“I enjoy it when students ‘get it’ – when they start gaining momentum and get ready to fly,” says Adrienne Warricker, an information specialist at UP’s Department of Library Services. She tells Tukkievaria more about her career, likes and loves.

Adrienne Warricker, information specialist in the Department of Library Services at the University Pretoria (UP), chats about her professional role and personal favourites.

Where did you work prior to joining UP?

My first position was as a librarian at the Gauteng Provincial Department of Sport, Recreation Arts & Culture (SRAC) in the Directorate Library Services, where I presented training, such as computer literacy programmes, to community (public) librarians. I also served as an assistant librarian in a corporate law firm library for a few years. This enabled me to get an overview of the different sectors of librarianship or information services in our country.

I obtained my BA degree in languages from the University of Stellenbosch, then went to Potchefstroom University (now the Potchefstroom campus of North-West University) for a postgraduate diploma in Library and Information Science. This was followed by an honour’s degree at UP.

What attracted you to UP?

Since I’d had a taste of what UP was like when I was studying, it was fairly easy to envisage what working here would be like. I realised that I felt comfortable in the higher education environment – probably because my dad had been a lecturer. I also concluded that engaging with students, helping and teaching them, is rewarding.

How long were you employed at UP and what keeps you going?

I started working at the Department of Library Services as an information specialist in 2008. Every query or client brings something new, so I could never be bored in this job. I love it!

What does your day-to-day role entail?

Assisting postgraduate students with getting to know our information resources and guiding them on how to think about the process of searching for and accessing information is what I would say my main job is. The information specialist is the library liaison with the department and should be the go-to person for academics, researchers and students in the department. It is therefore also part of my job to assist teaching staff and researchers with information and teaching material, and to assist them with the process of getting published in suitable journals and increasing exposure to their research.

What you like to improve in your section/department and why?

I’m a book nerd, and I am incredibly grateful that the Merensky 2 Library was able to establish a Book Nook for leisure reading in November 2021. (Please come and visit it, and browse the titles on offer there!) I would like to see more funds for books – to support the development of a reading culture among the students, and to enrich our collection in support of newly developing areas of study. We desperately need funding to ensure that the collection remains relevant and can support the University in producing cutting-edge research.

What do you enjoy most about your job and why?

I enjoy it when students “get it” – when they start gaining momentum and get ready to fly.

What is your least favourite part of the job?

I’m often frustrated by not being able to supply a client with what they need; I really don’t like that. This is due to the limited funds available to most libraries to purchase information resources. I hate when we can't buy a department all the titles on their list – however short the list!

What is the special message that you would like to share with colleagues?

Don’t be shy to ask a library staff member for help. Also, the experience of the COVID-19 pandemic has taught me that kindness makes a huge difference. And finally, never stop reading – no matter what!

What do you do in your free time?

No surprises – I read! I also spend time with family, enjoy music and go for walks.

What are your personal likes and dislikes?

I value a sense of humour, honesty and trust. I do not function well in conflict situations.

Quick quiz:

Sport: Jogging, walking, swimming and hiking are things I like to do. Parkrun energises me!

Food: I absolutely love slap chips (French fries), and I prefer sushi and pizza to cake chocolate or ice cream.

Movies: Oh, there are many! Some favourites are The Hundred-Foot Journey, Chariots of Fire, American History X, Komt een vrouw bij de dokter, The Sound of Music, The Big Blue, Dead Poets Society and Cosi.

Actors: Jeremy Irons, Robin Williams, Helen Mirren, Edward Norton, Meryl Streep, Annette Benning and Laura Linney are some of the actors I like. From time to time, I enjoy comedy skits by performers like Peter Sellers and the Monty Python crew.

Music: On Sunday mornings, I enjoy listening to a choral music programme on the radio. I find classical music relaxing and enjoy singing along to folk music from the 1970s and 1980s. I enjoy Handel’s Messiah, performances by Herman van Veen, Sting, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, James Taylor and Bobby McFerrin – his Spirityouall CD in particular.

All-time hero: There are many people to admire, but some for me would be Nelson Mandela, Corrie Ten Boom and Martin Luther. I would have loved to have had dinner with CS Lewis, for instance, because he wrote the Chronicles of Narnia – some of my favourite children’s books.

Books: Apart from the Narnia books, there are of course many other titles – I am a librarian, after all! I loved Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman, The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery, I Heard the Owl Call My Name by Margaret Craven, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Fiela se Kind by Dalene Matthee, and I Know This Much is True by Wally Lamb. And, of course, the Discworld novels by Terry Pratchett!