Being a musician by training, one might wonder how I’ve come to librarianship as a career! After completing my PhD in Music in 2016, I realised that whilst I wanted to continue my activities as a researcher, I also wanted to pursue something else as my daily job. As a student, I really enjoyed working as a writing mentor and helping other students gain more confidence in key skills. So working in libraries really appeared to provide what I was looking for.

I started off as a Graduate Trainee at MMU and then moved into a Library Assistant role there. I then moved to University of Liverpool into Research Support, which focused on Open Access, REF compliance and Research Data. I completed the PGDip Distance Learning at Robert Gordon University whilst working for Liverpool. My Librarian role at Wirral University Teaching Hospital is my first professional post and I am very keen to make the most of this opportunity. Also, having worked in academic libraries, the health sector is a complete change for me!

I’m very much looking forward to being involved in a great deal of new things, including delivering induction sessions, skills sessions (finding evidence, critical appraisal) and conducting literature searches for hospital staff. I was struck by the immediate impact that your work can have in the health sector, and that promises to make the job very rewarding.

Carly Rowley

Wirral University Teaching Hospital