An interview with Suzanne Beck from the University of Liverpool

Suzanne Beck from the University of Liverpool was the lucky winner of cupcakes for her library team in our 2023 winter webinar.

We spoke to Suzanne to find out more about her role as Reading List Support Coordinator, and hearing about her two dogs was a definite bonus!

How and when did you decide to become a librarian?

I helped out in the school library, but I’d always wanted to be a secretary until my O-level German teacher told us a story. He had a place at Oxford University but he had to defer for a year because it was the end of the war and returning soldiers wanted to take up their places. Instead of deferring, he decided to go to his second-choice university and he regretted it.

I sat in that class wondering if I could go to university. Afterwards, I had a look in the careers library. I discovered you could do a degree in librarianship, so I started the application process!

I decided on Liverpool Polytechnic. I attended lots of open days, but I thought Liverpool was a great city. After graduating I worked in small libraries and medical libraries, then I moved into the higher education sector, joining the University of Liverpool in 2008.

What does your current role involve?

It’s a varied role, mainly revolving around our reading list system, Reading Lists @ Liverpool, and the team that support it.

We offer academics support to create reading lists, bookmark items and then add those items to their reading lists. Once an academic has populated their reading list, we will review it and ensure that we get all the required content into library stock in the right formats and quantities.

The library operates a digital first policy, so we always purchase eBooks where we can. If a title isn’t available in that format and it’s a key text for a unit, we might go down the eTextbook route, which is another area I look after.

I’m also involved with the digitisation team and supporting students with an accessibility need, ensuring we provide content from their reading lists in an appropriate format for them.

What’s the best thing about your job?

It’s my team – both present members and former members who have now moved on.

I worked with all team members in the acquisitions department previously, but when lockdown hit the decision was made to create smaller teams to look after specific areas.

During the pandemic, digital content became even more important. Our smaller team worked together to ensure that as many items on reading lists as possible were available as e-resources, so students could continue to study and academics could continue to teach.

As a team we work so well together: we have great respect for each other, and we challenge and learn from each other every day.

Are there any challenges you face?

We’re continuing to evolve and expand our services which means we’re a really busy team.

Currently we’re more of a back-room service keeping everything ticking over smoothly, but we plan to make ourselves more visible to both students and academics.

Going forward, we plan to create short how-to videos to supplement our existing guidance. We’ll also be offering 1-1 appointments with academics to help with any issues they’re having.

How do you think libraries in your sector might evolve over the next decade?

Libraries are moving their focus from solely developing collections to creating a balance between collections and user experience.

I think libraries are going to play a crucial role in providing collaborative study spaces, technology-based learning experiences (such as the use of AI) and innovative services such as 3D printing and maker rooms, helping students to develop skills transferable to employment.

We find that students still enjoy coming to the library, using both individual study spaces and group work areas. It’s a safe space – somewhere they can relax as well as study.

How do you relax outside work?

I used to salsa dance but unfortunately a shoulder injury put paid to that.

Now I get my exercise by walking our two spaniels, Bella and Archie. Bella is four and I’ve had her since she was a puppy. Archie is a recent addition – a one-year-old rescue Springer Spaniel.

My partner and I like nothing better than taking them both for long walks at the weekend, getting out and exploring new places both locally and in our favourite place, Keswick.

What’s your favourite book?

I read ‘La Peste’ by Albert Camus for A-level French, which I thoroughly enjoyed. It’s not the most cheerful subject, but it’s a book I could read over and over again. I love a good murder mystery too, probably stemming from reading all of Agatha Christie’s books by time I was 11.

Do you have a favourite song/album/artist?

When it comes to music, I have quite eclectic taste. Give me a tune with a good beat you can dance to and you’ll usually find me on the dance floor!

If you could send one message to library users, what would it be?

I’d say to students, come and see us – we’re not scary and we’re here to help! It would be good to work as a partnership with them because we could learn a lot from their opinions.

I’d encourage academics to plan ahead as much as possible when it comes to requesting items they’d like the library to provide. If they give us plenty of notice, we can ensure content is in place ready to support their teaching and their students’ learning.

The images in this blog post are copyright (2024) University of Liverpool/Suzanne Beck and used with permission.

Thank you, Suzanne, for a really enjoyable conversation! To find out more about Reading Lists @ Liverpool, tap here.