Author: Seema Rampersad

Works in Business Information. An Information and Music fanatic, mostly. And here is where I have decided to put more. After many years of friends' suggestions that I create a blog, I decided to have my own. I have written posts for the Business & IP Centre and some guest posts on other sites. I am Trinidadian and have lived in London for over 30 years. I have many years of working in libraries and information centres. I actively volunteer in my community. Feel free to comment on my scribbles.

Key Takeaways from Pittsburgh

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Earlier this year I knew that there was going to be a Special Libraries Association (SLA) Conference in Pittsburgh USA in June, but I thought that I would not go as I had made plans to go to another conference by the Business Librarians Association in Stirling, Scotland.  However, there was news in early March that the SLA had started to make plans for the dissolution of the organization. Obviously, I was sad, worried and deeply moved to see this news as I was their President only a few years ago in 2023, and had only just rolled off the board.  However, I was not totally shocked and thought perhaps it was the best way to deal with some of the challenges the association and in the industry.  I also thought it was likely to be my last chance to say farewell to a professional organisation that I have been part of for over 20 years.  I was also the SLA Awards Chair 2025, took part on the Scholarship Committee and the conference programme was interesting for my professional development, which gave me ample reasons for going this year.   Therefore, I ended up booking my place at the 2025 SLA Conference in Pittsburgh, but it was not close to other cities where I have family, so I didn’t travel anywhere after the conference.

I flew into Pittsburgh late on a Friday night and was ready for the conference the next day.  The city itself seems remote so I was going to be packed with learning, networking and working whilst I was there.  I went for an early morning walk and the architecture looked very brutalist and concrete with large imposing buildings.  However, amongst the campus and the surrounding shopping and office areas, I realised that this was quite a well-planned and designed university city with a focus on education and enlightenment of the people who lived here over the centuries.  Pittsburgh is part of the indigenous Allegheny county and some of this heritage is still recognised in the surrounding areas.  The city was heavily industrialised in the 1800s due to steel works and was known as the steel capital of the world. However, the new civic and university buildings have great emphasis on inspiring and facilitating advancement of its people such as the Cathedral of Learning which was unmissable over the city skyline.  There was also a great public library at Hillman Library and various inspirational aspects to the campus location and its’ multiple buildings.

The conference itself was great for me to meet staff, the current SLA Board, members, scholarship winners (a few from London), old and new acquaintances from SLA.  I was able to hear from the current committee at the open board meeting about their decision making, process and some of the reasoning behind the dissolution plans. SLA members were also informed in May that SLA is likely to propose a merger with ASIST. By this time, I was happy about the finer details from both parties at the conference and how this merger will be a good fit for us to proceed – members on both sides will still need to vote for the merger.  Being at the conference left me more upbeat about the legacy and future entity of SLA and I am looking forward to the possible merger with ASIST in Autumn.  I would advocate for members to vote for the merger.

The conference programme highlights for me was the Opening Keynote by Emily Drabinski  about the challenges facing American libraries and some of the issues that affect us all from banned books to the blocking of tagging or metadata of terms for searching and findability. Emily also spoke of growing up in a small town in Idaho and how it differs in some aspect to a big city.  I also attended many talks on harnessing the power of Generative AI to shared insights on cyberattacks, tips for financial pressures, using data to proving our worth to taking on new leadership roles for multiple terms.  Past President Tara Murray Grove also gave a research presentation on history of the SLA International Conference.  I attended other presentations from SLA Asia to ideas on how to run AI workshops for staff and users.  There were also some great presentations from other specialist library and information professions who worked in business and corporate libraries which were very similar to my current role.  This collective sharing and learning are valuable to me and my personal and professional development, and I am hoping to adopt some of these insights in to my work plans.

There was the usual mix of informal networking and getting to know other new delegates.  I was pleased to meet a board member who only a few years reached out to me as President asking if he can volunteer his time on any committee.  The person was so great, knowledgeable and committed – I was pleased to see that his participation has grown from strength to strength.  It was also nice to say ‘thank you’ in person. Although I have said so online many times.

I also loved the lunch and dinner gathering at the University.  Some of the students were around but generally we were able to mingle and chat in the canteens and halls.  One of the halls had a great library which displayed photos of Princess Grace of Monaco who visited the university. In the canteen, there were student volunteers, and you could see the proud yellow and blue colours of the ‘Pitt’ campus. We also had the SLA Dance Party in one of their ballrooms which seemed to be a space for their own performances and even a ballroom.  I also found that the buildings were well maintained and thought that the students must love using the spaces. The dance party with karaoke and DJ was great fun and helped us to unwind after a couple of busy days and nights. 

I worked a couple of nights into the early morning (as I am doing now) whilst I was in Pittsburgh as I had to get some work completed. Therefore, I had little time to see a lot of the city.  But there were three great activities I did outside to the conference that was fun, and they were:

  • Trip to the Allegheny Observatory – The Physic, Astronomy and Mathematics (PAM) community organized a trip to the Allegheny Observatory and it was educational for me to understand some of the aspects of astronomy and the inspirational stories of industrialist and high society of Pittsburgh and their pursuit for the observatory for science and entertainment.  Our tour guide was amazing and also conduct programmes for young children and other groups.  The library was also spectacular to see and how important it was over the years.
  • The Phipps Conservatory and Botanics Garden – For may last few hours in Pittsburgh, I was able to see the beautiful Phipps Botanic Garden.  The Garden has achieved many awards over the years for sustainability and botany.  There were beautiful areas of the different plant types and displays of animals in their ’Jungle Quest’ which blended in to the planting.  I was so pleased I was able to attend event if it was a couple of hours.
  • Carnegie Museum of Art – Last but not least was the trip to the Pittsburgh Carnegie Library and Museum of Art.  It was great to see some of the world’s best artist in on display as well some of the local history art including an image of Andy Warhol, who is born in Pittsburgh.  There is a Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh but I didn’t get time to visit.  Andrew Carnegie also lived in Pittsburgh and made a fortune in the steel industry there, but it great to see the story of his life displayed and his philanthropy still evidence in the city today. 

I hope this brief recap of my trip to Pittsburgh gives you an idea of how good it is to visit, and it has earned a place in my heart for the obvious appreciation and celebration of learning and education – even if you were just visiting for the day, you can’t miss the buildings and homage to learning.

Gardens – a piece of heaven on Earth

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I have been keen on gardening since a child and remember pulling out weeds and picking flowers for vases when I helped around my home.  There was a time when I didn’t have access of a garden and I guess that made me appreciate it more than ever.  Since the late 1990s I have been keen on buying plants, going to garden centres to buy plants, and getting inspiration for visiting gardens and other wonderful use of plant and floral displays with garden designs.

A few months ago, I joined a library and information visit and tour to RHS Wisley in Woking, Surrey.  It was an opportunity I didn’t want to miss event though it was an early start to get to South of London.  It was great be where gardeners are trained and how one becomes qualified in the facilities there.  The older building still had a functional library but they had recently built a new office area, library, restaurant and engagement area on the ‘hill’.  I was impressed and love the plants, Wisteria arch, nursery, glimpse of the tropical garden and some of the woodlands that I could see in the distance.

The library show and tell was a great experience for showing some of their special collections from 1500s and the development of our interests in gardening.  There reference and borrowing collection were amazing with books, journals and information for members who are interested or studying in depth about gardens.  There was also an area for children to engage with the subject.  There was more to explore such as the herbarium and a section on sustainability for ideas to take back in our daily lives.  It was amazing to see the new office area with beautiful plants (obviously!) and to hear some of the reference enquiries that they receive from garden who want to solve some of the problems they encounter in gardens.  The best part of the visit was when an ex-colleague came to say hello at the end of the tour.  I was so happy to see her! It was definitely a lovely surprise and such a great library to work in.  I didn’t have a long time to stay to chat or wonder more as I had to make my way back to the office for an evening shift, but it was definitely worth the visit.

Talking about going back to the office, The British Library where I work has an exhibition on until August called Unearthed.  It is a great name as it exhibits all the fabulous books and story of gardens, gardening and the importance of plants in our lives.  I attended a webinar this week and had a quick look at the exhibition.  The curators highlighted the early gardens designs from housewife manuals to clergy records.  It was also interesting to see the history of plants recorded and documented as well as the importance of plants for food, medicines and other things we take for granted such as trees.  I particularly like the stories of the European encountering potatoes in Peru and the various types of potatoes that are available.  When potatoes were introduced to Europe, the general popular were actually sceptical about it but soon gained momentum and became a staple in our diets (no pun intended).  Potatoes played an important part on our history as well as the nutrition it provided for the population after they were encourages to plant potatoes in Europe.  I love potatoes and find it very versatile.  I just have never grown it as yet but who knows – maybe I will try to do so one day.

Another aspect of the exhibition I liked is the innovation that has developed over time for gardens – one example is the lawnmower.  There is a great display of an early lawnmower and recently I was looking a vlog were there are those mini mobile lawnmowers that look like a gold cart.  I don’t think I would ever need one but garden equipment and designs are innovating all the time.  I recently met a passionate garden at work who has obtained all her qualifications and does not mind the physical hard work that goes into creating her garden business.

There were images and stories of allotments and community gardens in the exhibition, which reminded me that I should try to find time to help with a community garden we created but now need some weeding and care. I think gardening brings people together but also give you time to find peace and reflection in a place of natural beauty.  I don’t have time for an allotment but it great for people who do have them to spend outdoors and to perhaps grow their own vegetables and plants.  I remember our relatives in Rome had an allotment in a convent garden with amazing tomatoes, vegetables and plants. 

Another way that libraries help with the love of garden and gardening is by providing access to magazines and books on the topic.  I recently renewed my library card at my local library and it gives me access to several electronic magazines which I can access on my own device from home.  I have recently checked out some of the beautiful garden designs in them and it is great to see the many types of gardens across the world. I have some gardening books at home and have not bought some recently but it is nice to have access to the magazines from the library for when I have time to read them.

Every year I gear myself up for gardening in Spring and look forward to tidying my garden after the brutal effect of winter on my plants.  I know it is a cycle of life and care with the climate where I live.  I do remember that it is much easier to grow plants and flowers in Trinidad as the climate is tropical and therefore plants thrive longer.  The seasons are still interesting to observe and I have grown use to spending a little fortune in plants and refreshing my garden every spring and summer.  This is ‘everyday gardening’ that I do but I do look forward to it.

By this point, you should know that gardens and plants are crucial for our wellbeing and helps us to think and practice sustainability. I love small city gardens to large wandering green spaces.  From tropical gardens to those that we find in Europe.  I also love the butterflies, caterpillars and lizards in the garden at home that I remembered as a child.  All of which is important to our mental health and the rich ecosystem that we live in.  I also know that urban development has impacted a little bit on this but I hope we can find ways to improve our environment and surrounding area with the knowledge we have of how important gardens, gardening and plants are for us.  And at this time of year, I wish you many views and exploration in gardens where ever you are in the world.

Peak Time with friends in Europe

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After many years dreaming of fun times like these, I spent the last few weeks with school friends travelling around parts of Europe.  It has not always been easy or accessible when we were younger as we lived far away in the Caribbean, the cost to travel was expensive, and we needed pre-arranged visas etc to travel to some European countries. Our education, work and family lives were also given priority, so dreamy and carefree travel like this was put to the back of our minds.  However, this time has now come for us to explore the world (within reason) and spend quality time together.  This is exactly what I did and I hope you’ll enjoy the recap here of my recent trip.

Getting the Eurostar train from St Pancras to Paris is always a good start and such an easy journey from central London to the heart of Paris. The view of the English and French countryside are great to see from the fast-moving train, especially with the yellow mustard fields.  This time we stayed near the Champ Elysée and Arc du Triumph. This part of Paris is always filled with tourist checking out the shops and landmarks.  It is also one of the best walking spots from the Arc to the Louvre Museum.  You get to see one of the most famous Paris avenues down through the Place de la Concorde and Tuileries.  I remember my first visit and it is still magical to take in the Panorama. The best aspects is also that the weather held up and the rain that we were expecting did not happen. 

Later that evening, we went out for a walk around the Eiffel Tower, a cruise on the river Seine and dinner in a French Brassiere.  The Eiffel Tower looked amazing at sunset and lit up as the night crept in.  The cruise was a musical cruise and it was nice to hear some of the most famous French music whilst on the Seine with the glimmering lights and cool breeze.  We saw some of the Parisian nightlife from persons jogging, cycling and exercising along the river to restaurants and riverside shows for locals and tourists.  Although we spent just over an hour in Paris – it was great to get to see some of the beautiful aspects of the city and I hope I can visit again one day, especially on my way to visit Versailles (which I haven’t seen as yet). A bientot Paris!

Our next stage of our trip to Switzerland was fairly easy to get to from Gare du Lyon to Zurich.  It was great to get the train direct which took just over four hours with a reasonable amount of comfort and amazing views on the way.  Once we got to Zurich, it was great to settle into a nice hotel which was only about 10 minutes from the Lake Zurich which dominated the views with scenic buildings and promenades all along the lake.  Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and is known for being the global centre for banking and finance. We had a walk along the lakefront shops and saw some of the other parts mainly whilst we were going to other places but we certainly had two major treats from our base. One was the day trip to Mount Titlis and Lucerne, the other was the Lindt Museum in Central Zurich.

For our trip to Mount Titlis, we asked our hotel to organise the trip with a local tour company and we booked the trip for the next day from the coach park near the main Zurich train station.  We got the coach with a tour guide who gave us insightful and funny stories of Swiss history, culture and facts. It is so worth it to learn about the landscape, people who lived on the land and building of the country from romans to modern Swiss engineering and innovators.  The mountains, valleys, chalets, and natural springs were all fantastic to see.  We went past a few original chalets and many modern homes.  I could help remembering the book ‘Heidi’ which I received as a child from my primary school.  More than anything, I would like to actual spend some time in a chalet and enjoy the views a bit longer should I visit Switzerland again.

When we got to Mount Titlis, I was not nervous but I haven’t for such a long journey on a cable car before – I have only briefly been on one in Sicily in 2019.  We were also not sure how cold it was going to be but in hindsight, it was not very cold at -2degrees.  The cable car was truly spectacular and the ascent was breath-taking.  I was a little nervous but it was not shaking, plus the second part of the journey we also go into the first revolving cable car! The snow-capped Swiss Alps and altitude is an experience, especially for three women from the Caribbean. It was also awesome to see skiers in deep snow so high up the mountains. 

 It was also good to spend time in the shops at the top or to grab a bite if you were hungry. The ice cave was also another bonus to the tip – I have only seen these in images from Scandinavia and it was interesting to go into a glacier – it is making how humans can create these places despite the temperature and altitude!  As an adult, Mount Titlis was brilliant for exploring somewhere I have never been too before it was like a real-life amusement arcade for all the family.  I would certainly recommend it!

We also had an hour in beautiful Lucerne with the lake, good shopping areas and the splendid ancient bridges. One other note is that Rolex is a Swiss brand, and like other clock and watch makers – there are many world-class Swiss watch makers which you can see as you go around the shopping areas. The views around these areas were really interesting to see and apparently in the heart of warmer weather, the bridges and chalets are decorated with beautiful colour geraniums which must be a sight to behold.

The second treat to the Lindt factory was informative, educational and flavoursome!  The museum is easy to get to from central Zurich with many tourists especially there for Good Friday.  It was special being there for the Easter weekend.  The museum was curated with a giant chocolate fountains and tasting areas, the history of chocolate production and a section on the history of Swiss innovators and entrepreneurial businesses.  From Nestle, the Red Cross to Lindt founders – the stories of invention, and business development were showcased and celebrated.  The fact that Swiss engineering, standards and creativity are still respected today was highlighted at the museum (I also thought of the engineering of cable car up the cold and wet Swiss Alps!).  And to top it off – there was a lot of chocolate tasting stations in the Lindt Museum as well as amazing shop with all their flavours and brands. We left Zurich that afternoon but truly appreciative of Swiss culture, natural beauty and ingenuity.  

The final part of our continental journey was a flight to Venice.  I was impressed that when we arrived at Marco Polo airport that we were able to get a water taxi straight to our hotel for only 18 euros compared to other expensive taxi services in other cities.  The last time I went to Venice, I went via bus from Treviso so this really journey really had me in awe that you can go straight from airport to water transport!  Our hotel was in a residential area and really scenic along the waterfront. 

Venice is beautiful and it was great to plan trips to Murano and Burano the next morning.  As we approached the island – the colours of the buildings especially in the Spring sunshine was a feast for the eyes.  Murano is world renown for their glassmaking and our tour included a glass making demonstration.  The glass objects and jewellery on display and for sale were beautiful and hard to resist.  Burano had some great restaurants and piazzas for hanging out for a couple of hours.  There were some nice shops which is also famous for their lacemaking.  I haven’t been to the islands before but it was great to see them on this trip.

The final part of the journey was spent in St Marks Square and near the Doge Palace.  Venice had a high density of tourists so these part were exceptionally beautiful but also there were thousands of tourists.  The next day we also had a walk along the shops to the Rialto Bridge and surrounding areas.  The shops, buildings, waterways, markets and gondolas are great to see in this unique city.  When in Venice – there was a lot of shops to see and the Italian food was also great to savour, in particular the seafood, wine and pasta.  I most likely will visit Venice one day again in the future but for now, it is still such a magical place to see and experience.

We ended up our trip in London and even though I live in the city, it was great to spend time doing new things such as going to the Shard, seeing the show Mamma Mia, visiting some new restaurants and spending lots of time shopping from Oxford Street, Covent Garden, shopping malls to local retail outlets.  We also has fun checking out Borough Market and the Sky Garden in town which some of the best street food and view across the city. 

This time allowed me time to switch off from my busy schedule and spend time with friends whilst seeing more of the world.  Although it took us a long time to do it – it came at the right time for us to enjoy the sights and life in good company with laughs and memories to cherish for the rest of our lives. I truly appreciate and treasure the journey and the peak time spent together.

Girls just wanna have fun – recap of Women’s History Month

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Thinking about what to write is at the back of my mind as I have a few weeks to prepare for my next blog post. As we celebrated Women’s History Month in various serious initiatives, I made a note that I must mention some fun things I did too!

The pop song ‘Girls just wanna have fun’ was such a big hit in the 1983 but it has remained one of those anthems that we still hear in the media and I recently saw Cyndi Lauper on a talk show too and she was even more an idol for feminist for her current activism. She has been credited for empowering girls and women to not only have fun but the words have been changed to Girls just want to have ‘fundamental rights’ with a mission to support efforts that advance the fundamental rights and health of all women and girls. It is with this vibe I wanted to think pay tribute to a great song and artist that has help reflect on what I did this month.

At the beginning of the month I was busy with work related events that included a speed mentoring session with expert advisers who are able to women entrepreneurs with their business ideas. I met quite a few women who were creating businesses and networking to develop their business. There are a high number of women who do start their businesses across libraries in the UK and I have a lot of admiration for those who have created their own companies out of passion, expertise and creativity that they may hold. We also held an evening event for Women of Wealth and it was great to welcome many customers at the event and usually I would stay but it was a day when I had personal commitments and therefore, I didn’t hear the talk but it was great to see everyone at the beginning of the event. I have met with hundreds of entrepreneurial women over the years and they are inspirational as well as motivational. As we meet them at their start up stages – there are always an element of excitement and anticipation for them using their talents for creating their own businesses.

I was also able to meet a few young girls and other women at a speed mentoring session at La Swap Secondary School in Camden. I actually have visited the school in the past as one of the options for my son so I knew it was a good school. I was grateful that our Early Careers team at the British Library invited me to attend a career mentoring session for International Women’s Day at the school. It was impressive that the school organised this with their partners and there were about 75 women who turned up for two hours to speak to young girls on their career and give any advice or information that would be useful for them in their educational and career journeys. I was placed in a Publishing table with a Science Writer and Journalist and a Managing Director of a publisher. We say about 10 young girls in this time but it was a great experience and they in turn were still figuring out what they wanted to do but I tried to tell them that even if they were unsure, they should follow the things they loved and we can also change careers later on if it does not work out. Some wanted to be dancers, artist, models and forensics. Generally we encouraged them to think of research, writing, and working in scientific and creative industries. It was a great experience for helping me reflect on my own career journey and in a sense – how lucky I was to have a fulfilling role that includes creativity, culture and business etc.

Another aspect work I should mention, is that we held a Library and Information Students Career Day and it was great to meet people at the start of their careers.

So that was the more serious side of this month. Bit I did have some fun time with my friends as I was on annual leave for a couple of weeks. This included spending time with my friends in a local pub just chatting and catching up on what we have been doing. My friend has written her first book so it was great to discuss this with her over a few meetings. I was able to dedicate some time in my busy dairy for reading her book and it was great to read a novel written by a friend. It is based in Lincoln and I was able to recall how nice it was the one time visited there. It was good that on a couple of my meetings with my friends locally there were live music – from a big band in the pub… to jazz in two of the pubs. It is reassuring that we can have good catchup time and be serenaded with good music without having to go to a special venue far way!

I did plan a more fun evening with my friends who always invite me to their parties and it was nice to dress up, spend time together, have a nice meal and drink and a little boogie! I was so pleased to get a table in a restaurant a few miles away and for the warm hospitality of the restaurant. Once our meal was over… we were able to have a dance. Again, it was mainly women who were celebrating the night with their friends and family. I am likely to be visiting there with some other friends in Spring for another boogie!

I also spent time with another friend at a garden and a recycling centre. It was interesting to spend time chatting and seeing these two local shops. We had fun looking at old antique or items that were on sale for reuse. I saw some lovely chairs but I didn’t really need them but resisted buying them. I was happy to see that I also take clothes and shoes for recycling at the centre too. I usually take them to a charity shop but part of me was pleased to see that these are being used for a charity somewhere too.

And I am ending Women’s History Month at the OXO Tower Restaurant – one of the best-known restaurants in London. The building was the home of the OXO stock cube manufacturers. I have been before about 9 years ago but it was nice to go again. The view is amazing along the South Bank but it also have delicious cocktails and food. We went for lunch and there was nice background jazz music whilst we ate our gorgeous meal.

I have made a conscious effort to have some fun in the last few weeks and catch up with friends but I know that soon I will busy again with work and other commitments. For me it is great that I can balance my time with hard work but also some good old fashion fun!

Things that make me say… Wow!

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I made a conscious effort to do a few fun things but I still didn’t get around much. 

 So this time, I  going to keep my post here sweet and short!

This month I went out with some friends to see the Medieval Women Exhibition again and to have some lunch. The exhibition was amazing and informative as I mentioned before on here with many inspiring displays of women doing great things in Medieval times. 

Granary Square is busy in summer with lots of activities such as open-air cinema and children’s activities but certainly a bit quieter in colder months. It was good to have a lunch at Dishoom – who specialises in Indian Street Food with good decor. Although I am of Indo-Caribbean heritage, it is still fascinating to try their black dhal, paratha with cheese and fried ochres. I definitely want to try the fried and crunchy ochres at home! The chai was good too, especially on a cold day.

There are great reminders of good old fashion love this time of year.  There was more heart shaped decorations all over London – from St Pancras, flower shops, interior designs and restaurants.  I tried to resist buy something that I did not need but it was nice to see.  There was one shop board with ‘Love is in the Air’ but I didn’t take a photo.  The shops had several heart-shaped items and love mementos for Valentine’s Day! There were some interesting item in local shops and ideas for creativity and sharing with loved ones.  The most interesting is long matches which can be used for ambience with some nice candles. 

One of the most ethically conscious charity shop windows I saw was Crisis – which ran a campaign on waste of fabrics in the everyday shirts.  It was a good display to raise awareness of the issue.  One aspect that I like is that the shop is based in Walthamstow market and very frequently I see ‘out-of-line’ clothes from high street shops being sold in the market.  I do like that these items are given a chance to be used at normally lower costs rather than ending up in some landfill without even being used.

I have been out and about too for work from Bromley to Woolwich.  I’ve only been to Woolwich once about 20 years ago and even so, I drove there for a house party and therefore did not have a walk around the area.  It was good to firstly use the Elizabeth Line underground to that part of London and it was not a bad journey from where I live. As soon as you come out of the underground station, there is a last gate of Woolwich Arsenal which was the historic area for making ammunition in the British wars.  It was also the original home of the football club Arsenal with the cannons or gunners still visible on the gateway. 

It was also good to see some of the local shops and market traders with their chants to entice people to buy from their stalls.

Once inside the library, there was a section on local history and community-based displays and resources.  It Singer sewing machine and HMV music gramophone were both on display in the library. Bromley library also had a great display of historical items from the Romans, Anglo Saxons and local heritage throughout there history.  These displays are great to see, especially as I don’t live locally and I usually have to rush back home or to the office.  This reminds me that I have been too busy to visit my local library but I hope to do so when I have some time later this month.

 Although some of my walks were normal travelling from one place to another, it was good to see some everyday things that still surprises me.  Such as a bus which was repurpose as a Barber Shop! It looked quite cook and it must have been a lot of bureaucracy to get the bus to be permanently based on the local square but certainly a great idea!  Just after seeing the re-purposed bus, I saw a London Taxi car also re-purposed to a mobile café.  They were really interesting and extraordinary. 

My journeys on the underground is a time when I think, prepare mentally for the day ahead and to observe what is going on around me.  This itself is a time to experience the everyday and extraordinary but perhaps for another time to write about my travels on London Transport.  For now, I will continue to admire the places, people, scenes and things that make me think or say – Wow!

Restoring the balance – Give me five!

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It is that time again when I am thinking what shall I blog about. I really have not been out much later since the post festive season and a busy time generally.  The weather has not been great too and therefore I am looking forward to Spring! The inspiration for this blog came from my journey on the train to work when I spotted an advert for HelloFresh for restore the balance.  This resonated with me as I was preparing some work about burnout and finding a balance the weeks before.  I think the whole world feels a bit too war torn and bruised and you really have to seek out humanity.  There has been a lot more discussed on making choices that improve and maintain our wellbeing, as well as kindness at the core of what we do.

I will explore five tips to pledge to myself – I can’t promise I will stick to it but it is a note-to-self.  Here goes…

  • Wellbeing and Healthy Living – It will be five years since the pandemic and on a professional aside, there are still significant changes that have not made life easy or straightforward.  I have learnt to look after myself and my wellbeing for over 18 years of constant change that may not have always made me feel settled.  One of the positives of this is that I have gained resilience but I still have to remind myself to stop, take some hours for myself or do something that I enjoy. I would like to spend more time going to a spa or for a massage like some of my female friends, but again it is the time required to do this.  I hope I can put this on my to-do list every day.
  • Exercise – should be at the centre of all our lives and I admire people who set aside time to go for a run, get on their bike, hot the gym or any physical activity that would maintain and improve their quality of life.  I stopped my gym membership over a decade ago but since then I have tried to keep busy by doing Pilates, walking, swimming and cycling. I can still all of these but I need to ensure that I add time in the week, and especially at the weekend to do this. I am looking forward to Spring when I know it will be easier for me to step out and trying some more physical activities.  Hopefully I can fit some of this fresh air and exercise as soon as tomorrow with my first weekend with little planned.
  • Good Nutrition – requires some proactivity and planning. I don’t eat junk food (perhaps only once a week I get a take away) but I have been eating things on the go in the office or getting home later to leftovers which may not be suitable for me to eat.  I do like salads and fresher foods but being in the heart of winter, I gravitate to warm and comfort foods I am married to an Italian – so I have to keep my pasta intake in check as it could be 3-4 a week if we eat the same meals all week. I need to get back to preparing meals at night or as someone pointed out recently, I can get a salad at a discount rate in the staff canteen. At home, I need to ensure that I put my items on the shopping list so that I plan my meals ahead. Wish me luck!
  • Socialising – and spending time with friends is definitely what I do when I have time.  However, I had a busy autumn and cold winter so I have not socialised much lately.  I am pleased to get texts from my friends in the last couple of days for us to meet up.  I have also arrange a meet up with my close friend in the next couple of weeks.  My school friends from the Caribbean are also visiting me in Spring and with a couple of trips planned. So I have no excuse but to organise some fun, entertaining and even sightseeing. Spending quality time with family and friends so boost our moods (I know not all the time). There is only limited time on this earth and I am counting my blessings all the time.
  • Celebrate the small stuff – as I mentioned above, there is a whole lot of craziness going on in the world.  I literally have to zone-out from terrible things that we see in the news and it has changed for the worst in recent years.  It is not that I am a realist. Instead I am reminding myself of beauty, joy, kindness and love. I reminds me when there were other tube posters with ‘Random Acts of Kindness’ which I loved. I am not very so active in community events at present but the best part of kindness helps me think of the role models I have and the way they may have done something because it needed to be done, given or shared.  Kindness is also natural and ingrained where you may not have even had time to think of a reaction.  So it really to build in this inner compass to help you when times are tough.  I am especially pleased to see that this is talked about a lot more in leadership styles and it is safe to show compassion, manners and good old fashion principles.

So these are notes to myself and they seem sensible and not too difficult to follow. Hopefully I am setting up myself to succeed and hopefully my life would be a little but richer because of this list.  Wish me luck!

Another vintage year

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I have had a lot of time in the last week to relax and enjoy time with family, friends and pets. On reflection at the year at this time of year, there has been a lot that happened in a professional level, and I made a conscious effort to find some time to see more of England. You can see from my previous blogs posts that I have been busy with professional activities and some fun and travel thrown in. This year was busier than expected, and little did I know that I would be unable to have lots of free time.

Some of the highlights are mentioned here for my own reminder of a year well-spent. 

It was also great to start the year visiting the Chanel exhibition at the V&A Museum.  The dresses on display were like works of art and the exhibition enlightened me on Chanel’s impact on design and fashion from the little black dress, ball gowns, trousers, and the classic suits she is famous for to this present day. I have recently visited the Medieval Women exhibition at the British Library, and this reminded me of women who have been doing fascinating innovative activities throughout time but whose stories are not always told.  For example, it was great to smell some of the scents made in the medieval ages that would not seem out of place in this current age.  There is definitely a deeper appreciation for those who have gone before us.

One of them was getting ready for a wedding in the family where I had my first away weekend for a hen party.  It seemed like ages ago but spending January doing fun things with family was a great start to the year.  In Birmingham, we looked at movies, danced, tried new drinks, had brunch and had a cake completion.  I do remember all the lovely pink theme items and even now when I wear my bright pink top – I still get compliments when I wear it and I feel oblige to say that I bought it for a hen party.  Fast forward a few months, and the wedding was also a lot of fun! It was great to spend time with family for a big occasion like an Italian-South African wedding with delicious food, good music, dancing in a lovely venue. 

I try to find a balance with work and life. This year I wanted to visit some places where I haven’t been before and they were Bournemouth, Dorset, Swanage, Shaftesbury and more recently Oxford and parts of the Cotswold.  I spent a few nights in the south coast in Spring where we were able to see a few coastal towns.  It was good to be by the seaside and get out of London.  I really loved seeing the Dorset countryside and the Jurassic coast. Durdle Door was such a busy place in lockdown that it made all the headlines and therefore I was able to add it to my list to see this year.  It was a natural geographic spectacular and I still find it amazing seeing people trekking across the steep cliff tops – they have my immense admiration! 

Recently, I also visited Oxford as I have never been – apart for a visit to Abingdon for a library resources supplier visit in the 2000s.  It was great to spend time around such a famous city and we made an extra effort to try some nice local restaurants such as Brassiere Blanc (not to be confused with the more exclusive Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons ) and The Ivy Brassiere.  The architecture and local areas were great to see.  We didn’t have time to do the world renown tour of the Oxford Colleges but it was nice to see the Bodleian Library and building along the city centre.  I do hope to visit for work related visits in the future so just taking in the sights and town were good on this occasion.  I also wanted to visit the surrounding area and thankfully the weather was great for driving to the picturesque village of Bibury and Cirencester which were in an area known as the Cotwolds. 

It is very pretty around there and although it was December – it was nice to see.  I imagine it will be more beautiful in summer when all the flowers are in bloom.  Cirencester was bigger town and obviously the residents looked more affluent and well-to-do.  There were great shops and a town square burst with activity for a Christmas market, festive choir and musical band as well as some street stalls. We were really pleased to fit in Bibury and Cirencester in the day and return to Oxford by sundown.  The Ivy Brassiere restaurant was really good and the food excellent with great atmosphere, décor and service.  I look forward to trying in 2025, the one in London as my recommended by my husband. There are still some places in England that I have to visit, and hopefully I can do that in the near future.   

The two other big trips to the University of Rhode Island, Boston and Italy were great.  SLA had a really great conference in Rhode Island – from the programming, the venue and grounds, to the attendees having a great time at the social and networking events.  The talks and presentations were certainly empowering, especially with regards to newer trends in Artificial Intelligence to best practice in various information systems showcased.  I met old friends and made some new ones along the way.  That part of the country is beautiful – and I am lucky to have a cousin who went out of her way to welcome me.  I was great spending time with family in the surrounding areas and visiting areas I was researching before my visit.  I am truly grateful for their time and efforts.  I hope I can do the same for them in future.

I had a few weeks of work on my return from the USA and then it exciting to visit Italy. In 2023, I was very busy being SLA President on top of my work and family life, so my reward to myself was to have a summer holiday in Italy this year. Looking back, it was such a great holiday to relax and observe life and the beauty under the Italian sunshine.  I am a little bias, and there is so much I find interesting when I visit Italy that I never get bored of visiting.  I am already planning my next summer visit to Italy or perhaps a city break. 

Without a doubt, I have been very busy with work and all the demands a busy schedule requires. On reflection, I  am thankful that all is fine for now.  I know that next month I will no longer be on the SLA Board – this has been an opportunity of a lifetime and therefore I have been fully commitment to my role and the cause.  I will gain some extra time in the new year, and will still be involved with SLA and SLA Europe in other roles and activities. I know the turn of new year will also be a busy time, but I will remind myself to take it each day at a time and look to the future with faith and belief that it will all work out in the end.  Touch wood!

Heroes – we all need them

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I have made time for some leisure time the last few weeks and happy to cover some of these here.  I was able get some of the seasonal fun on colder days and nights as well as to see a couple of exhibitions that were easy to access.

Although I was in Bromley for a work-related workshop, I was saw wintry scenes from the German market on the high street and Bromley library ready for the season with a Christmas tree indoors.  The German market has some interesting stalls for beer and sweet lovers but it was early afternoon when I went past, and therefore I didn’t stay to sample some goodies but there were other shoppers checking out the stalls.  Another time when I am not so busy, I would love to travel to another European city to experience their Winter markets.  We are seeing them more in London and I remember seeing on the Southbank about 10 years ago. 

The festive scenes inside the library was wonderful and I like seeing all age groups using the Bromley library.  There were some great local inventions, inspiring quotes and books but also  local heroes displayed around the library.  There was homage to David Bowie – I knew he was born in Brixton but apparently his parents moved to Bromley South where he lived to until 1969.  I like local history and finding out of the people who lived there in the past.  It is amazing that the quote perked my curiosity to find out more about his connection with the area.  I am due to go back to Bromley in the new year and hopefully I will find time to learn something else about the area. 

David Bowie in Bromley (or Bickley, or Beckenham)

I was invited to attend the Precious Awards held by the wonderful Foluke Akinlose.  It was a great night to meet inspirational people of colour.  The venue was in Central London and a short walk  from the tube station.  The reception and networking dinner were amazing to see and meet so many women who are excelling in their choose fields and areas.  Everyone was dressed for the evening and I saw some amazing fashion with some warm greetings from those in attendance. 

The Precious Awards is a great example of showcasing talent and achievements of persons whose stories don’t usually get told, or for women of colour who usually have to work harder to get the recognition they deserve in their areas of expertise. 

Over the three hours, there was some great chat, dinner and acceptance speeches from organisations and women who are creating spaces and pushing forward with progressive work from business, science, arts, academic, etc.  I took some notes on the awardee speeches, such as women – ‘Sitting in a seat at the table, and occupying the space and belonging in it”.   It was a sermon on how to celebrate hard work, sacrifice and to come out as winners on the other side.  Most of the stories spoke of uplifting themselves but also leaving the ladder so that others can be uplifted. Many spoke of the families that have been there to enable to succeed – and the power and energy in the room was warm and real. I was working the next day, so I did not want to stay out too late but I did have a little boogie at the end before I headed back to London Underground at midnight. 

And before I forget, it was good to see the Christmas lights on Oxford Street.  It was a sign that the nights are definitely darker with all the bright lights visible, and that the festive season is just around the corner on one of the busiest streets of the year. I hope I can pop down in December to get some of the festive vibes – I can tell that it is still popular with the number of the users on the Victoria London Underground late at night this time of year.  

It seems appropriate for me to fast forward here to the Medieval Women exhibition at the British Library.  One of the privileges of working for a national library the ability to see most of the exhibitions but also to have staff tours and talks with the curators that bring to life the stories, fact and context of the items on display.  In secondary school in the Caribbean, we studied the Renaissance which was an era of social change, renewal and creativity but we briefly touch on the Medieval times before this period.  It was interesting to see evidence of written literature and scripts that spoke about the lives of women and society at that time.  On the opening night of the exhibition I was heard some beautiful Medieval singing by a life choir.  

Obviously, we have been evolving but it was good to see women being represented from drawing and text from childbearing, self-care, to love, marriage, work and importance from their lives at home and work.  There were displays of scented aromas created by women as they used flowers and herbs for perfume, for helping with well-being and beauty routines.  To them being mentioned in prayers and marriage agreements.  Some of my favourite items I saw are:

  • Well, I smelt the beautiful Italian perfume made of herbs and flowers that will be just as luscious if it was bottled and sold today.
  • The books that displayed graphic symbols of fertility, sexuality and the female form
  • The chest that was created for when a noble woman moved to be with her husband in medieval Italy
  • The jewellery of a queen in the beautiful form of a heart
  • The evidence of nuns working and dedicating their lives to the church
  • A signature of Joan of Arc and her symbol of national significance to France
  • And the amazing scroll that was put together for women who were saying goodbye on the death to Lucy of Hedingham from the 1200s

I hope I can go back to see the exhibition before it closes in February and that I am able to attend some of the talks that usually accompany the exhibition. 

One of the highlights of this month was also our Start-Up Day at the British Library.  It was full day of events to inspire and support business start-ups.  We have been hosting these events for a while and it was great to see the steady flow of attendees who wanted hear from other successful founders and entrepreneurs.  With my colleagues, I like helping customers to navigate our resources and the expertise available.  I also like hearing from successful entrepreneurs who tell how they are applying some of the practical tips we show to our customers, such as business planning, creating value, building brands and the authentic voice and stories they have with the failures and successes that come with building businesses.  I found the speakers to be funny and interesting this time, and it was great to see so many people after the recent years of only online events. 

I have had a few social events this year but today I visited the William Morris Gallery to view their exhibition on ‘William Morris and the Islamic World’.  It was good to see the link with creativity and designs from Islamic traditions link to Morris’s designs.  It was the first time I saw there is a meaning to the Turkish word Isnik. When I went to university, there was a nearby Turkish restaurant with this name which nice tiles décor and it made me realise the link with the word and the name of restaurant.  Their website also mentions the ‘Iznik is not only renowned for its ceramics and history but also for its culinary heritage.  I hope to try it out soon.

As we go into the full festive season, I am likely to be busy with work but also out any about with friends and family.  I hope to write a reflection of 2024 in my next post.  In the meantime all the best for the season and I hope you and yours celebrate with warmth and happiness at this special time of the year. 

Public Libraries – the story continues

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I have not spent a lot of time doing social and fun things since my summer holidays and therefore I have a lot more to say on libraries and the work I have been doing lately.

This month though I have been energised and as enthusiastic as usual. I was invited to attend the Camden Libraries Staff Conference.  The conference had a programme of interesting and motivational work by teams and staff on the work that they do with their various branches across the borough.  The day started with an icebreaking team working game for us to build a structure our of paper cups that would be judged to be the highest. I haven’t been to large team building days recently but it certainly was good as an icebreaker to get to know people better.  We also had Head of Camden Libraries, Fiona Tarn, address staff and guest at the conference on her purpose for the work that she does.  This truly was inspirational to me as I have tried to use the same angle of the ‘why’ are you working in libraries. Sometime you have people who work in libraries because it is a job, for others it is a lifetime of work or purpose for their goals to help as much as we can in our roles in libraries …physical or virtual.  Therefore, I have since mentioned this a few times to my library world contacts and colleagues. 

Another beneficial aspect at this conference was to see all variety of library services and the community outreach that are provided by Camden Libraries.  We heard staff mentioned story times with children, children’s library, launch their reading strategy, start businesses, poetry bus for elderly adults, podcast and radio station, music service and not forgetting their physical spaces, collection and archives. I was again inspired by their story teller on the ‘Libraryverse’ especially from an enquires point of view on the typical questions and answers provided to customers by their staff. We were treated to live Asian music during the lunch break.

We were treated to a tour of their archives at the Swiss Cottage Library. There was also a piano in the main entrance as well as a beautifully built 1960s building in the shape of book ends! I prepared and ran a workshop on collaboration with their staff who were welcoming and great throughout the day.  The library was closed for the training but it was nice to see a lady bringing her young child after school to use the space – it was good to know that on a normal day – this would have been a part of their routine.

And as part of my normal work, I visit other libraries to deliver business and IP workshops with my colleagues.  I have been several times recently to Catford Library which is open planned in a shopping centre. There are always curated books on display and it does make you want to set aside time to read the books showcased. In my business workshop, the Catford Library staff mentioned that their library card gives you access to eBooks, magazines, newspapers, and other resource via their Libby App and Press Reader.  That very night I was excited to look at some of my favourite magazines and newspapers available to view on my own devices.  I haven’t borrowed any eBooks from my local library, who runs the same scheme, but once I get more time – I am looking forward to reading more with new found resources from local public libraries.

I sometime have to get up earlier than usual to visit libraries for work. Last week was my first trip to Putney Library for a business workshop.  It was good to see their layout and customers who were using the space for working too.  There was another Black History Month displace with a safari African theme which beautiful art objects displayed on the wall.  Nowadays, libraries are really multifunctional for meeting places, reading as well as keeping customers informed on important information on topics or community news.  Putney Library also had a café in the main reception area despite being close to other shops on the high street. 

I am likely to be inspired by more libraries in future but everyday there is something about the physical spaces that make me proud to be in this profession.  I recently heard and saw some amazing singing for the opening of the ‘Medieval Women in their own words’ exhibition but I am still to see it and I look forward to the guided tour with the curators.  I also get to go behind the scenes to basement areas to say hello and support staff on Saturdays and some evenings. It was nice to see the seasonal things that happens by our own staff members.  These include puzzle in the staff downtime areas, free library and decorations for day of the dead (it gets better for Christmas!).  We recently met informally to make time to meet each other for a chat and catch up.  I strongly believe in good team spirit and working having worked in good teams in the past.  Although I no longer work with a lot of people – I do appreciate they precious time we spent together as colleagues, and some are also now lifelong friends. 

I thank you for bearing with me whilst I write again about libraries and information professional, but hopefully I will find have some social activities and good old fashion fun to share with you soon.  Who knows, some of this fun may include time at a library or museum.  Public libraries are always at threat of cuts or are sometime misunderstood.  Hopefully you can also find the time to visit your local public library and would be surprise on how they have changed in recent times.  We also need all of you to continue to support libraries and make sure that are users and here to stay.

Celebrating Green Libraries

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In October, libraries will be celebrating Green Libraries Week from 2-8 October with the theme ‘Go Green at the Library’. Awareness and activities for a more sustainable future are more important than ever with the impact on climate change.  There many aspects that we have to remember the impact of good practice will have on our lives, our users live and the work that we do.  

The Green Library Manifesto was launched in 2023 with a partnership of many British organisations, including CILIP and The British Library.  I also attended the first Green Libraries Conference in March 2023, which was great for hearing all the initiatives and excitement of others sharing their activities and ideas for reaching these shared goals. This year CILIP’s Green Libraries Conference will be held at the British Library in November.  

Here are some small ways that I have tried to improve my own carbon footprint or share my knowledge of green libraries and sustainability in the last few months:

Improving our Knowledge and Skills

With entrepreneurs and business who we meet at the Business & IP Centre, we actually have the privilege to meet businesses who try to solve some of the world’s problem with business models or ideas that are sustainable.  Sustainability means many and different things to everyone but here is a quote I have used in the past to discuss sustainability:

WHAT DOES “SUSTAINABILITY” MEAN IN BUSINESS?​

​In business, sustainability refers to doing business without negatively impacting the environment, community, or society as a whole.

Sustainability in business generally addresses two main categories:​

The effect business has on the environment​

The effect business has on society​

Source: HBR Online What is sustainability in business?

https://online.hbs.edu/blog/post/what-is-sustainability-in-business

For businesses, there are a lot of support for encouraging best practice from organisations such as FSB, Gov.UK, the Carbon Trust and other organisation that help with best practice and insights for leaders and organisations to adapt and implement better sustainable businesses. 

Infrastructure and Physical Spaces

Living more environmentally conscious and compliant can only be achieved if our infrastructure and physical spaces are able to adapt and mitigate against damage and devastation to our natural resources and habitat. Although, one of the most annoying aspects of our infrastructure in the city are the pollution and litter that are times too visible for me.  I can’t help picking up some weeds and litter that are frequently left in my neighbourhood.  It is disappointing too that the streets are not cleaned regularly and that small items like 100s of cigarette butts can be found if you took a mile walk around my neighbourhood.  I do blame the council for not having contracts with cleaning companies that truly care about the environment and for doing more to protect our environment.  I recently went to another part of London, and even Boston USA in July, where I felt envy for the clean street they had compared to my own neighbourhood.  I know that buildings and infrastructure are expensive but I hope that we can take steps to make improvements. 

Positive Action and Collaboration  

As with an activism or change, it is actually harder to do on your own.  It is great to see that a new generation of consumers are making choices for their future and there are also people of all ages standing up for environmental issues.  You may recall about 20 years ago when we were protecting our planet by “Think Before you Print” messages in the office.  It did create a shift of mindset for us to not work paper – which eventually saves trees! Likewise, there has been several issues great shifts in our attitude and behaviours for aspects such as plastic pollution and single-use plastics.  Most of the people I know now re-use bags or recycle their plastics.  At work we have also encouraged the use of re-useable cups.  In most public spaces, there are a few bins for our recycling of different materials.  This too was a great shift from about 20 years ago.  I remember I only had one large bin and just a crate for recycling when I first moved to my current home, but now we have four bins for recycling! 

Improving Travel and Accessibility

I am pleased that I use public transport to get to work and I tend to use my car less and less due to restrictions and charges for driving around town.  I do still have a car for longer journeys but also for getting items that are larger than usual for a delivery.  There are issues with rail transport in the United Kingdom as it is really expensive to use the train for traveling further away from city to city, or up and down the country. If I lived on the European continent, I do believe that I would also use the trains more but the cost and time to travel sometimes do not encourage us to do this as often.  Therefore, I know that I use aeroplanes for overseas travel – I do know that I will not be traveling forever but hope to see the countries still on my list and then perhaps slow down to places closer to where I live.  

Accessibility sometimes comes at a cost.  As I make my way on public transport and travel overseas by planes, trains and boats – I do see that there are issues with accessibility if you have a disability or if you are a bit slower. Hopefully there will be better designs as old ways of traveling are replaced with accessibility in mind. 

We have also seen a shift on hybrid services from our workplaces to services being offered online by video conferencing.  The impact has improve journey times, enabled us to be open to the world and to choose some lifestyle changes from the time not traveling. However, Technology also has contributed to vast amounts of carbon emissions for servers and other negative energy effects.

Raise aware for the issues on sustainability

The good news about a topic that is talked about and for those who are still learning about it, is that there are of resources by information professionals or resources that can be used for raising awareness and understanding of the topic.  There are some great articles and current awareness articles for keeping on track on the latest trends and developments on the topic.  As with a living aspect and ecosystem, such as our environment, climate and wellbeing – there has to been a constant conversation and research into new information and evidence of the impact on our lives and the environment around us.  For this October, I have little time to cover everything on this big topic but I hope these personal thoughts will help to Celebrate Green Libraries initiatives and action.

Resources for further reading: