A day in the life of Paul Jewell

A Business Librarian on the Parramatta campus, Paul has worked across different areas and disciplines within UWS Library Services over the past few years.

Now looking after the Marketing and SGSM staff and students, Paul gives us an insight into a ‘typical day’.

Before Work

What do you have for breakfast and is there anything you do before you come to work?

Usually Weetbix – but not as many as the celebrities showing off on the TV! Before catching the train to work will usually involve assisting children – and persuading teenager - with getting out the door to school.

What do you do when you first arrive at UWS?

Take a few deep breaths after walking from Parramatta station.

At Work

Who do you work with?

For the first half of the year I was involved in arranging and delivering Library workshops for our Business Academic Skills students. Also I enjoy delivering Research Skills classes for the new SGSM postgraduate students each quarter.

What are the two or three most important things you are currently working on?

Recently I was successful in applying for a new role as School Librarian, School of Business. This involves focusing on supporting academics and assisting with their teaching and learning needs from a Library perspective. Together with the Library team we are coordinating a number of collaborative ventures with various Unit Coordinators to assist students.

Also I am responsible for Higher Degree research students which is an exciting part of the new role... for example assisting with endnote, publishing and literature reviews.

What regular meetings do you attend?

As part of the new role I have been attending Senate Academic Committee (SAC) meetings. This has been a good opportunity for meeting a cross-section of staff and understanding the course approval process.

Once a month I also attend School Librarian meetings which are good for sharing best practice and developing school based initiatives – we even now have a Yammer social media group for communicating these ideas.

Also as a Client Service Team all the staff at Parramatta Library get together each month to discuss campus issues, quality and professional development.

What makes a positive difference to your day?

Part of my role also involves assisting students at the service desk which is mostly busy and quite rewarding. I recently had a comment from a student, whom I had spent a bit of time assisting with finding resources and referencing etc and the comment was ‘wow look at this – I passed all my units, thanks for your support’. Ah, makes it all worthwhile!

After Work

What might we find you doing outside of work?

Winter is all about football (or soccer for some) – I’m assistant coach for my daughter’s Under 7 team and I play in the Over 35 (old blokes) team for Leichhardt Saints.

In Summer, I like to dive in the ocean occasionally, listen to music and – if I can escape – cruise around the inner-west on my 1963 VNB Vespa.