Officers for April 2008 - December 2008

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Amanda Quick -  I started my working life as an English teacher in a secondary school, but soon ran for the hills and became a librarian. I have mainly worked in academic libraries - Oxford Brookes University, University of Worcester and currently University of Abertay Dundee – plus a spell at Peters Bookselling Services, a couple of FE colleges, and a stint in local studies in Edinburgh. All of which makes me sound either ancient or very flighty! 
I have been involved with the Career Development Group since 2000 and chaired the West Midlands Division before becoming involved as Associate Advertising Officer and then Hon. Events Coordinator. I enjoy organising events and meeting people from all sectors of the profession. In my spare time I sing, play recorders, lead services at my local Baptist church, and watch Doctor Who with my husband Martyn and two cats Stella and Phoebe.

Maria Cotera - After her studies in Library and Information Sciences at the Escuela de Biblioteconomia y Documentacion in Granada, Spain, and a few years working as a public librarian in Tenerife, Canary Islands, Maria Cotera moved to London where she has worked as a project cataloguer in academic libraries (LSE, SOAS and UCL) since 1999.
Maria joined the then Library Association in 1998, gained her chartership in 2002 and has been an active CILIP member ever since.
With a kind interest in international librarianship, Maria is an active committee member of the International Library and Information Group, as well as Honorary International Officer of the Career Development Group.
At international level, Maria has been involved with IFLA: the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions since 2004, where she currently is the lead convener of the Women, Information and Libraries Discussion Group.

Rowena Macrae-Gibson - Rowena Macrae-Gibson is a Liaison Librarian at

 London School of Economics Library having previously worked as an Academic Liaison Librarian at Brunel University  and a Subject-Support Librarian at the University of Exeter. She started her career in libraries working in the Music & Audio-Visual Department of Bromley Central Library before completing her LIS Masters at Loughborough University.

Jon Scown - I currently work as a Development Officer for LibrariesWest, a consortium of 5 public library authorities in the South West. In practice this means I'm responsible for co-ordinating a range of projects bringing the 5 authorities closer together, and for ensuring effective communication across the consortium. It's a fairly unique job which makes it mostly interesting and often challenging! I began my library career in my home county of Cornwall after graduating from the then Liverpool Polytechnic (now John Moores University which shows how long ago it was) in 1986, and have worked in public libraries ever since.
I first got involved in the West Country Division of the Career Development Group (then the AAL) in 1990 something and have remaimed active on the committee ever since holding a number of posts including Secretary. I first took on a National Officer post a few years ago as Hon Events Co-ordinator and have this year rejoined National Council for a 2 year stint as Secretary.
In my spare time I enjoy listening to music, going to concerts and the theatre, walking and trying to keep fit (with the emphasis very much on trying), and travelling when I get the opportunity.

Viki Lagus - After a first degree in Social and Public Policy, I did the MA course in Information and Library Management at University of Northumbria 1998-9. I have experience as a School LRC Manager at Wolsingham School and Community College in County Durham, as a Children's / Young People's Librarian in public libraries (London Borough of Harrow, and Middlesbrough Libraries) and I am now working with adults and diverse community groups as the Community Development Librarian for the branch libraries in South Tyneside. I charteredin 2002 and Revalidated in 2006. I trained as a CILIP mentor in 2005 and enjoy working with candidates working towards CILIP qualification.
I joined the Career Development Group North Eastern Division in 2002 and have been both secretary and assistant newsletter editor and NE CILIP Representative. I am currently the Divisional Candidate Support Officer and I took on the national role of Honorary Events Co-ordinator in April 2007.
My interests outside work include quizzes (particularly where there is a pubt involved!), films, music and musicals!

Cheney Gardner - Following a degree in Classics, I started my career in libraries as a Library Assistant at the University of Reading in 2000. This originally happened somewhat by accident, but I soon realised I had found my niche and wanted to stay in the field. After doing my MA in Librarianship in Sheffield I moved into public libraries with jobs in Bracknell Forest, West Berkshire and Lewisham Library Services. During this time I also Chartered in 2004 and Revalidated in 2007. Currently I am on secondment from Lewisham at the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council, where my role is Framework for the Future Support Officer.
I became involved with the Career Development Group at the start of 2005, coming straight in as one of the London and South East Divisions CSO team. Three years of advising candidates and running events later, I decided a new challenge was in order and stepped into the role of Joint Hon. Editor, with a London and South East colleague. I am very much looking forward to editing Impact and learning all the new skills that go with the post. 
When I’m not thinking about libraries, I like reading (fancy that!) and I also enjoy watching rock bands, travelling and making pottery. I also have a new and slightly worrying tendency towards DIY home improvements.

Carol Barker - After working in a bank for 6 years (and being very bored by the work, but not sure what else to do with my life), I went off to Uni to read English and French, and also trained to be a teacher. Whilst living in the Pyrenees, during my year in France, I decided I wanted to work in libraries, and definitely did not want to teach secondary school children!
So at the age of 29 I joined CILIP, completed my degree, worked for a year as a library assistant and then spent a year at Loughborough doing my MSc. I started out working on Staffordshire County Council's web site for a few months before getting work in the reference section of the library service. From there I got a professional post as a Children's Librarian, then did Lending Services (books and CDs), before moving into ICT and Information, which I love.
I  now spend my time looking after Reference stock, periodicals and local studies for three libraries. I train staff and customers to use the internet, email etc and update pages on the libraries' website.
I joined the Career Development Group in 1998, and having been Secretary, Treasurer, Chair and Candidate Support Officer (holding some of these roles simultaneously!) for the West Midlands Division, I was elected to the role of Honorary Learning Co-ordinator in 2006.

Martin Kidds - My first job in libraries was as a Saturday assistant in Wokingham Libraries in 1989. After studying History and Politics at York University I spent a wonderful year as a SCONUL trainee at the Bodleian. Postgraduate study at the University of Northumbria at Newcastle followed, then I landed on my feet back in Berkshire as a Reference Librarian at the County Reference Library in Reading. Six happy and eventful years ensued, including local government reorganisation, becoming Chartered and a two year secondment as the Unison branch secretary.
It was while at Northumbria that I first came upon the Met Office, whilst on work placement. This lead some time later to my applying for my current post as Assistant Librarian at the National Meteorological Library and Archive and the move from Bracknell to Exeter. My job is mainly to look after (and develop and improve) our Unicorn system and promote the service: not enough people realise we are open to the public and it is my ambition to change this.
I joined the Cilip SW branch committee in the summer of 2004, representing the Career Development Group (Devon and Cornwall Branch) and am also a member of the Events sub-committee. In 2005 I became RLO (now CSO - Candidate Support Officer) for Devon and Cornwall. This has lead to a whole new professional life of involvement in the new Framework of Qualifications and travelling and meeting people from libraries across the South West, including becoming Associate Hon Learning Co-ordinator to assist Carol Barker looking after the CSO network.
When not working I enjoy walking, cycling, real ale (in moderation) and listening to music, though not necessarily all at the same time.

Carol Wurcbacher - I graduated from the University of Liverpool in 1998 with a BSc in Geography. Following this I went on to spend my graduate trainee year in the library at Daresbury Laboratory in Cheshire. I then spent a year at Leeds Metropolitan University and gained my MSc in Information Studies in 2000. Following my masters I worked as a Survey Manager for an organisation called Merseyside Information Service for just over 3 years. I currently work as the  Quality Support Information Co-ordinator in the Quality Support Team at Liverpool John Moores University. 
I have been a member of the Career Development Group since I joined the Library Association in 1998, and joined the North West Division committee in Spring 2003. My role there is to update the division's web pages and help in publicising events. In spring 2006 I became Chair of this committee. In January 2004 I became Associate Web Editor for the Career Development Group and in April 2006 became Honorary Web Co-ordinator. 
I chartered (via route B) in May 2003 and was the winner of the CILIP/Online Information Personal Development Award 2003. 
When not working I enjoy knitting, sewing, reading, walking, volunteering with the National Trust and playing with my two cats, Piri and Imbolic.