Alison King, Literacy Lead, Kings Monkton School Libraries are regularly credited with reducing loneliness and boosting our mental health, but sole-practitioners in educational settings often face a degree of isolation within the workplace. I consider the reasons for this, suggest strategies that we can utilise as individuals and explore the ways we can collaborate as professionals to offer support and encouragement. #CILIPConf20 #NewVoicesBigIdeas

1. Building bridges
Alison King
Literacy Lead, Kings Monkton School, Cardiff
She/her

2. Introduction
 First year in role:
 feelings of isolation
 overwhelmed by expectations
 full of ideas – didn’t know where to start
 Became involved with CILIP and YLG Wales in
early 2019 when I became a judge for CKG
2020-21

3. A sole practitioner may feel isolated due to…
• Lack of a team with library specific knowledge and skills
• Uncertainty as to where you fit within staff hierarchy
• Senior Leadership may not understand the value of the
library setting or what it requires to be successful
• Role is undervalued – lack of engagement from
staff/pupils
• Sheer amount of work that falls to one person – running
the library is a vast job and most of it goes unnoticed

4. Things We Can Do to Help Ourselves as Individuals
 Join CILIP and SLA
 Identify other members of staff who may be in a
similar position
 Reach out to staff and get involved with as many
departments as you can
 Insert yourself in as many places as possible
 Start a staff book club

5. As a profession…
• CILIP and SLA and other official
organisations
• Social Media
• Digital space devoted to
librarians’ well-being and mental
health.
• Email mentorship scheme
alisonvking@gmail.com @avk1986