Wyndham librarian Declan, tells Fatima Halloum about his love for the community and the importance of libraries keeping up with the changing needs of the community.
What’s your connection to Wyndham?
I have worked as a Librarian for the Wyndham City Council since May 2021. I have recently purchased a property and now live in Werribee.
What do you like about where you live?
Access to parks, shops, and public transport. The community is great, and I always enjoy discovering new places and meeting new people.
What, if anything, would you change about where you live?
Not much really, I would like some of my friends and family from the other side of town to move out this way but that’s about it.
Where is your favourite local place to spend time?
In my spare time you’ll normally find me at Bunnings or down at the local Games shop – ‘Guf’ in Werribee. I am relatively new to the area, so I am always looking for new places to explore.
Tell us something people would be surprised to know about you?
When I was 15 my mother got a job in India and we moved overseas. I lived in Bangalore for 3 years and finished high school there.
What prompted you to pursue a career as a librarian?
I have always loved books and reading so one day I decided to write a book. It never really got anywhere, and although I am still working on it, I decided I wanted to work in a space that I would be around books. I started a library course at Victoria University and joined Wyndham libraries soon after graduation. It wasn’t until after I started that I realised how much I enjoyed helping the community and while books are important in the library space, we wouldn’t be anything without the community that attends all of our free programs and events.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
Being of service to the community. Whether it is through our community outreach programs or helping someone find the information they are after, I always feel like I have done my job well when someone leaves with a smile on their face and the thing they came for, accomplished. But the best thing about the library is that everything we do is free, memberships, borrowing, programs, everything!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I’d like to highlight libraries and their importance in our community. Wyndham is growing so fast, and we need to make sure we keep up with ever changing needs of our community.
