Goodbye and thanks for all the fish!

Yesterday was the last day of my secondment with QUT Kelvin Grove Library Reference Creative Industries team as Reference Librarian. I'd been working as the reference librarian since May this year, and had also (in recent weeks) picked up another secondment as monographs assistant in Library Resource Services for one day a week - that is now also finished. So on Tuesday 3rd January 2006 I will return to my substantive position of Document Delivery Assistant at QUT Gardens Point Library

I have not been in my substantive position since May 2004 so it is almost like starting all over again. And considering I go on maternity leave in 5 weeks time, it seems hardly worth returning. However, I bring back many skills and experiences that I hope to be able to share with the Document Delivery team before embarking on maternity leave. See my full resume to track my secondment travels: http://www.alia.org.au/~suthmann/onlineresumes.htm

This is the thing with secondments, they usually, at some point come to an end and it is not always easy for the secondee or the secondees teams to deal with. Depending on the length of secondment and level of enjoyment/challenge one has obtained from being seconded, the difficulty level varies. For me I think it will be difficult. It is definately sad leaving reference behind as it was such a great experience and I worked for such a great team - but then leaving Library Systems in May this year was also difficult due to the working relationships I built.

Alas, I take it in my stride and know that I will be facing a greater life challenge in the coming months, that of becoming a mother!! 8-) A challenge I look forward to but also am very nervous about.