Great Yarmouth Central Library

Photograph of Great Yarmouth Central Library in 2007

By Oliver Cruickshank

Profile of Barbara Beldon: Library and Gallery Manager at Great Yarmouth Central Library

Barbara Beldon is the Library and Gallery Manager at Great Yarmouth Central Library. She has worked at the library for 40 years. She manages the delivery of the service, as well as looking after the staff and the building. She also manages the galleries, ensuring a continuing program of exhibitions.

A typical days work is very varied involving reading e-mails, dealing with the public, doing background admin, sorting out staff timetables and getting the building repaired.

She says the library has changed a lot over the years: when she first started working there it was a lot busier, visitor numbers have declined in recent years. However, the library is evolving with access to the internet and a programme of ICT classes. She hopes that with Lottery Funding the library will become more of a community centre including access to learning and other services.

She says: "The thing I most enjoy about the job is meeting people, the interaction with the public is my favourite part...Two days are never the same."