Who we are

Kirsten Elliott

I’m Kirsten and I've worked at the University of Nottingham as a Research Intelligence Librarian since August 2023. Before that I was an NHS support librarian in London. I started working in libraries as a library helper and library assistant in two University of Cambridge college libraries, and gained a diploma in Library Studies from Aberystwyth University whilst working part-time. 

Having a significant amount of personal experience applying for library jobs, I’m really aware of how difficult, time-consuming and stressful that process can be. Due to the discrepancy of power between candidates and employers I was never able to push back on the unfair recruitment practices I experienced as an individual. I’ve also become increasingly aware of the problems with inequity and lack of diversity in the profession.

A few years ago I started seeing Fair Museum Jobs calling out unfair employment and recruitment practices in museums and really admired their work. Eventually I saw enough people ask about an equivalent for libraries that I decided to get it started and put a call out for other people to get involved. To quote the comedian and co-founder of Arts Emergency Josie Long: “Sometimes if you want something to exist you have to make it yourself.” 

Darren Flynn

I’m Darren and I’m an Academic Liaison Manager at the University of Northampton. I’m also a PhD student at the Department of Information Studies at UCL doing research into how folks who work in academic libraries experience social class. I’ve worked in the library sector since 2011 working mostly in academic libraries starting as a graduate trainee and then working in primarily teaching-related roles until I moved into management in 2021. I’m also active in my local trade union (UCU) branch as an academic-related professional services member.

I joined FLJ when Kirsten first suggested setting up the group. I’ve done quite a few different jobs in my career (and applied for a lot more) and I’ve seen the good, the bad and the ugly when it comes to recruitment practices. FLJ looked like a good way to try and improve things for other library workers. The equity aspect of our work particularly interests me. While I’m pleased that the library sector is trying to do more to be inclusive and diverse, I feel like a lot of our recruitment practices (which are often based on ingrained habits and assumptions) can really undermine this. I want to see us be more critical about recruitment and think about how the policies, practices and procedures we use really affect who we welcome into and allow to progress through the sector.

Liesl Rowe

I’m Liesl and I’m a Senior Digital Library Advisor at Leeds Beckett University with a prior background in acquisitions at other HE institutions and some time spent working as an Assistant Librarian in a secondary school. I’m responsible for LBU’s digitisation and copyright clearance services, offering advice to staff and students on any copyright queries which might arise. I also work closely alongside LBU’s accessibility team, providing alternative texts which meet the access needs of our students. Some of the projects I am most proud of are: a guide to copyright and AI, which I’ve then delivered as a talk at various conferences; animated videos explaining copyright in 3 minutes for our staff and students. Outside of work, when not keeping up with the latest AI copyright cases, I can be found trying to complete all of Yorkshire’s parkrun events or improving my sword-fighting skills as a keen fencer.

I joined FLJ as I wanted to make use of my prior work experience: I worked briefly in recruitment before finding my way into libraries as a profession so I have seen both sides of the job-seeking process. Working alongside candidates to polish up their CVs and prepare them for interviews left me very aware how stressful job-searching is (and how much those with any kind of privilege can find they have far more advantages in the process). I want to see a more diverse library sector and feel passionately about ensuring our recruitment policies encourage rather than prohibit that. I’m particularly interested in encouraging recruitment practices which support neurodiverse colleagues.

I can be found on BlueSky at littlebutfierce.bsky.social

Melanie Harris

I recently retired after a career of more than 42 years in government libraries.

I have been fortunate enough to have worked in several different government departments – 18 months in DHSS, 5 years at Her Majesty’s Stationery Office (HMSO) before it was privatised, nearly 5 years at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF), now DEFRA, where I got promoted in post to Legal Librarian (HEO). I then became the very first professionally qualified Legal Librarian at the former Department of Social Security (DSS) now Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). After 13 years, I got promoted to Senior Librarian at the main library in DWP in October 2000.

My main focus at DWP in my latter years was in Finance and Procurement work. I chaired the Committee of Departmental Librarians (CDL) Procurement Group for nearly 20 years. I was also the DWP Copyright Officer, and I have been on the NetIKX www.netikx.org  Committee for many years as the Seminars Manager. I am also a CILIP Mentor.

I have also been active on many Disability and diversity groups in government.

My other passion was trade unions. When I retired, I had been the DWP Prospect Branch Secretary for over 20 years.

I have been living with Multiple Sclerosis for the past 26 years, but I have managed to run four marathons, raising money for the MS Society and my local hospice. I have recently got into Open water swimming. 

Founding member: Harriet Notman

I’m Harriet and I work at Jisc as a Data Manager. My current role focuses on collecting, managing, and maintaining a wide range of data relating to Learning & Teaching (L&T). A current project I'm involved in requires working as part of a team to develop a robust methodology for the identification, collection, verification, and storage of data including book publishing, learning content, open access, and funding data.

I’ve worked in libraries for a number of years, mainly HE and some FE and specialist libraries. I’ve worked in most areas you can from front desk, user facing roles, to acquisitions, subscriptions, scholarly communications, open access and did a brief stint in publishing and worked in editorial.

Previous to my library life I worked in museums, galleries, and archives. I seem to have a trend of working in all the different areas so I did everything from working on information desks, to gift shops, to working as part of installation teams hanging exhibitions, to working in education and family learning departments.

I joined FLJ when Kirsten suggested setting this group up. As you can see my career has been a bit all over the place! I feel passionately that we need to do better as a sector, with better pay for our staff, transparent job descriptions and removing barriers that are in place, which include everything from credentialism (having to have library degrees to be librarians!) to not stating clear hours, locations, salaries, job roles. I know we can do better.

My LinkedIn.