EARLL Committee
Hannah Boroudjou
co-chair
After working in Public Libraries for a couple of years I started my MA at UCL in Library and Information Studies in September 2015. Whilst studying I worked part time as an evening & weekend Information Assistant at City University Library. After I graduated from UCL I applied for jobs in Academic Libraries (without much success!) and continued to work on a casual contract with a public library service while I was job hunting.
In 2017 I was eventually successful in my job search and started as a full time Information Assistant at City University working across the Digitisation and Eresources teams. In 2018 I started as a Senior Library Assistant in the Subscriptions Team at the London School of Economics (LSE). In 2020 I moved into my current role at LSE as the Research Data Librarian within the Research Support team.
My interests include open data, data management & protection, secure data access and working to help develop CPD opportunities for early career librarians.
Claire Delahunty
Co-Chair
I never planned to work in libraries, I used to be an archaeologist and I planned to dig holes and write reports about pottery for the rest of my life. But my circumstances changed, and in 2013 I started working as a Library Assistant in the Subscriptions Team at King’s College London. I was promoted to Subscriptions and Access Officer before making a sideways move to become Senior Library Assistant in the Subscriptions team at LSE Library in 2015. I worked predominately with non-journal eresources, administering subscriptions and maintaining access.
In 2016 I started a part-time, distance learning Information Science (Library Management) MSc at Northumbria University. I won the Viki Lagus prize for my dissertation in 2018 and wrote an article about my research and experiences for CILIP North East’s journal NE Links.
In 2019 I was seconded to cover a maternity post as Scholarly Communications Officer at LSE Library until October 2020. I’m now gaining experience in publishing, scholarly communications and research support.
As a latecomer to Libraries, I struggled to gain the breadth of knowledge and identify the skills I needed to branch out and move up in the profession. I co-founded EARLL in the hope that it will give others in a similar position the opportunity to learn about different avenues of academic librarianship, broaden their skillsets and engage with other early career librarians in and around London.
Claire is on hiatus from serving on the EARLL Committee till January 2024.
ellen haggar
social media manager
My first library role was as a Library Assistant for Southend Libraries in 2015, a job I ‘fell’ into after university and fell in love with. I discovered, to my surprise, that you could study to become a librarian, and so in 2017 when my circumstances changed due to illness, I spent a year studying the MA in Library and Information Studies at UCL.
Despite not taking the Information Literacy module (much to the despair of my dissertation tutor, who ran the course) my interest in dystopian fiction and George Orwell led me to write my dissertation on fake news and information literacy. I presented my research at the department’s Information Literacy conference in October 2018. I had major surgery in January 2019, and could get my life back on track. While recovering, I re-wrote my dissertation, and eventually published my research, thanks to the unending encouragement and support of my lecturers.
Graduating in July 2019, I took a temp role at the Institute of Education in Acquisitions but found that I missed the variety of a public library role. I wanted to combine my interest in literature with my MA, and thought I’d like to become a Subject Librarian.
Instead, in September 2019, I joined The Institution of Mechanical Engineers as the Research and Outreach Librarian – which just goes to show that you can plan all you like, but sometimes life has other ideas. I work with a small but perfectly formed team of four, and absolutely love my job.
My interests are information literacy, social media, library outreach, diversity and inclusion, and accessibility. In my spare time, I like to be creative with modern calligraphy and bullet journaling or escape with a good book or period drama. I love gigs, and I am always counting down the days until I see The 1975 again.
lauren ghani
Social Media Manager
I began working in libraries as a graduate trainee in 2015, not long after finishing my undergraduate degree, and hoping to use it to get more experience in archives before realising I loved the library work more. Following this, I started working at the University of Roehampton as a Library Adviser where I worked on projects such as running library inductions and the maintenance and updating of the website and FAQ page. I was also a member of accessibility working group, and part of a group that managed the library social media accounts.
I began my MSc in Library Science at City, University of London, in 2019, which I studied for part time alongside my job, and submitted my dissertation on how my library used social media during the pandemic in January 2022. I then started a six month secondment as an Academic Engagement Librarian, and in June 2022 began working at the University of Surrey as an Assistant Faculty Librarian for the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.
I am interested in how libraries advertise their services, including their use of social media, and information literacy, and am also interested in learning more about open access.
julia bhojoo
website manager
I graduated with an English degree and decided to avoid pursuing a career in publishing and the civil service by applying for an Information Assistant role at an international law firm. Little did I know this was the perfect blend of both worlds! I've stayed within the legal sector since then and I'm now an Information Officer at a UK law firm, though I still consider myself an early career librarian (and also procrastinating on deciding on whether pursuing a Masters).
I have an interest in legaltech, knowledge management as well as website design. In addition to supporting EARLL, I also look after the SLA Europe website as Digital Communications Chair. I'm also a member of the BIALL Diversity and Inclusion Group and CILIP BAME Network.
Natalie Brown
EDC Coordinator
My career started in public libraries in 2013 where I combined my passion for the public’s access to free knowledge and entertainment with my skill of championing excellent customer service. After realising this was the career for me, I started my MA in Library and Information Services Management with the University of Sheffield.
Whilst working full time and studying part time I moved into working in Higher Education institution libraries as a library assistant. I learnt about how academic libraries support students through their academic journey as well as supporting researchers and staff.
In 2018 I wanted to explore other niche libraries and went into a senior role at a law library. After gaining experience and learning this was not the environment for me, I finished studying for my MA and was successful in obtaining a Library Supervisor role in 2019. In 2022 I was promoted to Customer Services Team Leader at Anglia Ruskin University for the Chelmsford campus.
Since then, I have thrived in my supportive team and continually working on my development. My interests include coaching and developing staff, learning and development, championing and educating staff on EDI (Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion), UX (User Experience) and planning events