Meet the team from Cockburn Libraries!
Introducing Nina…
My name’s Nina! I love graphic novels, Dungeons and Dragons and birds.
You can find me at all three libraries, but I’ll mostly be on the desk at Success Library. I’m part of the marketing team, meaning I have a hand in our social media, our eNewsletter, decorations in the library. You’ve probably seen some things I’ve made, like giant rainbow in the kids area at Success or the library mascots.
When and why did you begin working in a library? I’ve been coming to Cockburn Libraries since I was little and I’ve got experience in graphic design, illustration and flim, so it seemed like a perfect fit. I’ve been here for a year now.
Favourite thing about working in a library? You get to borrow books everyday! My bag is usually filled with books and DVDs that I’ve spied while walking through the shelves.
I also love to hear the kids sing their hearts out to nursery rhymes at Storytime and Pram Jam.
A book you recommend? I’m a big fantasy fan and my two favourite authors are Robin Hobb and Dianna Wynne Jones (author of Howl’s Moving Castle). If I could recommend one book from our collection, it’s “The Dark Lord of Derkholm” by Dianna Wynne Jones. Don’t let the dramatic title or cover fool you- it’s a comedy. It’s is basically like Narnia, but instead of a group of naïve children discovering a fantasy land, a very wealthy businessman discovers it. He converts the entire world into a tourist package for the uber rich. The book follows Derk, a smalltown farmer who’s been cast as the Evil Dark Lord for the tours because no one else wants to do it. Classic fantasy tropes with hilarious twists- it’s one of the most unique and gripping books I have ever read.
(The sequel “The Year of the Griffin” is even better.)
Your favourite place to relax and read? My favourite spot in the library to chill and read is the top left corner of Coolbellup Library, but when you’re at home, nothing beats a book in bed on a stormy night.
FUN FACTS!
An interesting library story. In my first month at the library I dressed up as the Grinch for a kids Storytime around Christmas. I had a heavy plastic mask and green furry gloves so couldn’t see or navigate very well. But the person running the Storytime decided it would be fun to film me stealing a Christmas decoration (a little tree from the shelf) and sneak away. What I didn’t anticipate was after I had stolen it, the kids chased after me!
I had a group of children sprinting after me in through the shelves at Spearwood Library, pulling on my outfit telling me I was very naughty and to give the tree back. All the while I couldn’t see and I had nowhere to run because I didn’t have my keycard to re-enter the library office.
Lesson learnt! Don’t try and outrun toddlers in a Grinch suit!
