Hello! Please state your name, full job title, and a brief description of what that entails:
Hi! I’m Victoria Michelle Hedley, Customer Services Co-ordinator for Disability Support and Digitisation. The Digitisation Team processes all the digitisation requests for reading lists to make them available via online reading lists – this includes a lot of behind the scenes work on Talis and enormous, space-age scanners! The Library Disability Support Team provide personalised support for students and staff registered with disabilities, including book retrievals and creating alternative formats of reading materials. In addition to all of this, I help manage our virtual enquiry desk, Ask DULib!
How long have you worked at the Library?
14 years and counting!
What would you say your favourite aspect of the job is?
I enjoy engaging with library users to ensure they are able to access all the resources they need. It’s particularly fun during Welcome Week, when we generally arrange lots of fun activities. Here’s a throwback to a 2015 Welcome Week video. We hosted an award-winning Harry Potter themed induction that year. The access gates even sorted everyone into Hogwarts Houses on their way into the Library – so much fun!
We have also hit the jackpot with our colleagues – some of the loveliest, most fun people you could ever meet.
When you’re not at work, what do you enjoy doing?
I have two dogs, Pippa and Oscar, who I spend a lot of time attempting to train and entertain, which is just my favourite way to occupy my time, even when it’s hard. Walkies and fetch are life, and their goofy happiness is so contagious. Besides that, I am a keen dressmaker and knitter – I’m rarely seen without at least one handmade garment on my back. I am also a qualified Brownie leader, which means adventure holidays, risky campfire cooking and singalongs.
What song always gets you on the dance floor/to the karaoke machine?
Disco 2000 by Pulp. Let me tell you, the first time I hear that at a post-Covid party, clear the dance floor because I’ll need to do my thing. I cannot dance, by any stretch of the imagination, but I love to dance and I have no shame, so prepare yourselves.
Which part of the world would you love to visit and why?
Everywhere! However, we have two trips to America planned for 2022, all being well – one to Florida, and one road trip starting in Washington DC and ending in Boston. I am beyond excited to travel again – I love travelling and try to go somewhere new at least once a year. If our first trip goes ahead, it will be the first time my husband and I have managed to go away together in three years – we are very much looking forward to making up for lost time.
Tell me a secret about Durham/the library…
There is so much interesting history in Durham! If you’re not from Durham (or even if you are!), I would highly recommend visiting the Cathedral and Castle. Get guided tours if you can, they are so worth it – you get to see lots of secret nooks and crannies that you don’t have access to on any self-guided tours.
What’s the best piece of advice you could give our users? Ask us for help! If you’re not able to find what you need on the web pages or LibGuides, please ask us and we’ll see what we can do. We have Ask DULib – on here, you can view our frequently asked questions, send us an e-mail or message us on live chat. We also have staff available to help you in the Library and that is what we are here for!
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