News

It’s World Book Day today, and we wanted to highlight our Library Service - something that you may be unaware of if you didn’t work for KGH.

 

Margaret Theaker is our Knowledge and Library Services Manager. Margaret has an extensive career in the world of library services. Margaret began her career as a Library Assistant at the science library in Nottingham after leaving university; and then moving to roles in the NHS in Devon and then Ayrshire.

 

For the past seven years Margaret has worked at KGH in the Library Services team along with six other members of the service.

 

“I love working in health information. Largely because I don’t know what I’m going to be asked from one day to the next” says Margaret “I can be a one day expert on a topic. And health as a subject is fascinating. ”

 

“I might be supporting people to develop case studies, helping with general study or gathering regular information to help a department. I just enjoy digging into the individual cases as they come up”

Other aspects of Margaret’s role involves teaching people how to find information themselves; including how to recognise reliable information.

 

As you might expect, Margaret is lover of books and literature.

 

“I think reading is a fantastic way to broaden your world and develop an empathy with people”

 

“Fiction or non-fiction books about a subject can give a personal perspective into a subject or a condition such as dementia”

 

“Additionally, research has shown that reading for pleasure is good for a person’s wellbeing. It can help to decrease depression and reduce stress levels.”

 

It is then unsurprising that with a passion for the written word, Margaret began a staff book club at KGH around six years ago. The group meet each month to discuss their selected book; these are usually fiction, with the occasional biography dropped in.

 

“We have a regular group who come along to discuss our monthly choices. I know that some people read along with our choices, even though they can’t come along.”

 

The book club encourages anyone one to join then – even if you haven’t had a chance to read all of the book.

 

“Just sharing views on a book brings out things you hadn’t noticed and makes the book richer for it.” adds Margaret.

 

“My favourite books from the club have included ‘The Noise of Time’ by Julian Barnes and ‘The Last Painting of Sara de Vos’ by Dominic Smith. I’d thoroughly recommend them”

 

Following the success of the book club, Margaret was contacted by Andy Callow (Group Chief Digital Information Officer) who asked for Margaret’s support in setting up a Leadership Book Club.

 

The group read books on leadership, aspects of healthcare and the importance of diversity in our lives.

Andy Callow who started the Leadership Book Club explains

 

“I really welcome the discussion we have at the Leadership Book Club as I seek to continue to improve myself professionally and personally”

 

“It helps enormously to talk through what we think and how we may apply (or discard) what we’ve read by hearing things from diverse perspectives” said Andy. “This book club is one of the highlights of my month”

 

Margaret explains that the Leadership Book Club has helped her in her continuing career.

 

“It has given me an opportunity to reflect on how I am as a manager. I have a deeper appreciation of other points of view; with discussions can leading into non-leadership topics, such as social movements.”

 

Both book clubs are open to anyone from KGH or NGH to join in with. If people are struggling to keep up some of the reading for the Leadership Book Club, Margaret will also direct people towards on-line resources such as podcasts or websites and apps that summarise the book.

 

With a lifelong love of books, what did Margaret enjoy reading when she was younger?

 

“I loved the Narnia books and Tolkein. Then when I had children, I read and enjoyed the books of Diana Wynne Jones”

 

Reflecting on the experience of managing two book clubs, Margaret concludes:

 

“The book clubs are fun. Even if I’ve had a long day and I’m tired I look forward to the clubs and I come away energised”

 

Well done to the many KGH and NGH colleagues who attend the book clubs and keep the passion for the written word alive at our hospitals.