INGE THORNTON

Biography: I started my career in libraries as a Library Assistant at the University of Birmingham in 1983, a job I more or less stumbled in to, but which I enjoyed immensely. From there I decided to pursue librarianship as a career and did my Post-Graduate Diploma in Librarianship at what was then the City of Birmingham Polytechnic (now UCE). Learning about all different aspects of librarianship convinced me that public libraries were where my future lay, as this was the topic that sparked off the biggest interest in me. One of my lecturers on the course was a certain Bob McKee – I wonder what happened to him?

I got my first post in Birmingham Libraries in 1987 as a Library Assistant at Handsworth Library, under the late Gill Ball, who inspired me with her commitment to community librarianship. In 1989 I became the Deputy Librarian at Handsworth Library, and stayed there until 1996. During this period I developed my interests in, and commitment to, promoting public library services to a wide range of service users and non-users.

Growing out of work we were already undertaking at Handsworth Library I worked for six months as a Mental Health Project Worker for libraries in the Ladywood area of Birmingham. My role was to promote library services to people with mental health problems and gather their views on how those services could be improved.

From 1996 until now I have been the Community Librarian at Aston Library in Birmingham, where I have continued to promote the library service in this diverse community and to contribute to work across the Ladywood District and in Birmingham Libraries as a whole.

Title: Birmingham Libraries' work with mental health service users

Summary: A review of the initiatives that have happened in Birmingham over the past 10 years which have resulted in improvements to our services to customers who are facing issues around mental health.