Tabitha Witherick Email & Phone Number

Exeter, Devon, Gb

Exeter, Devon, Gb

Covering Torridge North and Mid Devon libraries

Gb

Managed the Development Team, which is responsible for projects, partnerships, performance and promotion. Key areas of work include: • Innovative services responding to digital developments and changing local needs. • New services and events with a health and wellbeing focus.• Reader development to targeted audiences. • Cultural offer placing libraries at the heart of local communities including literature festivals and arts performances. • Informal learning and literacy opportunities, including the UKOnline network. • Community involvement in the design and delivery of library services. • Procurement and management of stock. • Communications and marketing to engage individuals , stakeholders and communities with library services. • Works with partners to provide skills programmes for library staff and volunteers. • Creates performance management culture through effective use of data and evidence based decisions. • Develop strategies, policies and services arising from national and local initiatives. • Actively seeks opportunities leading to service improvement or transformation. • Increase income through a creative approach to fundraising.• Manage the resources and development budgets. Successes included: • Delivery of Arts Council funded ‘Out of the Mouth of the Parrett’, a partnership with Theatre Melange. • The Glass Box project which has received local and national recognition for experimental approach.Significant increase in partnership working with and for the local business community. • Continued development of health partnerships including funding for Autism collection and implementation of two wellbeing zones. • Empowerment of local library teams to own, create and promote events, resulting in significant increases in participation.

London, Gb

Various volunteering roles including:Regional Communications OfficerRegional Area LinkBranch Coordinator / ChairMagazine EditorBaby Fair CoordinatorFurther details below.

Weston-Super-Mare, Gb

Lead Librarian (2012- May 2015) - areas of strategic responsibility include volunteering, equalities, outreach and information services. As well as managing a team, projects and programmes include:* Supporting the creation of a national workforce development programme (SCL Universal Information Offer) for digital champion skills, and leading roll out in the South West.* Innovating through projects such as ‘Memories Shared’ - a tablet project to bring down barriers and build confidence in using technology for older people by stimulating interest through reminiscence.* Project managing the refurbishment of Winscombe Library including community engagement and communications, liaison with property, ICT and local stakeholders.* Change management and strategy resulting in increased numbers of volunteers supporting libraries.* Chairing the Librarieswest Marketing Group.* Increasing use of social media to engage the local community and promote services.

Weston-Super-Mare, Gb

Senior Librarian (2006-2012) - Areas of strategic responsibility included information services, local and family history, People's Network and training.Projects and programmes included:* Researching and developing a project plan to implement RFID self service.* Community engagement and supporting a bid to Big Lottery Fund for new library development.* Developing equality impact assessments to plot potential impacts resulting from service changes.* Introducing Councillor and Chief Executive public online chat sessions. British Council/ MLA Future Leaders Travel Bursary - Trip to New York Public Libraries (2007)Three day tour of New York Public Libraries to develop a broader understanding of community engagement and inclusive services. Highlights include lunch meeting with Susan Kent, Director and Chief Executive of The Branch Libraries, discussion with an award winning librarian from Chatham Square Branch Library in China Town, an enthusiastic tour of the new Bronx Library Center, learning about the Planning for Results strategy and guided tour of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Harlem.

Gb

* Lead officer on the Somerset Gateway community information project, including partnership engagement, identifying funding streams, marketing and promotion, chairing the national user group for the database system including liaison with suppliers re the development of a new system.* Innovative Enquiry Centre, answering enquiries and seeking authoritative information on any subject via phone, email, fax, text and online chat.Top 10 Young Librarian – in 2006 I was selected as one of the country's top ten young librarians in a national competition by Love Libraries.The judges, who were made up of high profile reading and library representatives from across the country, said: "We were very impressed by Tabitha’s entry and her obvious passion and commitment to her work at the Somerset Library Service."

Bath, Gb

Various roles as part of MSc work placement, including paid customer service role and innovative project to catalogue electronic journal resources to facilitate remote access via reading lists.

* Managing the team responsible for providing medical case notes to consultant and health care teams, enabling provision of effective care and treatment.* Constant cycle of recruitment due to high turnover in staff. Design and implementation of new training and induction programme to address the retention issues.* Project managing the roll out of a new case note file system, including a organisation-wide training programme, liaison and negotiation with senior staff and change management to ensure effective transition to the new way of working.

Master'S Information And Library Management, Library And Information Science

Education record

Education record

Ba (Hons), History With Cultural Studies