Spotlight on Siena Staff is an ongoing series of short videos and articles capturing the reflections, motivations and advice from some of our amazing Siena College staff. Today, we feature Library Technician, Cherie Bell as she shares her passion for reading and learning, along with her ongoing dedication to advocating for improved resources and staffing in school libraries.
"In my previous life, I taught English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students (ELICOS) at Monash University and Monash College. However, when my children came along, I transitioned into full time parenthood. One aspect of parenthood that truly excited me was sharing books with my kids. To maintain my sanity, I started writing book reviews for children’s books. I have contributed reviews for the Children’s Book Council of Australia (2017 to present), Kirkus (2021 to 2022) and Magpies magazine (2022 to present).
In 2020, I interned with Affirm Press. Working in their Children’s Book Division made me realise my passion for fostering a love of reading and learning. Pursuing this passion, I decided to work in a library. In 2022, with my youngest child starting school, I returned to university. By February 2023, I completed my Graduate Diploma in Information Studies, becoming an Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) accredited librarian.
Along the way, I took on voluntary roles. Every three weeks, I deliver books for the Whitehorse Manningham Home Library Service. I recently concluded my involvement with the Students Need School Library campaign, advocating for better resourced and staffed school libraries. As part of this campaign, I wrote articles, including one for Connections - Schools Catalogue Information Service (SCIS) publication distributed to most school libraries in Australia. I have also written feature articles for Magpies magazine, such as 'The Power of a Read Aloud', which explores academic evidence for reading aloud to children and offers troubleshooting suggestions for getting started.
Understanding users’ information needs and providing relevant, accessible resources is central to library services. Whether academic or personal, I enjoy helping people find answers, discover and learn. The most rewarding aspect of my job is discussing books with staff and students. It is incredibly gratifying when someone returns to tell me they enjoyed a book I recommended."
