Committee Biographies

Jean Christopher (Chair)

Special Assistant Librarian
Liverpool City Libraries

I never intended to work in libraries, it just “happened”. I had just finished university and wanted money, saw the advert and the rest is history. I started my library life as a Library Assistant 1982 in “the branches”, which I really enjoyed as I was expected to learn and cover every aspect of the job. At that time, it was usual practice to be transferred to a different department/branch every couple of years. I did that until I was promoted to Library Manager and given my own branch library to manage.

In 2012 Liverpool City Libraries went through a major restructure which saw many branch libraries closing and many staff taking early retirement. It also coincided with the reopening of our newly built Central Library. A post became available in our stock department with responsibility for the Document Delivery Service to which I was promoted. There have been many changes to the service over the years and although the fundamental aspect of the job is the same, the processes are now very different. I really enjoy working in this area as there is always something new going on!

Out of work I enjoy reading, playing with my new puppy, needlecraft and window shopping for anything!

Eva Dann (Treasurer)

Senior Information Assistant for Document Delivery
Royal Holloway Library, University of London

Eva is a Senior Information Assistant for Document Delivery at Royal Holloway, University of London. She previously worked in the public library sector for 10 years and has also been a freelance translator. She is on the third year of her Masters in Library and Information Studies by distance learning at Aberystwyth University.

Sian Jones (Secretary)

Library Assistant, Library Service Desk Team
Llyfygell Hugh Owen Library, Aberystwyth University

I qualified from the then College of Librarianship Wales in 1985. My heart has always been in public libraries and I was lucky to gain my first position as a Senior Assistant Librarian in the London Borough of Havering where I gained valuable experience. I then worked for 14 years in the public library service in the London Borough of Harrow where I worked in a number of branches including the central reference library and the main lending library. I obtained my chartership whilst working in Harrow libraries.

After moving to Wales I joined the Library Lending Team at Aberystwyth University in 2003. I undertake a range of front line duties but most of my time is spent working in Document Supply, a service which we have developed and promoted over many years. I have attended the FIL conferences for a number of years always finding it valuable to collaborate with other ‘inter-lenders’. Outside of work I enjoy gardening, art galleries and travelling.

Emma Willcox (Conference Co-ordinator)

Library Assistant (Content, Licensing and Intellectual Property)
The Open University

After graduating from Kent University with a BA in English Literature, I started my career working in the publishing industry. After four years working in copyright and permissions at Wiley, I made the move to higher education in 2015. Since then, I have been working as a Library Assistant at the Open University. I spend half my time working in content acquisition and the other half in ILLs/document delivery.

I love working at this fantastic institution and supporting its hard-working, dedicated students. Distance education presents unique challenges and opportunities for library services; I’ve enjoyed learning about new technologies and embracing the move to electronic resources. At the same time, I appreciate the time I spend working in document delivery as It helps me remain connected to the print books that made me want to work in libraries in the first place. Outside of work, I am a keen reader and video-gamer. I also enjoy amateur dramatics and karaoke.

Debs Jones-Davis

Interlibrary Loan Officer, University of Gloucestershire

I have worked at the University of Gloucestershire since 2005, I started working on the library desk and then in 2007 I moved in to managing print and online serials, this is where I found out about Inter-Library Loans.  In 2010 I had the opportunity to join the ILL team and I haven’t looked back since!  There is now only me in the team but the work is still wonderful.  In 2017 we updated our library management system to OCLC WMS and later in 2018 we added Tipasa which has revolutionised the way that I work with ILL.

Outside of work, I love to travel, read and spend time with the family.

Bernadette Gardiner

Library Assistant, Maynooth University Library

Bernie works in the Collections and Content Department in Maynooth University Library. She is responsible for the Inter Library Loans service, is a member of the Library Digital Communications Team and also works in journals acquisition. She is actively involved in promoting well-being for staff at Maynooth University Library.

Her previous experience includes working in the library at University College Dublin having earlier worked for a short period in public libraries. Bernie was recently awarded 1st Class Honours in the BA (Community Studies) degree at Maynooth University.

Chris Beevers

Customer Services Librarian, University of Huddersfield

I started work in the Periodicals Department of the Library at the then Huddersfield Polytechnic in 1985. My job was basically checking in new journal issues on an old manual Kardex system. Every so often we had to trawl through every title card to identify any issues that had missed so that we could claim them from the publishers. In the summer we had to collate the previous year’s worth of receipts and send them off to bind.

Times have changed a lot a lot since then, I don’t think we even bind journals anymore, but I still immensely enjoy working with the wide variety of people that I come into contact with, both in what is now Computing and Library Services and in the wider institution and beyond. I feel very lucky and proud to have worked at the University of Huddersfield for so long.

Today, I have a rather eclectic mix of responsibilities: Inter-library Loans, Disability Support, Publicity, Printing Services, Copyright etc. etc. In the summer you’ll also regularly find me on our subject floors tape measure and spanner in hand whilst we move the stock around…AGAIN, for the next refurbishment or reorganisation. I think I have moved the whole collection around at least three…if not four times. I probably have another few stock moves left in me yet. Though our Digital First policy certainly has an appeal probably not appreciated by the majority of our customers.

Jo Horsfall

Lending Services Manager, Leeds Beckett University

I started my career after finishing a BA (Hons) degree in French and Communication Arts at Huddersfield University and worked for 1 year as Graduate Trainee at Leeds Beckett (then Metropolitan) University.  I then did the MSc in Information Studies and got my first professional post in the Mid-Yorkshire European Information Centre, based at the University.  Fast forward many years, 2 children, a few role changes, I am now Lending Services Manager at Leeds Beckett University. I am responsible for ‘all things lending’ which gives me lots of variety on a daily basis.  I am a keen runner in my spare time and love to craft when I am not running.