Supporting people

Librarian Rebecca Marshall’s professional skills have been recognised by her peers. But she couldn’t have done it without the support of her employers

"Untreatable”, “nothing we can do”, “just going to get worse”. Those were the words the hospital used when I was diagnosed with arthritis. I was almost 18 years old and about to leave for university. I had felt like the world was at my fingertips.

My mother told me that it wasn’t “the end”. She was right. I haven’t always been able to do certain things, but that’s only made me more determined.

I left university with a 2:1 in English and history. I loved researching and finding out information and got a job as a library assistant. I did a distance learning masters in information science and two years in, got the job of professional librarian at Lipson Community College in Plymouth.

I work at a strategic middle-management level; contrary to popular belief, I don’t actually run the library! I teach students how to access and retrieve information so they can use it in their studies.

Two years into my job, I also took on the role of head of careers. I love the feeling that sending students off to university gives you, the reward of it. I also teach A-level critical thinking.

I love the diversity of my role and that Lipson has allowed me to expand into other areas. As employers, they have been nothing but understanding. I’m a
firm believer that if you show a company you are worthy, you’ll get the support you need.

Earlier this year, I was nominated for the School Library Association School Librarian of the Year award by the vice-principal. Assessors came to meet me and the staff and students at Lipson and they whittled the nominees down to six - the “honour list”. The six of us attended an awards ceremony (pictured) in London and went to the House of Commons to meet MPs and education ministers.

At the end of the day, my knees and hips hurt so badly and I’m always incredibly tired. I go to bed at 8pm every night and it feels like I have no life out of school. I sometimes resent that my career takes from my time as a mother and wife and I hate that I have to take painkillers every day and go into hospital twice a year to keep me going.

I wonder how long I’ll physically be able to keep working at this level. But this would happen with any job and I know that if I was sat at home I wouldn’t be happy. This is what I want and I know it is right for me.

• Rebecca Marshall was talking to Cathy Reay

REBECCA MARSHALL: CAREER PATH

• 1994-1997 – 2:1 in English and history from Plymouth University
• 1998 – out of work for nine months due to major operation on left knee
• 1999 – assistant at Plymouth Central Library, and began masters in information and library studies
• 2001 – professional librarian at Lipson
l 2003 – head of careers at Lipson
• 2006 – began teaching critical thinking at Lipson, in addition to other roles
• 2008 – on the honour list for SLA School Librarian of the Year