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2025/26 Trainees

Discussing Dissertations: Trainees at the History Thesis Fair 2026

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Now that Trinity term has begun, library use has picked up and the reading rooms are packed with students preparing for exams. Despite the warm weather, there’s no time to relax in the sun just yet! As if endless studying and constant coursework wasn’t enough, second-year History students are already having to decide on their dissertation topics ahead of a long summer of research. To help them get started, the Bodleian recently put on its annual undergraduate History Thesis Fair – naturally, a few trainees ended up helping out.  

For those unaware, a thesis fair is an opportunity for students to discover what resources they have access to, get guidance on research, and determine their subject of interest. Attendees have the opportunity to speak with a wide variety of academics, librarians, and other subject specialists about all the different topics or areas they might be curious about. It’s not a taught session or a mandatory process: attendance is fully voluntary and the stalls are designed to be interactive and informal so that students can explore at their own pace. It’s also a space to develop information skills, with stalls dedicated to research methods and practical advice. Ultimately, a thesis fair is designed to help students understand what help is available to them so they can get started on their work more confidently.  

Setting up and running reception

Catherine & Rebecca (Bodleian Library) 

The fair was organised and managed by the history subject librarians Isabel Holowaty and Rachel D’Arcy-Brown – as the trainees based in the Old Bodleian and HFL, we’ve both worked alongside Rachel and Isabel a lot, so we were invited to come along and help them run the event! Armed with a suitcase full of signage and several packs of pushpins, we made the (thankfully short) trip from our libraries down to the exam schools and began setting up. With only an hour to put everything together we were concerned about running out of time, but when we arrived the staff had already transformed the North Writing School from exam conditions into an exhibition hall in record time. All that was left for us to do was put up our masses of signs and posters, make sure everyone had enough extension cables, and direct staff (and later students) to the right place once they arrived.  

Once the fair had actually started, working reception was a relatively simple task which mostly just involved handing out paper and giving directions. We had a good few chats with students about their various areas of interest, and it was great getting to hear the range of ideas people were considering. Once we knew what they were looking for we provided attendees with a map of the fair and a guide to further resources for afterwards, then pointed them towards some stalls which might be useful to start with.  

Getting to look around those stalls during quiet moments was also fun. Some interesting sections this year included English Literature, Visual Culture, and a brand-new Environmental History stall which drew a lot of attention. We also had ambassadors from Gale Primary Sources, AM Digital, and Oxford Brookes Archives come in to help students use their collections, and some current third-year students who had recently finished their own dissertations ran a very popular booth offering first-hand guidance and advice. With loads of subject librarians and faculty on hand to help, we had the last 2000 years broadly covered, but one thing to love about History is the sheer scale of it: from medieval burials to wartime fashion to eighteenth-century dentistry, there’s no end to your options. 

A stall map of the Thesis fair. The different subject tables are laid out as a diagram, with arrows pointing to the entrances and exits.

Running a subject stall

Olly (Art, Archaeology and Ancient World Library)

A small team of us from the Art library all came along at about 2:30 to set up our stall for Visual Culture. Here we were representing two subject areas, Art & Architecture and Film Studies. We had to do a bit of shuffling around with tables, borrow some pushpins to display our signs and quickly charge the laptop, but then we were ready for the students!  

For the next two hours we had students queuing up to run their dissertation ideas by us in more detail and find out what kind of resources we could point them to. I was worried that I wouldn’t know enough about the visual culture resources we have, but it turns out I knew more than I realised, and I was able to direct people to some things that should really help them. Tasks like helping review LibGuides or checking the reading lists that faculty give to librarians were really helpful in showing me what’s out there in terms of books, journals and databases for art history.  

We heard about an amazing variety of subjects people were interested in – witchcraft in Ireland, Turkish election campaigns, British new wave film, trans art collectives, and slingshot weaponry, to name just a few. Some of these questions I was way more prepared to answer than others (if you want me to talk at you excitedly for several minutes, please ask me about British new wave film), but I think that even if we didn’t know anything at all about the subject someone was interested in, we were hopefully able to give them some tips on searching for resources. 

Winding down and next steps 

The poster for the thesis fair. It provides the time/date information, a link to the LibGuide and a QR code for it, and some basic bullet points on what to expect. There is also a photo of a previous thesis fair showing a crowd of people gathered around various tables in the exam schools.

After two hours, the crowds thinned out and it was time for us to pack up and leave. Shutting down was even quicker than setting up, although we did have a few very interested students hang on right until the end! In the end, we had 185 people turn up – definitely not a bad turnout for a gorgeous sunny day. Most students seemed like they’d found what they were looking for, and it was nice to be able to help them get started and make the whole thing less daunting. 

Getting involved in the fair was a unique way to spend an afternoon, and it’s a good example of how varied work at the Bodleian can be. Opportunities for teaching and student support aren’t a direct part of our traineeship, but if they’re something you’re interested in then speaking to subject librarians and attending events like this are great ways to get involved. If you want more information on how the thesis fair runs and what sort of resources are available for research support in the libraries, have a look at this page of the History LibGuide, or check out this blog post about a previous fair. The Bodleian also regularly runs information skills sessions on introductions to sources, research guidance, and referencing tips – have a look at the iSkills programme for Trinity term to see what’s on offer. To those preparing for their dissertation, good luck, and to anyone else, we hope to see you at the next fair! 

Make Libraries Great Again – ‘The Librarians’ (2025) and the fight against book bans  

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by Catherine Birch, Jules McGee-Russell, and Summer Mainstone-Cotton 

On 24th September, the Weston Library hosted a screening of The Librarians, a new documentary about banned books, censorship, and free speech in libraries across the USA. The documentary premiered at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year, but this was only its second screening in the UK, and the audience was packed with librarians, readers, and film buffs alike. Naturally, a few trainees decided that an entire day spent working in a library wasn’t enough, so we decided to go along that evening too. 

The Weston was steadily filling up with people as we arrived, and there was a lively atmosphere full of conversation and laughter throughout the building. We mingled, chatted, networked, and partook in the drinks and nibbles on offer. However, we didn’t have long to mill around, as seats were being taken fast, and it was time for the event to begin.  

The welcome reception in Blackwell Hall @cyrusoxford

Before the film screening, there was a small ceremony held by the Royal Society of Literature to celebrate the Bodleian’s own Richard Ovenden. Richard was recently awarded the RSL’s Benson Medal for outstanding services to literature – in this case, his significant career as a librarian, and his roles leading organisations like the Digital Preservation Coalition and the university’s Gardens, Libraries, and Museums group. On top of this, he also recently wrote a book on the history of book burnings – Burning the Books: A History of Knowledge Under Attack – which makes a brief cameo in The Librarians! The award was certainly well-deserved, and the audience were enthusiastic with cheers and applause. After a short speech and some votes of thanks, he handed over to the director, Kim A. Synder, for a short introduction to the film. From there, all that was left to do was dim the lights, set the stage, and start the screening.  

Richard Ovenden accepting the Benson Medal
& his acceptance speech @cyrusoxford

The film itself was a compelling look at the recent wave of protests against school libraries in the United States. For those unaware: in 2021, public school superintendents across Texas were sent a list of 850 books challenged for potentially causing “discomfort, guilt, anguish, or…psychological distress” to schoolchildren.1 The list was compiled by state representative Matt Krause and predominantly included books which featured sex education, black history, and LGBTQ+ characters; many were also simply written by LGBTQ+ or non-white authors.2 School districts in other parts of the country began similar investigations, and soon libraries throughout the US were facing book bans. Parents began calling for the removal of material that they deemed sexually explicit or inappropriate for children, schools pulled up to hundreds of books from their shelves out of caution, and librarians who protested this were silenced.3 The Librarians follows the people who pushed back against these investigations, exploring their stories and their struggles.    

The film began in Texas but didn’t stop there, travelling to Florida, New Jersey, and other states impacted by book bans. It exposed how school librarians were subjected to bullying, victimisation, and even unemployment for questioning these book bans, and how those who protested more vocally received targeted online harassment and threats of physical violence. The film featured interviews with these librarians, as well as the students and school board members directly impacted by these bans. It also examined the role of politicians, pressure groups, and parents in this ongoing struggle, combining original documentary footage with social media content and relevant news stories for a more complete view of the situation. Interspersed throughout were clips from The Twilight Zone, Fahrenheit 451 (1966), and Storm Centre (1956), as well as archival footage of Nazi book burnings and Joseph McCarthy speeches. Time and again the film returned to these examples of historical censorship to emphasise the necessity of information, the dangers of book bans, and the inalienable right to freedom of expression. It was a moving watch, balancing humour and emotion with a poignant lasting message about the importance of libraries and literature to society. 

The crowd applauding Julie Miller and Amanda Jones
& a close up on the discussion panel @cyrusoxford

After the screening, a panel sat down to discuss the film and take questions from the audience. As well as the director and producers, it featured Dame Mary Beard, Richard Ovenden, and two of the librarians who featured most prominently within the documentary: Julie Miller and Amanda Jones. Discussion quickly turned to the Bodleian’s own experiences with book bans over the centuries, as Richard explained how the original Bodley’s Librarian specifically collected books denounced by religious authorities, preserving this information against censorship or wilful destruction. However, as Dame Mary then pointed out, it is important not to just rest on this legacy. She advised the librarians present to be conscious of how we treat ideas or books that we don’t personally endorse, reminding us that to fight against censorship we must fight for all speech to be free. As the panel reflected on the position of foreign academic librarians in this struggle, they returned to a central motif of the film – that silence is compliance when faced with systematic suppression. 

The panel also discussed how these attacks on librarians have progressed since the film was finished in late 2024: perhaps most notably, in May 2025, the President unceremoniously fired the fourteenth Librarian of Congress.4 Carla Hayden, both the first woman and first African American to hold this post, was removed on the grounds that she had promoted DEI and placed “inappropriate books for children” in the library.5 This directly echoes the sentiments expressed about school librarians within the documentary, emphasising the increasing scope and scale of this crisis. Julie and Amanda took this opportunity to speak about their continued activism within their local communities and beyond, while the producers explained their plans to publicise the film further and gain international support for the librarians affected by these repressive campaigns. Discussion ended shortly after this, but not without a final round of applause for the librarians, politicians, and everyone behind the film continuing to fight to speak freely and be heard. 

Some familiar faces deep in conversation @cyrusoxford

After all that talking, it was finally time for… more talking! There was a short drinks reception in Blackwell Hall following the screening, which gave us the opportunity to chat with other library staff and visitors who’d come to the viewing. The room really came alive, and the hall was buzzing with noise as the film gave everyone a lot to talk about. We had some interesting conversations about public services, the accessibility of our libraries, and our responsibilities in this struggle as new professionals. We also got the chance to tell some other attendees about our traineeships, and found time to catch up with some former trainees! All-in-all, a great end to the night.  

The Librarians is an ambitious project – creating a film about a rapidly developing political storm and screening it internationally is no easy feat – but it is certainly a worthwhile one. The documentary highlights the cultural role of libraries in the past and present, providing useful insight into the politics of information and the tactics used to undermine it. While many of us had heard about these book bans across the US, we weren’t aware of the scale of the issue or the extent of the harm it was causing to individual librarians, and the film was an eye-opening call to act.  As trainees, we are just entering the world of libraries: this film urges us to work to ensure the libraries are still there for us in future. The Librarians was released in the UK on the 26th of September, with more details of showtimes available here. It will also be available on BBC iPlayer for over a year. If you’re at all interested in libraries and literature, it’s definitely worth a watch. And if our review still hasn’t convinced you, here’s the trailer to speak for itself.  

With thanks to Cyrus Mower (@cyrusoxford) for taking all of the photos included in this blog post 

Notes:

  1. Krause’s letter to school superintendents ↩︎
  2. Texas lawmaker Matt Krause targets 850 books he says could make students uneasy – NPR ↩︎
  3. District’s list of purged school library books circulates around Tennessee – Chalkbeat ↩︎
  4. Trump fires Librarian of Congress, continuing to shape cultural institutions – NPR ↩︎
  5. White House reveals why Trump fired Librarian of Congress as Democrats call her ouster a ‘disgrace’ – The Independent ↩︎

Welcome from the Trainees of 2025!  

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Hello again, loyal readers, and welcome to part two of our introduction to the 2025/26 Graduate Trainees. This time, the spotlight is on the Business, Law, and Social Sciences libraries, as well as this year’s College trainees.

Noughth week was busy! We’ve been running induction tours, putting up Black History Month displays, visiting the newly opened Schwarzman Humanities Centre, and somehow keeping our libraries running smoothly. The city is covered in falling leaves (romantic, autumnal, stunning) and the beginnings of the expected wet weather (slippery cobblestones, my nemesis). Regardless, we’re all set to give warm welcomes to our incoming freshers. 

Now, let’s meet some more trainees! 

Trainee Introductions: Business, Law and Social Sciences 

Heidi Cruft – Sainsbury Library, Saïd Business School

Hi everyone! I’m Heidi, the Graduate Trainee at the Sainsbury Library in the Saïd Business School.   

Although my BA wasn’t in Business – I studied English at the University of Cambridge – I got a taste of what business students might be looking for while working with them during a summer scheme at my college. That experience gave me some insight into their research habits and made me appreciate how unique the Sainsbury Library is among the Bodleian Libraries: we primarily serve postgraduates, with a strong focus on journals and databases.  

I knew quite early on in my undergraduate degree that I wanted to pursue a career in libraries and was lucky to gain experience by volunteering at two of Cambridge’s college libraries. That proved invaluable – not only did I get to work with some fascinating special collections, but I learnt a lot about the day-to-day tasks common across most libraries, including processing new books, shelving, and answering enquiries.  

I’m really enjoying my role at the Sainsbury Library so far, and it’s been lovely to get to know the (quite large!) team here. I’ve particularly enjoyed learning how varied everyone’s roles are – it’s shown me how much collaboration goes on behind the scenes in library work. 

The Saïd Business School from the outside at night.
Photograph taken from the SBS website: The School | Saïd Business School

Gemma Hammond – Bodleian Law Library 

Hello! I’m Gemma, the graduate trainee at the Bodleian Law Library.  

I have a BA in History and an MPhil in Ancient History, both from Oxford. I’ve always been interested in working in libraries in some capacity, so after my Master’s I looked for volunteering opportunities and found a position in the library of a small theological college. This was a really useful experience because as well as getting a lot of shelving practice(!) I got to do all sorts of other background tasks (cataloguing, checking reading lists, working with the archive). I went on to work part-time as an evening and weekends library assistant in the Old Bodleian and the Art Library, which was much more focused on front-line reader services: issuing and returning books and generally helping readers and problem-solving.  

What I enjoy about working in libraries is that it’s relatively structured but also involves a variety of tasks, and you never quite know what will come up so it doesn’t get boring! I decided to apply for the graduate trainee role because I wanted to learn more about working in libraries in general, and technical services in particular, and to hopefully work out whether to commit to a further Master’s.   

I’ve really enjoyed my first month at the Law Library. Everyone has been welcoming and very helpful, and I feel like I’m beginning to settle in and become part of the team. I’ve obviously had a lot of experience using the Bodleian libraries as a student as well as working in them for the past year or so, but before now I hadn’t ever been in the Law Library. I don’t know much about law as a subject at all, so I’ve been learning a lot! I’ve also been getting used to the library itself, since of course although they’re all under the Bodleian Libraries umbrella, each library has its own idiosyncrasies. The Law Library is reference only, so no one can take the books out, which is a change from the libraries I’d worked in previously. As well as legal texts, the library houses the Official Papers collection, some of which date from the 16th century. 

So far, I’ve mainly been processing new books (putting tattle-tape in them and stamping them) and labelling them (there’s two different types of labels, reflecting the two classification systems that the library uses). I’ve also got to grips with using the Bookeye scanner, which is actually a lot easier than it looks! There’s not been too much shelving to do but the library has been getting busier as the beginning of term gets closer, so I’m sure I’ll soon have the opportunity to properly test myself on the library layout and shelfmarks. I’ve also spent some time at the Enquiry Desk. The (Grade II*-listed) building that the library is in can be a bit of a labyrinth and I’m still working on how best to answer the inevitable questions from readers about how to find the water fountain… For October I’m hoping to get involved in the book displays we have planned and looking forward to the start of a new term!   

The reading room and bookstacks of the Bodleian Law Library.

Summer Mainstone-Cotton – Social Science Library 

Hi everyone! I’m Summer, the graduate trainee at the Social Science Library (the SSL).   

Whilst a medievalist at heart, having studied an MA in Medieval Studies, I feel that I’m starting to find my feet amongst the Social Sciences (there were plenty of economic and political influences in the medieval world after all!) At the SSL we serve a mix of undergrads and postgrads, with probably our largest undergraduate cohort being the PPE students – I’m always a bit daunted when their big economic textbooks come to me for processing!   

I was fairly inexperienced with library work before this traineeship. As a student I spent a lot of time in libraries and became quite good at the detective work of tracking down obscure research books, but the inner workings of libraries remained a mystery. During my MA I did a placement at Cambridge University Library, but that was with special collections rather than reader or technical services – I learnt a lot about childbirth in medieval medical manuscripts, but I’m yet to find a use for that knowledge in the SSL! Far from being a disadvantage though, it’s made everything here feel new and interesting – I still get a lot of satisfaction from stamping books with the Bodleian stamp (even if I haven’t managed to stamp in a straight line yet).  

I’ve really enjoyed my first few weeks at the SSL. Everyone in the library has been very friendly and patient with my many questions and triple checking alma holdings editing – I’m still terrified I’ll accidently delete a book from the system!  

The traineeship offers a great mix of technical and reader services alongside the Wednesday training sessions, which makes every day new and interesting. I’m looking forward to the upcoming chaos of Michaelmas term and I’m sure this year will fly by! 

A view down the shelves at the Social Sciences Library.
More shelves and book displays at the Social Sciences Library.

Trainee Introductions: Colleges

Amy Fry – Christ Church College Library 

Hi everyone! I’m Amy, the Graduate Trainee at Christ Church Library for this year. My position is slightly different to the Bodleian Trainees: I’m technically employed by my college, but I still get the same training sessions and experiences. The best of both worlds!  

I studied Music at Lincoln College before starting this job, probably the only other Oxford college library whose beauty can compare to Christ Church’s (I still can’t quite work out where my loyalties lie…), however the world of libraries is rather new to me. It was actually the advertisement for the Bodleian Trainee scheme that sparked my interest in librarianship as a career, and after some great advice from Lucy and Marina, the librarians at Lincoln, I decided I would give it a go.   

Christ Church Library is a wonderfully impressive place to work. Vertically split into the Working Library downstairs and the Special Collections upstairs, it offers such variety on a daily basis. Downstairs, my responsibilities include much of the day-to-day tasks involved in keeping the library useful for students: processing, shelving, collections management, and fielding questions (if I know the answers that is…). Upstairs, I get to help out with exhibitions, and over the course of the year will also put on various short pop-ups. I’m currently planning one to celebrate the Christ Church 500 Music Festival – a rather cool experience for a music grad! I’m lucky to have joined such a welcoming and knowledgeable team here (9 of us total!) and feel very excited for what the rest of the year will hold, both in Christ Church and across the wider Bodleian Libraries! 

The outside of Christ Church Library in the fog.

Leah Duffin – New College Library 

Hello. My name is Leah, and I am the Graduate Trainee at New College Library. As I work in one of the colleges my role is different from the other trainees. I work across a multitude of projects, execute various tasks, and contribute to the successful running of the library. I am fortunate to feel quite settled in this role as I started in July and have had lots of exciting opportunities since then.  

I hold a bachelor’s degree in English Literature and History and a masters in Medieval Studies from University College Dublin. I have spent much of my academic career in libraries and upon completing my master’s I found myself drawn to a career in libraries. Due to the nature of my master’s research, I worked closely with special collections, and I knew that I wanted to foster this interest in a more professional capacity. Thus, I decided to move away from Ireland and combine my passion for history and libraries and what better place to do that than Oxford!  

Perhaps I show my bias but, in my opinion, New College is one of the finest colleges in Oxford and the library has become a welcoming and wonderful place to work. New College Library is home to a renowned collection of rare books and manuscripts; this includes 384 manuscripts and thousands of rare books and incunables. I was particularly drawn to this role as it allowed me to use the knowledge I gained in my studies through working with a rich repository of special collections whilst also learning more about librarianship and supporting readers. Here at the library, our year is full of opportunities to showcase our special collections, as we often hold exhibitions for the public to come and view our treasures! We also assist academics and readers in viewing our collections. Recently, I aided in curating our current temporary exhibition on the American illustrator Edward Gorey. I was responsible for deciding which items to showcase along with carrying out research, creating labels and designing the promotional material. As term has begun, we are busy holding inductions for new students, purchasing books from readings lists and planning our next exhibition that will take place in November. I am looking forward to what the next few months have in store! 

New College Library and Bell Tower from the outside, surrounded by trees and plant life.

Welcome from the Trainees of 2025! 

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Hi everyone!  

As we enter October and the new academic year begins, we thought it was high time that the new batch of trainees said hello. Our first month in Oxford has flown by in a whirl of training sessions and desk duty, and we’re all braced for the imminent chaos and excitement of noughth week. It’s been strange working at a university with no students, but whilst waiting for them to turn up, we’ve certainly been busy! We’ve learnt our way around the libraries (some of which are more complex than others…), processed books, and reviewed many, many reading lists to prepare for the start of Michaelmas term. Over the next year, we plan to keep you well informed about the adventures and mishaps of graduate trainee life, but thought we’d start by introducing ourselves: 

Trainee Introductions: Arts and Humanities

Catherine Birch – Bodleian Library / History Faculty Library 

Hello all! I’m Catherine and I’m one of two trainees in the Bodleian Library. As the Collections trainee, I can usually be found in the History Faculty Library, but the role actually involves working across multiple libraries – more on that later.  

I started university with no clue what I was going to do with a History degree, and I only fully decided on a career in libraries in my final year. I gravitated towards collections work while volunteering in a few different archives in my spare time, where I realised I really liked transcribing and digitising materials. I got a job working in reader services to test the waters, and after a lot of shelving, researching, and scanning, I felt confident that library work was definitely for me. 

Being based in the HFL has been excellent because I’m surrounded by my favourite subject, but even if you aren’t a history buff there’s something for you at the Bodleian. Our holdings include English, Classics, Philosophy, Theology, and more, so there’s no shortage of interesting material. There’s also a study space for every mood, as our site includes the historic Old Bodleian, the underground Gladstone Link, and the iconic Radcliffe Camera. I do already have a favourite, but I’ll never say which… 

I’ve only been working in the HFL a short while now, but I’m enjoying it a lot. There’s a real variety of work to do every day, from processing new acquisitions and creating displays to helping readers use the printer or find a misplaced book. The team have been offering me plenty of useful support and advice, and they’ve been very patient when I ask where the light switches are for the hundredth time. I’m looking forward to finding my confidence and developing new skills through the traineeship, and I’m excited to see what this year has in store! 

The Radcliffe Camera, one sunny afternoon

Rebecca – Bodleian Library / Reader Services 

Hello! I’m Rebecca, one of the two Bodleian Library trainees. I’m based in Reader Services and therefore spend most of my time in the Old Library, but I also work in the Radcliffe Camera (i.e., the History Faculty Library).

I studied Geography at Lancaster University, during which I completed a placement year. A career in libraries has appealed to me for a long time, but it wasn’t until I graduated that I began to seriously consider it. Up until now, the extent of my experience in libraries is volunteering one hour a week at my sixth form college library, so I was somewhat hesitant to apply to the traineeship.

Over the years, I’ve worked in a variety of administrative and customer-focused roles, and I graduated with a whole host of technical and transferrable skills. I developed a particular interest in data and knowledge management. The only question was how to bring all of that together. Enter: the Bodleian Libraries Graduate Trainee scheme.

While there has been a lot of information to absorb (and a few trials by fire), my first month has flown by. There are some major changes taking place, so it’s an exciting time to be working at the Bodleian. Working on the Main Enquiries Desk three days a week gives me the opportunity to engage with readers and exercise my problem-solving skills. It’s varied work and you never stop learning. Can’t wait to see what chaos awaits in Michaelmas!

The Tower of the Five Orders in the Old Bodleian

Olly Marshall – Art, Archaeology and Ancient World Library 

Hello- I’m Olly and I’m the new trainee in the Art, Archaeology and Ancient World Library (better known simply as Art).  

My background doesn’t lie in art, archaeology OR the ancient world, but in environmental science; I graduated this summer from the University of the West of England with my BSc. In my final year I wrote my dissertation on how coal has been represented in British art and I developed an interest in art history and criticism through that.  

Other than briefly volunteering in a public library for my bronze Duke of Edinburgh award (which I did not complete…) my only experience in libraries is as a reader. Last summer I did an internship at Kew Gardens Herbarium re-curating the fern specimen collection, and learnt a lot about classification systems, considering users when managing collections and I made good use of the amazing library in the herbarium! Here someone suggested to me that I consider a career in libraries and I liked the idea a lot. 

It’s early days in my traineeship and I’ve already learnt so much! I’ve issued, returned and shelved a lot of books, helped a lot of readers find items in our confusing classification systems, made new book displays, completed some minor book repairs, traversed many flights of stairs and become very distracted by our collections – this happens most in our second-floor art collections and ancient coin materials in the Haverfield Room. I also swap with Jules to work in the Taylor Institute Library a few times a week, because I can’t get enough of confusing collections and stairs.  

I’ve really enjoyed getting to know the wonderful team here in the humanities libraries and I’m looking forward to the rest of my year- though nervous for the chaos of the start of Michaelmas!

The Art, Archaeology and Ancient World Library entrance

Jules McGee-Russell – The Taylor Institution Library

Hello world (and future trainees probably reading this blog)! I’m Jules, my pronouns are they/them, and I’m the trainee this year at the Taylor Institution Library. 

I graduated from Newcastle University with a Combined Honours degree in English Literature, Spanish and Latin American Studies, and Chinese in 2021 – which feels like forever ago! I graduated thinking I’d go into journalism, publishing, or marketing, and completely wasn’t expecting to fall in love with library work.  

I first volunteered in my college library during A-Levels for my silver DofE award, but in 2023 I found myself a casual job in the library I visited weekly as a child. Working in public libraries completely shifted my career goals, and I found a true passion! Two years later, I had worked in six libraries across West Sussex, from a small lone-working library to the second largest in the county. I decided I wanted to become a librarian. 

Many google searches later, I came across this blog, and the Graduate Trainee programme here at the Bodleian libraries. I was thrilled to accept the position here at the Taylor, the exact library I had put on my vision board months before.  

I’m still finding my feet within the Oxford University system – it has only been a few weeks after all! Things work very differently here to public libraries (what is a Michaelmas and why does it have a week -1?). The Taylor is two beautiful buildings mushed together, with the spiral staircases to match. It also has a plethora of both old classifications and newer Library of Congress classification all in the same places. At the moment, I’m looking forward to shadowing the Assessment Team, and getting my teeth into my own project over the course of the year – if I can get through student inductions that is!

The Taylor Institution, Exterior