Life in the library: An interview with Kirsty Taylor
In the latest of our staff profiles we feature the work of Kirsty Taylor as Head of Library and Information Services. See also our earlier interviews with members of the the ‘Observatory team’, College Office, Lodge team, Development and Alumni Relations team and the Head Gardener.
Today’s interview: inside the library
Kirsty Taylor is a key point of contact for students at college as well as members from across the wider college community.
In this interview, she talks about how her journey to Green Templeton, her day-to-day activities and her love for New Zealand.
Could you start by telling us about yourself and what brought you to Green Templeton?
I started my career as a graduate trainee at the Bodleian Library in the late 1990s. Since then, I’ve worked in a variety of different libraries including the New Zealand Parliamentary Library and Otago University’s Medical and Health Sciences Library in Wellington, the Judge Business School in Cambridge and, back in Oxford, Hertford College. I joined Green Templeton in 2013 and was attracted by the variety of the role, the college’s reputation for being friendly and forward-thinking and the beautiful grounds.
You’ve just mentioned your role, could you tell us a bit more about it?
As the Head of Library and Information Services, I’m responsible for the Library and college archives. The college has a large archive which, as well as its own records and files, includes those of Green and Templeton colleges too. My job is to ensure that these files, that document the colleges’ histories, are preserved for future researchers.
I’m the college’s Data Protection Officer, which involves me advising colleagues and making sure that the college uses personal data legally and follows UK legislation. I also handle any freedom of information requests that the college receives.
How does the library support our students?
The college has a library on the main site, which provides a quiet place to study and an extensive book collection. We aim to support students’ emotional, ethical and social needs in addition to their academic requirements so we have books on LGBTQ+ and Black culture, stories and politics, disability studies and well-being as well as those the students need for their courses and research.
The main reading room, the Choudhrie Library
We also offer support by providing literature search assistance, a scan and email service from the library’s collections and a click and collect service for books, which we introduced during the pandemic and then kept as it proved popular.
Finally, we help our students navigate the complex and, often, confusing world of Oxford libraries (there are over 100 libraries in Oxford!) and advise them of the ones they can visit and find useful resources in.
How do you relax outside work?
It sounds like a cliché, but I love reading, especially books about books, libraries and archives. Two series I have really enjoyed are Genevieve Cogman’s The Invisible Library and Deborah Harkness’ All Souls Trilogy. I’m always looking for recommendations so please let me know if you have one. As well as reading, I also enjoy travelling particularly to Italy and Spain although I would love to go back to New Zealand…one day!
Kirsty Taylor and her daughter on the South West Coastal Path
What do you enjoy most about working at Green Templeton?
One of the things I enjoy the most about working at Green Templeton is that it’s a modern, forward-thinking college which makes it stand out from the other traditional colleges and university. I also think we have a lovely community of students, fellows, staff and alumni who are out in the world doing amazing things. It’s quite humbling and I feel very lucky to be here and to enjoy what I do.
