Susan Scorey
From TheLibraryRoutesProject
My route into libraryland has probably been less conventional than most and as with others was more accident than choice. Though I was taken to the library each week as a child, and became Head Librarian at secondary school (with a lovely green and gold enamel pin!), I was made to leave school at 16, get a job and bring money home to the family (ok I am old and it was in the 70's!).
Despite getting an interview at my local public library, I opted for a clerical job at Macmillians the publishers (discounted books - great!). A MAN (silly girl!) then persuaded me to move to Portsmouth with him and after a few months at IBM and for the MoD in the Dockyard, I decided to accept a job as an acquisitions assistant at Portsmouth Poly ... it was warmer than the Dockyard office, paid more and you could wear jeans like the students.
I worked my way up via the issue desk to Senior library assistant, then moved to the public library service as a Library Supervisor and then Administration Officer. After nearly 9 years with the MAN (very silly girl!) I was free and decided to go to uni as "a mature student with extensive practical experience", i.e. old and no relevant qualifications, to do a undergraduate degree in Library and Information Studies. I really wanted to study history, but the 'no qualifications' thing was a problem and my old employers the county council promised a library job when I finished.
Having already worked in academic and public libraries (as well as the Natural History Zoology library, Grant Thornton Accountants library and the Barbican City Girls school during hols) I decided, on graduating, that earning more money in commercial libraries was preferable. There being no jobs in my preferred accountancy area, I was sent off to a law firm library and found my niche. Academic Law Librarian in a university followed that and led to my move to The College of Law as College Librarian, Head of Information Services and now Director of Knowledge. I've picked up a few qualifications over the years, and would say that I've always liked the problem solving, practical application of skills, knowledge of a specific area and opportunity to organise things, people and stuff that appeals to me.
