Career Pathways with Ania Biazik, Library Manager at Thames-Coromandel District Council
Ania Biazik.
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Thank you Ania for taking the time to answer our Q&A about yourself and your career! We’re so pleased to have you join us for this edition of Library Life. Why don’t you start by telling us a little bit about yourself? I was born and grew up in Poland, my hometown is Częstochowa, and I studied in Katowice (Silesia, Poland). I came to New Zealand in late 2004 for my one-year OE: to learn English and explore the world; and that one year extended to another and another… It’s been an amazing seventeen years in Aotearoa! Perhaps, one fun fact about Ania, which I haven’t shared widely, is that I supported a music group “Button Hackers” with one song. |
What is your title and where do you currently work?
I currently work in Thames-Coromandel District Council as a library manager. There are three district libraries on the Coromandel: in Thames, in Tairua, and in Whitianga known as Mercury Bay Library. This role also supports the relationship with six community volunteer-run libraries on the Coromandel.
What does a day look like in your role?
My new role makes my working days exciting and challenging! It is a mix of daily operations, learning on the go, and working out future strategic moves.
I am working on the customer service desk one moment, then switching to focus on the CAPEX budget, then planning the recruitment and onboarding process, then solving problems with the library building, and then drafting the Library SWOT analysis and Operations Plan for the next few months.
My team is a power-engine and I feel very privileged to work along such great, fun and professional colleagues.
Can you describe your library journey up until this point?
I am thankful and feel very fortunate to have had many opportunities in my career in libraries. My first appointment to a library assistant role in Leys Institute, Auckland City Libraries, offered me such a burst of confidence. I consider every new role, whether it’s permanent or a secondment, a milestone. I have had the opportunity to be part of projects outside of my workplace, like the LIANZA Hikuwai committee, weekend schools, local and international conferences, Storylines notable books - and it has all expanded my network and experience. In my workplaces, there have been great opportunities to collaborate on the micro and macro scale: from working out service delivery issues, improving buildings and library spaces, recruitment, restructures, archives, mobile libraries, to collaboratively working on libraries partnerships, and a long-term vision.
We all had an idea of what a librarian is or does when we were younger, what was yours? Did you ever think you would become a librarian?
I have to admit I haven’t thought about working in libraries until my first library assistant role. I spent a lot of time at the school and later at the university libraries, sometimes observing what the library staff was doing. I always had a very positive experience with librarians in my home country, Poland and, once I settled in New Zealand. I found librarians very friendly and helpful, interested in my questions, learning and reading needs.
The one thing I did not like were pencil scribbles in books, some “library codes” on the first or last page I didn’t know the meaning of and considered “book vandalism”!
Any career highlights you’d like to share with us?
There have been many significant events in my career like moving to my first librarian role or joining a mobile library working group, then later being appointed to leadership roles. Completing my Masters of Information Studies (MIS) and more recently INELI-Oceania programme cemented my dedication to the profession. My recent appointment to library manager in the Thames-Coromandel District Library is a significant milestone in my career. It is a leap into a complex role, with many challenges and opportunities.
Do you have any advice for those who are currently finishing their LIS qualification/ degree?
First of all, congratulations on your achievement! Be proud of the sector you have been studying! With your degree in your hand, the world is your oyster.
You have this amazing opportunity to add value to the society, innovation, progress and heritage. I would encourage you to explore many roles and jobs in the sector because your experience and fresh ideas are very valuable in the workplace.
Who would you say is one of the most influential librarians or sector people to you or your career?
There are many influential information professionals who inspire me. I really would like to mention Allison Dobbie, recently acknowledged as a recipient of New Zealand Order of Merit and recognised for her leadership in library management and education for library professionals in New Zealand and the Oceania region. I look up to Clauda Lux, during her IFLA presidency, the top priority was to have the concerns and needs of libraries put on the agenda of governments and local policy makers. And Opeta Alefaio, director, National Archives of Fiji, a mover & shaker in the archives, documentary heritage, and records management in Oceania.
There are many individuals who inspire me daily, my colleagues in my workplace and the community members.
If you could recommend only one book to someone, what would it be?
This is far too hard a task! I would prefer to find out more about the reader first before my recommendations. But, I would definitely consider a selection: a classic, a contemporary novel, a non-fiction from DDC 150, and 600s.
In your opinion, why are libraries, and information organizations (archives, museums, galleries), important to a country?
In my humble opinion, in this VUCA world (volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous, by Bennis & Nanus) the GLAMR sector is stronger than ever before: vibrant, ensuring universal access, supporting creativity and being ambitious in breaking barriers and being leaders in collaboration.
It plays an integral part of a country identity and nurtures values and heritage. This sector stimulates economic progress by supporting education, research and the life-long learning. Thanks to access to quality information and entertainment it supports health and wellbeing in the society. I cannot imagine a well-functioning society without the GLAMR pillars.
I currently work in Thames-Coromandel District Council as a library manager. There are three district libraries on the Coromandel: in Thames, in Tairua, and in Whitianga known as Mercury Bay Library. This role also supports the relationship with six community volunteer-run libraries on the Coromandel.
What does a day look like in your role?
My new role makes my working days exciting and challenging! It is a mix of daily operations, learning on the go, and working out future strategic moves.
I am working on the customer service desk one moment, then switching to focus on the CAPEX budget, then planning the recruitment and onboarding process, then solving problems with the library building, and then drafting the Library SWOT analysis and Operations Plan for the next few months.
My team is a power-engine and I feel very privileged to work along such great, fun and professional colleagues.
Can you describe your library journey up until this point?
I am thankful and feel very fortunate to have had many opportunities in my career in libraries. My first appointment to a library assistant role in Leys Institute, Auckland City Libraries, offered me such a burst of confidence. I consider every new role, whether it’s permanent or a secondment, a milestone. I have had the opportunity to be part of projects outside of my workplace, like the LIANZA Hikuwai committee, weekend schools, local and international conferences, Storylines notable books - and it has all expanded my network and experience. In my workplaces, there have been great opportunities to collaborate on the micro and macro scale: from working out service delivery issues, improving buildings and library spaces, recruitment, restructures, archives, mobile libraries, to collaboratively working on libraries partnerships, and a long-term vision.
We all had an idea of what a librarian is or does when we were younger, what was yours? Did you ever think you would become a librarian?
I have to admit I haven’t thought about working in libraries until my first library assistant role. I spent a lot of time at the school and later at the university libraries, sometimes observing what the library staff was doing. I always had a very positive experience with librarians in my home country, Poland and, once I settled in New Zealand. I found librarians very friendly and helpful, interested in my questions, learning and reading needs.
The one thing I did not like were pencil scribbles in books, some “library codes” on the first or last page I didn’t know the meaning of and considered “book vandalism”!
Any career highlights you’d like to share with us?
There have been many significant events in my career like moving to my first librarian role or joining a mobile library working group, then later being appointed to leadership roles. Completing my Masters of Information Studies (MIS) and more recently INELI-Oceania programme cemented my dedication to the profession. My recent appointment to library manager in the Thames-Coromandel District Library is a significant milestone in my career. It is a leap into a complex role, with many challenges and opportunities.
Do you have any advice for those who are currently finishing their LIS qualification/ degree?
First of all, congratulations on your achievement! Be proud of the sector you have been studying! With your degree in your hand, the world is your oyster.
You have this amazing opportunity to add value to the society, innovation, progress and heritage. I would encourage you to explore many roles and jobs in the sector because your experience and fresh ideas are very valuable in the workplace.
Who would you say is one of the most influential librarians or sector people to you or your career?
There are many influential information professionals who inspire me. I really would like to mention Allison Dobbie, recently acknowledged as a recipient of New Zealand Order of Merit and recognised for her leadership in library management and education for library professionals in New Zealand and the Oceania region. I look up to Clauda Lux, during her IFLA presidency, the top priority was to have the concerns and needs of libraries put on the agenda of governments and local policy makers. And Opeta Alefaio, director, National Archives of Fiji, a mover & shaker in the archives, documentary heritage, and records management in Oceania.
There are many individuals who inspire me daily, my colleagues in my workplace and the community members.
If you could recommend only one book to someone, what would it be?
This is far too hard a task! I would prefer to find out more about the reader first before my recommendations. But, I would definitely consider a selection: a classic, a contemporary novel, a non-fiction from DDC 150, and 600s.
In your opinion, why are libraries, and information organizations (archives, museums, galleries), important to a country?
In my humble opinion, in this VUCA world (volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous, by Bennis & Nanus) the GLAMR sector is stronger than ever before: vibrant, ensuring universal access, supporting creativity and being ambitious in breaking barriers and being leaders in collaboration.
It plays an integral part of a country identity and nurtures values and heritage. This sector stimulates economic progress by supporting education, research and the life-long learning. Thanks to access to quality information and entertainment it supports health and wellbeing in the society. I cannot imagine a well-functioning society without the GLAMR pillars.