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Meeting the ALLA(WA) Committee: Alice Hewitt



Here at the ALLA(WA) Blog, we are taking the chance to help members to get to know their Committee a bit better.

Introducing: Alice Hewitt, Reference & Information Services Librarian (Law), Murdoch University.

1. Who is a hero who has inspired you in your career?

I always find hero a hard thing to point down, everyone is a hero everyday really - just in different ways at different times. So pointing to one person is rather tricky. Even trickier as I'm inspired by so many amazing librarians everyday - and not just the law librarians. I've met a children's librarian who believed that young adults were being overlooked and went back to university to do more research into this in the hopes of helping these people. I've met librarians who want nothing more than to help, to teach and to mentor others to help them become the best at what they do. I'm still new to this Librarian gig, and I like to think that every day I come across at least one hero who can inspire me to be better.

2. What is the proudest moment in your professional life?

Getting a job in a law library. Sounds simple, but I worked on my librarian qualification with the specific intent of becoming a law librarian. That working out, it's a pretty nice feeling.

3. Career advice – what’s your top tip?

Be approachable - and learn how to market yourself this way. Make your library clients know you are there, know that you know what is going on, and know that you know what they are going through. Or at least be confident enough to make them think that. 

4. What’s your favourite legal research tool?

After spending the week taking screen shots of legislation for an assessment I'm preparing... Legify.com.au - Such a time saver!

5. If you had to work on only one project for the next year, what would it be?

I honestly don't think I could really do only one thing for an entire year. Maybe a road trip around the USA and Canada, nice car, bring along a schnauzer or two for company, visit libraries and see ice hockey games as I work my way around.

6. Librarian cliché: What is your favourite book? (Or one of your favourite books?)

um.... anyone else hear crickets? Picking one is really hard. Anything by Terry Pratchett, particularly the Discworld series, makes me a happy reader.

7. If you weren't a librarian, what would you be?

Probably a lawyer, or if I really felt inspired I'd enrol in med school. (Don't worry Mum, I'm done with studying for now).

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