Meet our friendly librarian Jess
Acting Positive Ageing Librarian at Bayside
We sat down with our friendly librarian Jess to ask about her favourite books, genres and why she loves working at Bayside Libraries.
How long have you worked at Bayside Libraries? What is your role?
I have just had my two-year anniversary working at Bayside Libraries. Now, I am the Acting Positive Ageing Librarian for Bayside Libraries. This involves coordinating the home library service, managing our lovely volunteers who help us run the home library service and facilitating digital literacy education.
Describe one of your most rewarding or cherished moments with Bayside.
I have had many lovely moments working for Bayside so it’s hard to choose one! The one that probably stands out the most happened about a year ago. One of our regular Beaumaris library patrons came in one afternoon to say goodbye as he was moving overseas for work. He had been applying for jobs at the library for quite some time and when he told me he had a job, I was thrilled. He mentioned he always enjoyed our interactions when he came into the library and that he was going to miss our chats about food (he was a chef and I LOVE food). It was a really lovely interaction and I still think of him from time to time.
Can you talk to us about our Home Library Service?
The home library service provides free monthly deliveries of library items for Bayside residents who are unable to make it to the library in person. It’s a very personalised service - library staff and volunteers choose and pack library items based on customer preferences and these are delivered to customers' homes once a month. It’s a wonderful service and I feel privileged to facilitate such a vital service for the Bayside community.
What are your favourite books to read on repeat? What's your favourite genre?
I mostly read non-fiction, and particularly enjoy biographies and health and wellbeing books. I also love to travel, so I read a lot of travel writing books so I can dream of my next adventure. When I do read fiction, I mostly reach for crime. Nothing too gory though, I prefer thrillers.
What are you currently reading?
I’m a bit late to the party, but I have just discovered author Dolly Alderton. I literally finished her first book ‘Everything I know about Love’ last night. It’s a coming-of-age memoir set in London which really took me back to my early twenties when I lived and worked in London. Alderton is a very talented writer and I am very much looking forward to reading her new novel ‘Good Material’ which is landing at the library any day now! I also just started reading ‘Darling Girls’ by Sally Hepworth. It’s a real page turner and I highly recommend!
