries and all they can provide.

In 2021 I decided to embark on the Library and Information Management qualification as a way to expand my horizons. Joining CILIP was a natural progression and I was quite taken with the resources and support available through the organisation. I tentatively put myself forward for the position of New Professionals and Student Liaison Officer with a hope to learn from others and give back in return anything I have to offer. Recognising what libraries have to offer to the community as a whole and seeing the passion inherent in those who work in the sector fills me enthusiasm and gratitude to belong with this group of people.

Outside of libraries I enjoy the outdoors, travelling in our campervan, white water kayaking with the boys and of course the occasional good book.

Cynthia Banfield - Professional Registration Support Officer (PRSO)

I have worked within the civil service for 23 years, within a variety of roles including budgets and administration, before joining the small inhouse workplace library as a Library Information Assistant in 2008. As an alumni of Ulster University I graduated with an honours degree in Business and then completed a Post Graduate Certificate and Diploma in Library & Information Management in 2012. In 2015 I was promoted to Head Librarian NI, responsible for both of the Northern Ireland branches.

I have been an active member of CILIP for over 11 years, attending most of the AGMs and Open Days. I am honoured to finally join the CILIP Ireland Committee having chartered in 2018, and feel blessed to be asked to fulfill the new role as PRSO.

I am passionate about all things library! I wear glasses, love cats and coffee and my favourite book is “Anne of Green Gables”, although unlike the stereotypical librarian I love to hear the hustle and bustle of a busy library and do not hush my customers!

I believe that professionalism is one of the main battle cries we have to ensure longevity, no matter the library sector, and I am eager to help encourage all to succeed and achieve.

Jonathan Best - New Professionals and Student Liaison Officer

Since March 2021 I have been working with the library service at Ulster University. Based at the Belfast campus I am currently a senior information assistant responsible for the library’s document delivery and scanning service as well as supporting the library’s Open Research service.

I have had a long affinity for libraries which first developed with frequent visits to my local public library as well as to the library at school. This connection continued when I undertook degrees in history at Queen’s University Belfast, culminating in a PhD during which I relied heavily on support from librarians and information professionals at libraries and archives across the United Kingdom, Ireland and America to support my research. I have a strong passion for the role of librarians and their important role in today’s society and I am particularly interested in their role supporting the education sector. I look forward to providing support to librarians and information professionals and showing the help available from CILIP. I am currently completing a MA in Information and Library Studies at Aberystwyth University.

In my free time I am a fervent reader, particularly of spy and crime fiction and history books, and I am rarely without a book at hand. I also have a passion for collecting comic books and antique coins and am passionate about visiting historical sites and museums in Britain and Ireland, one of my favourites being Dunluce Castle on the north coast.

Denise Schroder - North-South Liaison Officer

My library career began recently when I completed a PgDip in Information and Library Studies at Robert Gordon University in 2018. I currently work as a Library and Information Officer at Belfast Metropolitan College.

I’ve worked in the education sector for over 20 years, primarily in the role of student support and special educational needs. During this time, I was responsible for assistive technology and reasonable adjustments in the library, so I’ve been working in a library setting for many years and it feels very much like home!

I love everything about libraries, particularly the equality of opportunity they offer and how this can transform people’s lives. I feel very privileged to finally be a librarian and I enjoy being part of a welcoming space, enabling access to information and supporting a diverse range of people.

I’m looking forward to working with CILIP Ireland to help promote librarianship and engage with other information professionals.

Sian Cairns - Activities Officer

I ended up with a career in libraries quite by accident. After graduating with a degree in Media Studies from Ulster University I needed a job to pay the bills while I decided what to do next. In 2008 I applied for a job as a library assistant in Limavady library for the Western Education and Library Board and the rest is history. I fell in love with the job and enjoyed interacting with all members of the community, young and old.

As a commitment to the profession, I went on to complete the Library and Information Management Postgraduate Diploma in 2012 at Ulster University.

During my time with Libraries NI I have been a Library Assistant, Branch Library Manager, District Officer and now Senior Services Manager of Belfast Central Library since September 2024.

I feel that in today’s society libraries are more important now than ever. I am proud to be able to help people through the library profession, be it by teaching a computer class or getting children excited about reading. Every day is different, and libraries will continue to change and adapt to our community’s needs. It’s an exciting time to work in libraries and I look forward to seeing what comes next.

Mary Davies - Committee Member

I am the Assistant Subject Librarian for Arts, Humanities, Social Science and Business on the Coleraine Campus of Ulster University.

I completed a Social Science degree and taught English in Greece before working as a Library Assistant in the public library and then moving to Ulster University (Ulster).

I crossed into the school library sector for several years, and in that time, I introduced a twitter page, became NEELB School Library Group Secretary, and completed my award-winning Masters in Information and Library Management from Ulster which focussed on how collaboration can improve information literacy training. I moved back to Ulster in 2017 and have worked as an Information Assistant and Senior Information Assistant on the Coleraine and Magee campuses before my current post.

I am also a Kayak Instructor and Hill Walking Leader.

I strongly believe in the power of libraries to transform lives and bridge digital divides.

Ross McDonald - Committee Member

I am currently an Assistant Librarian at Ulster University, based in their Belfast campus.

I began my career in public libraries as a part-time library assistant in 1999 and have also worked in legal, school and further education libraries prior to commencing my current post. I qualified as a Librarian from the University of Wales, Aberystwyth in 2004 and the best job I’ve ever had was a temporary posting in a mobile library on the Ards Peninsula.

I am passionate about the role that libraries have in our society and joined the CILIP Ireland committee to help develop and promote the information sector to our members and wider afield. Outside of work I enjoy baking, hill walking, photography and try to find the time to read as much as possible.

Danielle Thomas - Committee Member

Hello my name is Danielle Thomas and I am the District Manager for Libraries NI in Antrim and Newtownabbey. I have been working with Libraries NI for eight years and I graduated in July 2023 from the Post Graduate diploma in Library and Information Management. I am proud to be a public librarian and part of the CILIP family. I have learned so much from the wider community of librarians by working in so many varied library settings and roles and during my time with Ulster University. In joining the committee here, I am very much looking forward to networking with our wider circle.

I have always loved libraries and books but it was my wee granny who decided a long time ago that it should be my chosen career. We always had our own private book club where we would both finish a great book and would not rest until the other had finished it too. Before finding myself in libraries, I worked in the media industry in various roles: radio, TV, a brief stint as a runner on films, events and local newspapers. However, I could not get my granny’s voice out of my head telling me I would make an amazing librarian. So I left media for agency work as a library assistant and I have never looked back. In my spare time I am usually with my cocker spaniel, Winnie (of course she is named after a favourite book character), reading everything by Emily Henry and drinking lots and lots of coffee