Christiane Schmidt- Specialist for media and information services, Bergheim City Library

Professional background & career.

I always wanted to do something with media and literature or even go on TV. Our library played a special role in that since I have grew up here since childhood. I always felt comfortable in the library, visited many children's events and noticed early on how fascinating this place is for me. At school I was then introduced to the profession of specialists for media and information services- that fit perfectly with my interests. After schooling, I did not immediately find an apprenticeship, but used the time sensibly by doing an internship in the city.Biblik.bergheim for six months. In the meantime, I also applied to other places, but after all, I was given a very special way: I was able to do my training exactly where my interest and passion for literature and media were created - in the city.

From 2005 to 2008 I completed my training as a specialist for media and information services and successfully completed. Immediately afterwards I worked in the Bergheim City Library until November 2021. After that, I was drawn to the Central Library of the Cologne City Library for a time, where I was able to gain further experience. In April 2022 I finally returned to the Bergheim City Library.
This mixture of continuity and new insights has enriched my professional career very much: I was not only able to further develop my skills, but also gain new perspectives that I have now incorporated into my work.

In the course of my career, I learned to appreciate the library work more and more. I used to see the library primarily as a place for books and media. Today I know that it is so much more - a place where people meet, learn new things, just switch off or spend time together.
It is precisely this versatility that makes my work particularly exciting for me. I love to be creative and always think of new events or social media campaigns that surprise and inspire people. It makes me proud to be part of such a living place that is developing and deals with the needs of people.

Learn more about the Bergheim city library here.
Photo credits Christiane Schmidt: © Stadt.Bibliothek.Bergheim

Personal experiences.

I particularly appreciate my work diversity and creativity. No day is like the other, and I have the opportunity to constantly try new things. The planning of events gives me a lot of fun - in 2015 I have the series of events for children and adolescents: "Bibliversum - Experience your library", which is an integral part of our library today.

I also love to be active on social media and to maintain contact with other libraries through these platforms. Recently we recorded a podcast with the Gummersbach city library - a great experience. I was also able to visit other libraries as part of the digitative and was there in the working group "Target groups and offer profiles", which I enjoyed a lot. It gave me a lot of pleasure to participate here as a specialist for media and information services, since otherwise only the library management will come together at such meetings or events.

My whole passion is in the “Bibliversum - experience” in the series of events. It is simply incredibly beautiful to organize and carry out so many different events for children and adolescents. The Harry Potter evening is particularly important to me, because our library will really become Hogwarts that evening! The highlight is always a visit to the falconry skyhunter in nature, which has been with their owls and birds of prey since the beginning of the biblio verse. It is a magical moment every time the children go home bright and full of luck. You just know why you do this job.

Another event that was particularly in my memory was the event "Tea Pairing with books" for the 20th anniversary of the library. In cooperation with the bookstore Thalia Mayersche Bergheim and "The Tea Chamber" we organized a reading evening with a suitable tea tea tasting, that was something completely different and such a special atmosphere!
But also at the other events such as the robotics & gaming events, the reading evenings or creative workshops, I keep noticing how much fun it is to create something that really arrives in people.

Meaning & added value.

In my view, libraries are incredibly important because they promote equal opportunities and give everyone access to education and information what is more important than ever today. Here people come together, no matter where they come from, how old they are or what origin they have. At a time when it is becoming increasingly difficult to rely on reliable information, libraries strengthen democracy, promote media literacy and help to promote social cohesion. I find it particularly important that we can contribute to an open and just society through our work.

In the Stadt.Bibliothek.Bergheim we offer numerous initiatives to meet the needs of the community: from AI workshops for seniors and the maker space, in which new technologies such as 3D printing and robotics can be tried out, right down to language sponsors, which support German learners with homework and conversation. In addition, we offer a variety of materials for migrants and refugees, such as multilingual books and learning aids. The monthly language café invites people of all language levels to relax and strengthen the cooperation. The topic of dementia is also promoted by low -threshold offers and the networking of actors in the field of dementia (the local alliance for people with dementia). Our reading sponsors, who regularly read in kindergartens and events at events, also help to promote reading and joy in books in the community.

Recommendations.

I recommend working in the library because it is one of the most beautiful professions: versatile creative and close to people. The tasks are incredibly diverse and not a day like the other. In the library you have the opportunity to work in a creative and inspiring environment that is constantly evolving.

My advice: Take a look at different libraries and explore what they offer. An internship can help you get to know the work processes and find out which area suits you. Public and scientific libraries are different - try out where you feel more comfortable and get your interests.

One should be changeable and can adapt to technical and digital innovations, because libraries are constantly developing. In addition, customer orientation, organizational talent, teamwork and curiosity are important in order to successfully master the versatile tasks.

Teamwork and communication are an essential part of my daily work. They are important in order to effectively work together in a team, with cooperation partners and also in contact with customers and to successfully design the library.

Developments & future prospects.

For me, the library work will be strongly shaped by digital developments such as AI and robotics in the future. Libraries must remain flexible and face these changes. I find it particularly exciting that libraries offer more creative rooms, such as social media studios or areas where music is made. It is about involving people more and designing the library as a place that responds to the needs and wishes of customers. This means that libraries not only have to be visible on site, but also on social networks such as Instagram, Tiktok and other digital channels. You have to get out of the people so that you can really use these offers - both digitally and on site. Especially in the field of event work, it is crucial to take into account the wishes of the customers and take the team with them. At the same time, all employees have to be trained in order to keep up with the new technologies and trends. The best offers are of no use if you do not reach the right target groups. It is not about reinventing the wheel, but using the right tools, making the team fit and ensuring that the work is also fun and the library remains accessible to everyone.

Oh yes, we really offer a lot in the city. It is important to us that we are there for a wide variety of people in our community. For example, there are our AI workshops for seniors, where you can playfully discover new technologies. Or the maker space, in which technology enthusiasts can be creative with 3D printing and robotics. For the German learners, we offer language sponsors who help with homework and support them in practicing the language. And for migrants and refugees we have multilingual books and learning aids to make the arrival easier. Here preschool children come to us regularly, experience picture book cinema, tinker and may borrow a book for your daycare center. And during a special visit we also invite the parents so that they can look at our offers and register their children directly. With our series of events "Bibliversum - Experience your library" we bring children closer to the joy of books.
In addition, we work with many great partners - from the youth centers to the VHS to the museum of the city of Bergheim and the job center. For us it is clear: the library should be a place for everyone - to learn, exchange and feel good. We want everyone to find their place here and experience the library as an enrichment.

I am a fami with passion and think that our profession is great and deserves much more attention. We do great work that we can be proud of, and I hope that this will continue to be more recognized in the future, precisely because our tasks are becoming more and more versatile. I would be particularly beautiful if we could network Famis even more and strengthen each other to bring our profession together!