EMER Collins’ mother always instilled a love of reading into her.
“We lived in the countryside, two miles from the nearest village,” says Emer, who works in Cork County Library Headquarters in Carrigrohane, supporting 70 book clubs.
“We were five miles from Mitchelstown and eight miles from Fermoy. My mother spotted the mobile library passing by every two weeks and asked in Fermoy Library if it would stop outside our house.”
The mobile library duly obliged.
“This they did thankfully,” says Emer.
We were avid readers. We loved books from a young age, encouraged by our mother who loved reading. She read aloud to us and taught us to read before starting school.
At secondary school in Mitchelstown Presentation Convent, Emer got good advice from the careers’ advisor, Sr Assumpta.
“She encouraged us to apply for the position of clerical officers and library assistants with Cork County Council, which was advertised in the Cork Examiner.”
Emer took the advice on board.
“I applied for the job of Library Assistant as I thought it would be nice to work directly with the public, and with books; a pleasant occupation!”
Emer was successful at the interview.
“My first post was based in Cork city in the mobile library travelling to Ballincollig, Blarney, Carrigaline, Glanmire and other communities around the city environs,” says Emer.
“Following this, I was sent to Bantry and worked on the West Cork Mobile for five years.”
Emer learned a lot.
“I learned about how to deal with people in a diplomatic way, from the mobile library driver Sean O’Brien,” says Emer.
“Sean was knowledgeable, kind and good-humoured. I enjoyed my time there. It was a great experience meeting lots of different characters all around West Cork. Some were self-sufficient living off the land, some from Britian, Germany, and the Netherlands who settled on the coast, and some who were isolated in rural areas.”
Emer is a people person.
“I enjoy working with people and helping people,” says Emer.
Young people are full of energy, enthusiasm and they are enjoyable. Older people have great stories of their experiences, a lot of knowledge, great advice, and they are good fun.
The majority of Emer’s working life was spent in Bandon Library with a wonderful team.
“In Bandon, we had an Adult Literacy Day and tutors from NALA were present to help,” says Emer.
“They were approached by three adults on the day who missed out on learning to read as children. I was delighted at the time, that they felt comfortable enough to approach us and look for help on something so personal at the time, and at the time stigmatised.”
Emer was always willing to lend a helping hand.
“A parent came into Bandon Library looking for some books from a list for their child with dyslexia,” says Emer.
“I could only offer two, so I contacted the County Librarian and asked to buy some. We bought a collection of books for children with dyslexia, we liaised with our local Educational Psychiatrist Anne Hales (RIP), who supported us and sent parents to us who wanted to help their children.”
Emer is pro-active.
“We organised a panel of local teachers to come in once a month to spend Saturday afternoon in the library to help and advise parents on how they could assist their children with their reading.” The librarians’ input made an impact.
“This service was well used and appreciated,” says Emer.
“Dyslexia-friendly books are in every library in the county now.”
Emer, who has tact and diplomacy, often put her traits to good use.
“An older gentleman came into us one day and took his books out of a plastic bag and placed them on the counter,” says Emer.
There was a surprise in store.
There were three raw sausages on top of the books!
What happened?
“He grabbed them and put them into his bag and proceeded to go to the shelves to choose his books. Not a word was exchanged! When I reached for the books, I noticed the top one was a book on pig production! I had to crouch down at the desk so he wouldn’t see me laughing!”
Emer reached out to people near and far.
“I received an email from a writer, a Bandon native, now living abroad, thanking me for encouraging her as a teenager.”
The email read: ‘When I was a teenager, you asked me to write a book review for the the Evening Echo and that was the first time I was published! I got book vouchers for the review. I bought The Catcher In The Rye and The Little Prince which were both life-changing. Especially Salinger.
“I’m in New Zealand but go back to Bandon at least every two years and I go straight to the library (with mum’s card)!
I’m also certain that you upped my borrowing/membership so I could access more books, meaning I could borrow The Bell Jar, and no book has ever surpassed that book in this heart.
“You’ve been instrumental in my development as a reader and a writer and I’m happy to be able to tell you that.’
With all those lovely experiences and inter-actions with people along the way, Emer is now based in Cork County Library headquarters in Carrigrohane.
“I support 70 adult book clubs,” she says.
We have book clubs in most library branches and mobiles. We support workplace book clubs, book clubs in nursing homes, and we can support those who want to start their own.
“Recently, we have started a book club for the Ukrainian people living on Sherkin Island.”
Emer buys the book club titles and distributes them to county library branches.
“When choosing books, to buy we like to support Irish authors as well as international authors,” she says.
“I take recommendations from library colleagues; some of them are very well read. I keep a close eye on trends.”
What is proving popular now?
“Books that have been translated into English are gaining popularity,” says Emer.
“This trend will open us up to more cultures that ever before.”
Book Club titles are chosen from many genres.
“This is to cater for all tastes,” says Emer.
“Literary, Light, Contemporary, LGBTQIA+ Irish, Humorous, Classics, and Non-Fiction. I buy the books from Irish suppliers.”
And she continues to be an avid reader.
“I am a member of two book clubs,” says Emer.
“One is a Pub Book Club! We were originally to meet in a wine and tapas restaurant, but it closed down. We meet quarterly and it’s a very relaxed get-together.
The other is a home-based book club where each of us host a meeting once a month, no fuss, just tea and biscuits, so there’s no pressure on anyone and each person chooses a book in turn.
Emer is very fond of her fellow members.
“I have grown very fond of my book club buddies over the years,” she says.
“I have learned to appreciate opinions that are different from my own. I really missed them during Covid.”
Emer is a fan of such clubs.
“A book club is a great way to connect with others over the love of books and stories,” she says.
“You can be introduced to authors and books outside your comfort zone. You can learn about other people’s lives beyond your own. The advantage of using book club library title is, if you don’t like the book, you can just give it back and haven’t wasted any money! We are making book clubs more accessible by buying books in different formats,” says Emer.
“For example, book club titles in Large Print, on Audio CDs, Quick Reads, ebooks in the Ukrainian language and Irish language books.”
The library has great value to the community.
“To me, the library in any community belongs to its users,” says Emer.
“It’s a safe public space where local needs can be met. This wouldn’t happen without the dedication and backing of a forward-thinking, hard-working management team.”