For Volume Three we’re speaking to Angus Sinclair of Goldsmiths University, poetry enthusiast and librarian extraordinaire.

Trivia

Last week’s question — Name the famous detention movie set in a library

The answer was, of course, The Breakfast Club! Guessed by Lucille, our interviewee from last week. Who could forget the dance scene when the characters let loose to Karla DeVito’s “We Are Not Alone”…

This week’s question — Name the Draconian librarian who guards Hogwarts Library.

“A warning: If you rip, tear, shred, bend, fold, deface, disfigure, smear, smudge, throw, drop, or in any other manner damage, mistreat, or show lack of respect towards this book, the consequences will be as awful as it is within my power to make them.”

The Interview

Job title?
e-Resources & Journals supervisor

Best part of your job?
Lots of the work we do in our team is behind the scenes stuff so I really enjoy my Helpdesk shifts as an opportunity to interact with our users ‘IRL’ and support them face-to-face.

Favourite book? Favourite magazine?
Mainly I just read poetry. My favourite book is either Ted Berrigan’s Sonnets or Diane diPrima’s Revolutionary Letters. Two really excellent ‘little magazines’ publishing massive poems are Zarf and Datableed.

What will the library of the future be like? (In one sentence)
I’d like to see more libraries like Worcester’s Hive which is jointly run by the university and local authority.

I agree, this seems like a great way to build community, rather than having isolated university libraries. The emphasis on environmental sustainability in the running of the library is also super impressive!

Most common query in the library?
How to print.

Coffee or Tea?
My body is 60% coffee.

What job would you do if you weren’t a librarian?
I want to open a shop which just sells really great sandwiches and small press poetry but unfortunately, I don’t think it would pay the rent.

I don’t know about that, really great sandwiches served with a slice of poetry sounds good to me! Plus poetry seems to be experiencing a resurgence, perhaps because people are searching for new forms of expression in this hectic atmosphere.

Should the library be quiet or a place for discussion?
There should be space for both.

Anything you would like to ask me?
What’s the worst part of your job?

The noisy heater in our office. I can’t zone out and ignore it. I’m looking forward to the summer with the natural warmth of the sun and the quiet tapping of fingers on keyboards.

Would you like to participate or nominate a colleague?
As always, you can reach me at tom.rodenby@exacteditions.com