Claire Eastaugh
Student at Northumbria University
CILIP NE committee member
This last year has been unbelievable. I am Claire Eastaugh, the CILIP NE Network Student Representative, currently studying at Northumbria University to achieve my MSc Information Science Library Management. I’ve just competed my first year of study and heading into my second after being in full time employment for 15 years. The decision to pursue a career in Information Science and Library Management has been gradual, structural changes by my previous employer provided an opportunity for me take the leap and re-enter study.
When I was younger, I didn’t know what I wanted to be when I grew up. When I first entered graduate and later post-graduate learning it was because I love books, I adore the richness of the written word and the magic they hold. I love to learn, to dig into a subject finding new information and consider different interpretations and how it may be interwoven. It was also natural to attend University straight from College though I didn’t know how I wanted to apply it, so I achieved my BA (Hons) in English and American Studies and MA in World Literature without a clear career path.
My professional experience has been varied, often challenging but always interesting, I’ve been a tutor, a learning facilitator, worked in customer service, quality assurance and compliance. It feels like it has taken me a long time to know what I want to be when I grow up, a Librarian. In the last year I’ve maintained my studies while also co-hosting a book discussion podcast Fictional Hangover, and volunteering at the GNM: Hancock Library until lockdown forced closure. More recently I’ve volunteered at The Common Room to perform online cataloguing.
It’s scary. My first semester, I was filled with worry; would I manage the workload? Would I understand the assignments? Could a write an academic report? I was filled with imposter syndrome and still a year later with an average grade I am very proud of I’m still concerned. Some of it is questioning if this is real, more if I maintain my grade average, but most is whether I will be able to get a foothold into the industry. I didn’t think it would be possible to make such a huge change in my life and how it would affect my family as I’m also a mother and wife. It always seemed that making these big changes was something that happened to other people but then I thought, what would I tell my son if the positions were reversed? Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
I know I will need to start at the bottom, and I’m actually excited to do that. I want to work my way up; I want to learn from professionals in the industry; it’s one of the reasons I volunteer at GNM: Hancock Library, The Common Room and CILIP NE Network. I want to be surrounded by books, information and incredible people. I want to help people access information. I don’t want this to be a pipedream.
I’m not going to pretend it hasn’t been hard and COVID-19 has made it more difficult. First semester it was trying to get my brain out of ‘work’ mode and into ‘education’ mode, I felt overwhelmed and culture shocked as it was so different than my previous university experience. In semester two, the pandemic hit. I’ve built a support group with fellow distance leaners via WhatsApp and these people are lifesavers. We are a mixture of existing professionals from across the sector to those like me trying to break into it. We are also spread across the world so when you’re having a 2am breakdown over an assignment there is a particularly good chance someone is awake and ready to talk you down or you can’t remember what reading was relevant there is someone who made a note. We all want to be or are information professionals so understand and appreciate the sharing of information, communication and supporting each other.
Lockdown hit as assignment deadlines loomed, this group became lifeline to sanity. There were other people in the same situation who now needed to home school their children, who could no longer access information to complete assignments, who struggled with concentration levels and anxiety who were also scared. There were many pep talks, anxiety offloads and virtual hugs. As a distance learner I didn’t know this type of support and community was available, its thanks to my fellow student Kathy who set the group up initially that I have it.
I’ve been trying to document this past year on Instagram as a sort of photo memory book. I want to be able look back on this year, to the people I meet on the way, or when my son is older, and proudly say that I took a leap. So, while I continue with my assigned reading, write re-write and probably re-write again my assignments I will continue to try and break into the library and information sector. It’s intimidating but it’s a future that crave. After all, nothing ventured, nothing gained.
My social media
Twitter: www.twitter.com/vadania82
Instagram: www.instagram.com/clairedrinkstea
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