Chris Jones - Guest Speaker

Team A

Team A, or as we call ourselves, the A team, is comprised of three researchers: James, Selena, and Ibrahim. In addition, Dee and Alandice headed the editing team, and Flora as web master. After coming together to throw around ideas, we decided to base our first blog posting on a guest lecturer; Chris Jones, a travelling and adventuring librarian with aspirations and professional experience over the range of Information careers.

Chris Jones
Photo credit: Alandice Anderson

Chris joins another faculty member of ours, Sylvie Davies, in exploring and working with Aberdeen’s KTP two year project. Their goal is to create a new and innovative information and record management system for Aberdeen harbour. Previously, Chris worked in three separate libraries: Harrogate Public Library as a volunteer, University of Sunderland as a part-time assistant liaison librarian, and then as a full-time librarian at Preston’s college. From there, Chris’s next move was the harbour project.

At the induction of Chris’s lecture, he had an inspirational phrase that resonated with the class: “Say yes, because you can do it! You have the skill set, so just say yes!”

Chris, a graduate in 2010 of our same course, was confident that the skill set gained will strongly prepare us for a broad range of careers in the Information and library sectors. Chris’s clever, brave, and eclectic career and volunteering choices have taken him from graduation all the way to the tops of the frozen Alaskan mountains, then into the depths of the Aberdeen harbour project. His lecture provided the motivation and certainty we students needed to tread forward confidently on our future career paths.

As our studies commence, Chris’s helpful advice was also hopeful. Some of his main points were:

* Choose your dissertation topic wisely; it can be a great determining factor in your career.
* Find smarter ways of working.
* Volunteer your time! This improves knowledge, hones your skills, and enhances your CV.
* Every job opportunity is an open door: If you walk through it, you are farther than before.
* Always say YES and find a way!

In parting, Chris recommended some reading for tips on interviews that really helped him in his interviewing processes: “Great answers to tough interview questions” by Martin John Yate. Chris also encourages the use of Linkedin, CILIP’s membership information, and the Anchorage museum and British museum as examples of networking which has helped him along his career path.

We enjoyed having Chris come speak to us, and thank him for taking the time out of his new project to share his experiences with us! As we leap forward in our careers, he tells us not to be afraid of job descriptions. Referencing back to a former colleague of his, who went from library assistant to library manager simply by having the courage to apply for an intimidating position. Any number of opportunities may lead you to your perfect job, even though you don’t feel completely qualified for it. Just remember to say “Yes! You have the skill set. You know more than you think you know!”

One of the beautiful artifacts Chris catalogued
Photo Credit: Chris Jones

Chris's living quarters in Alaska - surrounded by museum!
Photo Credit: Chris Jones

Surf howling!
Photo Credit: Chris Jones

The Salty Dawg Saloon