Do one thing every day that scares you.

Annabel, a qualified librarian working in a high achieving girls’ grammar school, has a large library with a stock of around 15,000 volumes, predominantly less than ten years old. She has had outstanding inspection reports praising the use of the library by staff and students and the efficiency and professionalism with which she and her assistant run it. However the library is never mentioned in school publicity and Annabel does not engage in any activity outside the library – not even exchanging views with other librarians. Annabel feels comfortable in her work and she responds efficiently to requests. As the years pass Annabel continues to be very capable but finds it increasingly difficult to relate to the younger students. The library is still seen as a ‘good thing’ inside the school but the teachers don't stop to talk or think about it very much. When a new head teacher arrives and the budget is under pressure, the library is the first target to be looked at for cuts.

Saleha has worked in her school library for ten years. She is now increasingly conscious of the need to explore new possibilities and find inspiration in order to keep herself fresh and to drive the library forward. She wants to ensure that she maintains an identifiable place in her community. She has a well stocked, efficiently run library, which is fully used by staff and students alike; she feels that she has the respect of her colleagues. She enjoys her job but still she constantly looks for more. What drives this?