Marianne Johnson

I’m a WAES Apprentice working towards the Level 3 qualification in Library, Information and Archive Services (LIAS). I am based full-time at the British Film Institute, working between the Reuben Library and the BFI National Archive.

I’ve always been a voracious reader and film enthusiast. I grew up in a book-loving household and enjoy a mix of literature that spans from the Ancient Greek Epics to Elena Ferrante. Prior to my current role, I was a life-long user of my local libraries (long may they live!) and found them an invaluable free space to escape to between work and home. I’ve always been based in North London and have recently moved to Haringey which is full of amazing cinemas which is a dream as a film lover. I am particularly fond of anything black and white, or horror related, and I consistently recommend Carnival of Souls (1962) and The Innocents (1961) to anyone that will listen.

Before I started this course I was working as a Social Media and Digital Marketing Assistant for a not-for-profit in Enfield, having taken a break from my bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences. It was a great experience but after two years in the role, I came to the realisation that it wasn’t the career path I wanted to develop for my future. I craved something that combined intellectual stimulation with a practicable, social impact, and after doing some volunteering at a local library, I knew it was the perfect environment for me.

I applied for this course as I was keen to start my career in libraries, and it seemed the perfect way to blend work and study. I think having a solid foundation in the basic principles of the library/archive sector is invaluable in my day-to-day role, as all my practical experiences at work are informed by the theory and discussions I’ve had during my LIAS classes.

The LIAS course covers a broad range of topics, from the nature of knowledge and information sharing to the effectiveness of collaborative teamwork. I enjoyed learning about the knowledge economy, as this was a concept that I wasn’t familiar with before joining the course, as many libraries offer fundamentally knowledge-based services such as skills training and provide open access to educational materials. It was interesting to think broadly about the many ways in which libraries can serve their communities and adapt to their needs.

My tutor, Miranda, has been an incredible teacher and guiding force throughout the course, and her years of experience across museums and education have illuminated our studies with real-world examples and incredibly diverse perspectives on the nature of libraries and archives. Miranda cares about our wellbeing as much as our learning, and this level of support and tutoring has made my time at WAES one of my most fulfilling educational experiences.

My greatest achievement at WAES so far has been achieving a distinction on my latest assignment, which was about library user’s needs and information seeking behaviour. It’s taken me a while to adapt to the structure of the assignments having been used to the format of university essays, so I was thrilled when I got my latest result!

I have been struggling with chronic health issues over the past year, and for my first couple of months at the BFI I had to take some time off which gave me a great amount of anxiety. Thankfully, with the support of both my manager and my tutor, I was able to take the time I needed to recover so I could return to work with the confidence I needed

I work at the British Film Institute, primarily based in the Reuben Library and I spend one day a week at the BFI National Archive in Berkhamsted. I was a frequent visitor of the BFI for many years before I worked here, however, I confess that I never made use of their library! Working here has been an absolute dream, and I’ve never enjoyed a job more. Every day I am assisting researchers in accessing material and utilising both the library and the archive’s services, whilst also having the opportunity to talk with my colleagues about cinema and the latest film publications! I feel extremely grateful that I’ve been given the opportunity to marry all my interests as part of my work and studies, and working between the library and archive has allowed me a greater insight into the work the BFI does, both public-facing and behind the scenes.

Once I have finished my course, I would like to finish the final year of my bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences, and go on to complete a Masters in Library Studies part-time. I am hoping in 4-5 years to be a fully qualified Librarian!

Don’t hesitate! If you’re interested in working in libraries or archives, this is the perfect course for you. There are so many career paths you can take within the industry, and the skillset you will acquire can be applied wherever you go. And, most importantly, you will have a support network with you every step of the way.