Meet Your Local Library Staff

Since we want you to tell us about what you like to read, we thought it only fair to tell you a little about what the staff who you meet in your local library enjoy. So please scroll down to Meet Your Local Library Staff.

Alexandra – Library Assistant (Central Library)

My reading tastes: I generally like books that are considered quite quirky. I also like stories that have a dark and sinister thread to them that leave you feeling melancholy.

My all time favourite 5 books:

Life of Pi – Yann Martel
What the Birds See – Sonya Hartnett
The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy – Tim Burton
Skellig – David Almond
Squids will be Squids – Jon Scieszka & Lane Smith

My favourite childhood book: Comet in Moominland – Tove Jansson

My favourite place to read: In bed. Subdued light. Box of Maltesers. Sleepy cat.

Anne - Service Supervisor (Children and Young People)

My reading tastes: I particularly enjoy reading children's fiction and fiction where the characters go back to their previous lives - hence my favourite author is Barbara Erskine.

My all time favourite 5 books:

Midnight is a Lonely Place - Barbara Erskine
Cashelmara - Susan Howatch
Little Women - Louisa M. Alcott
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe - C.S. Lewis
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - J.K. Rowling

My favourite childhood book: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. I also loved Heidi by Johanna Spyri and the Chalet School books.

My favourite place to read: In bed or on the sofa in the conservatory, with a cup of tea and a couple of biscuits, or in the garden on a sunny day.

Angela – Library Assistant (Central Library)

My reading tastes: I enjoy reading mainly crime with a good murder or murders. I read the occasional horror story and enjoy a good thriller sometimes.

My all time favourite 5 books:

The Treatment – Mo Hayder
Tokyo – Mo Hayder
Hannibal – Thomas Harris
The Bone Collector – Jeffrey Deaver
Tell No One – Harlan Coben

My favourite childhood book: Cinderella

My favourite place to read: Holidays – on the sun bed with a sangria

Annette – Library Assistant

My reading tastes: Reading tastes vary from Harry Potter to Anya Seton. I like historical, romance, modern novels, anything unusual with a good story.

My all time favourite 5 books:

Katherine - Anya Seton
Lady of Hay - Barbara Erskine
The Island - Victoria Hislop
Precious Time - Erica James
All the Harry Potter series - J K Rowling

My favourite childhood book: The St. Clares Series - Enid Blyton

My favourite place to read: In the conservatory in the sun!

Holly – Library Support Assistant (Central Library)

My reading tastes: Adventure books set in the past, informative books on relevant areas of interest.

My all time favourite 5 books:

Under the Eagle – Simon Scarrow
Druss the Legend – David A Gemmell
Clan of the Cave Bear – Jean M Auel
Shelters of Stone – Jean M Auel
Definitive Book of Body Language – Allan Pease

My favourite childhood book: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

My favourite place to read: Bedroom, in evening, stormy weather, rain etc.

Jan - Library Assistant (Brigg Library)

My reading tastes: I like to read histories and biographies, things that have true stories. I read a lot of celebrity's biographies and find it amazing how well they have done for themselves when you see some of the backgrounds they have come from. Also I like something a bit humorous, and classics.

My all time favourite 5 books:

Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte
Black Beauty - Anna Sewell
Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens
Goodnight Mr Tom - Michelle Magorian
Ready or Not - Chris Manby

My favourite childhood book: Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte

My favourite place to read: In bed tucked up under the duvet or on a sunny beach with a cold drink.

Janina – Library Assistant (Central Library)

My reading tastes: Chick Lit

My all time favourite 5 books:

The secret dreamworld of a shopaholic – Sophie Kinsella
Shopaholic abroad – Sophie Kinsella
Shopaholic ties the knot – Sophie Kinsella
Shopaholic and sister – Sophie Kinsella
Shopaholic and baby – Sophie Kinsella

My favourite childhood book: The magic faraway tree – Enid Blyton

My favourite place to read: On a beach “faraway” sipping a cocktail on white sands with turquoise sea lapping at my feet.

Jen – Library Assistant (Central Library)

My reading tastes: Varied

My all time favourite 5 books:

Inca Gold – Clive Cussler
Hiding from the Light – Barbara Erskine
One Summer at Deer’s Leap – Elizabeth Elgin
Walking on Air – Christina Jones
Silent Honour – Danielle Steel

My favourite childhood book: Little Women – Laura M. Alcott

My favourite place to read: Holiday, under a parasol with a cool long drink, a nice breeze blowing on the balcony. Or every night just before bedtime.

Jeremy - Janitor

My reading tastes: Mixed. Sci-fi, occasional romance, and horror (because it's closer to real-life that romance!).

My all time favourite 5 books:

Forensics for Dummies - Douglas Lyle
Evil Love - Geoffrey Wansell (not exactly a favourite, but it's something that should be read)
Settling Accounts: In at the Death - Harry Turtledove
The Woman in Black - Susan Hill
Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan - Vonda N McIntyre

My favourite childhood book: The Hobbit. Also Victor. Lion, Hotspur, TV Century 21, Battle and 2000AD comics.

My favourite place to read: In a bar on holiday, with a good meal and a drink in hand, watching all the people pass by in their holiday gear.

Joan – Library Assistant (Barton Library)

My reading tastes: My reading tastes are varied. I enjoy a good novel as much as dipping into favourite non-fiction.

My all time favourite 5 books:

The Diary of Samuel Pepys
Untold Stories - Alan Bennett
The Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck
Great Britons- The Great Debate
The Colour - Rose Tremain

My favourite childhood book: Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame

My favourite place to read: Always when I go to bed

Josephine - Library Support Assistant (Central Library)

My reading tastes: I particularly enjoy reading fiction – historical, fantasy or anything strange and/or mysterious. In terms of non-fiction I like to use fashion and dress-making books to help me with my studies and hobbies.

My all time favourite 5 books:

Shadow of the Wind – Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Boudica (series) – Manda Scott
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – J.K. Rowling
Lucas – Kevin Brooks
Labyrinth – Kate Mosse

My favourite childhood book: Burglar Bill – Janet Ahlberg

My favourite place to read: Outdoors under a tree in the late day sun. (A glass of wine goes down a treat too with a good book).

Julia – Library Assistant

My reading tastes: Various reading tastes, but prefer historical romance and intrigue. Also mystery with a twist of the unexpected and the modern woman romance not necessarily love and devotion.

My all time favourite 5 books:

Highland Fling - Katie Fforde
Digital Fortress - Dan Brown
False Impression - Jeffrey Archer
All the ‘Potter books’
All the Mary Balogh books – Slightly/ wicked/ sheer

My favourite childhood book: Jane Eyre – Charlotte Bronte

My favourite place to read: In peace and quiet at any time. Do not eat foods.

Kate - Library Assistant (Crowle Library)

My reading tastes: I prefer a history novel or crime (a good murder) so I can escape from the stress of life.

My all time favourite 5 books:

World Without End - Ken Follett
Sepulchre - Kate Mosse
Relentless - Simon Kernick
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - J K Rowling
The Island - Victoria Hislop

My favourite childhood book: The Railway Children by E Nesbit

My favourite place to read: Curled up in bed, or in the garden on a warm summer's day, or on holiday.

Lesley – Service Supervisor

My reading tastes: Modern/historical fiction based on fact. Non-fiction – instruction, general knowledge type subjects e.g. cooking, craft, computer “how to”, travel, finance.

My all time favourite 5 books:

Pillars of the Earth – Ken Follett
Lady of Hay – Barbara Erskine
Gone with the Wind – Margaret Mitchell
Sushi for Beginners – Marian Keyes
Thorn Birds – Colleen McCullough
Clan of the Cave Bear – Jean Auel
The Time Traveller’s Wife – Audrey Niffenegger

My favourite childhood book: Magic Faraway Tree and Famous Five series – Enid Blyton

My favourite place to read: On holiday, outside on sunny days. Inside on cold or rainy days. Staff room, travelling in trains, cars and coaches etc.

Lin – Library Assistant (Central Library)

My reading tastes: Children’s books / trashy novels e.g. Jackie Collins, Jilly Cooper etc.

My all time favourite 5 books:

Gone with the Wind – Margaret Mitchell
How Hedley Hopkins did a dare… - Paul Jennings
Children of the Red King series – Jenny Nimmo
Face to face – Alison Brodie
Chrestomanci series – Diana Wynne Jones

My favourite childhood book: Bobby Brewster series by H.E. Todd / Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery

My favourite place to read: Bedtime

Liz - Library Assistant (Central Library)

My reading tastes: Diverse - especially something that changes the way we think and gives us food for thought and contemplation.

My all time favourite 5 books:

The five people you meet in heaven - Mitch Albom
Kingdom by the Sea - Robert Westall
War Horse - Michael Morpurgo
Birth of Venus - Sarah Dunant
La Cucina - Lily Prior

My favourite childhood book: The Bear Nobody Wanted - Janet & Allan Ahlberg.

My favourite place to read: Sofa, conservatory or outdoors.

Lizzie – Library Assistant (Barton)

My reading tastes: Varied. I particularly enjoy modern day chic-lit with a bit of an edge for my bedtime reading but I also read a lot of cook books or other information books that take my fancy. At the moment I have book out on Quantum Theory – it is actually a really fun book and written in easy light-hearted manner.

My all time favourite 5 books:

A Long Way Down – Nick Hornby
The Tadpole’s Promice – Jeanne Willis
The Silver Sword – Ian Serraillier
On Beauty - Zadie Smith
The Hobbit – JRR Tolkien

My favourite childhood book: Judy Blume’s Deenie

My favourite place to read: I mostly read in bed. I find it very relaxing and often fall asleep with my book still in my hands.

Lorraine – Library Assistant (Westcliff)

My reading tastes: I have a variety of reading tastes. I really enjoy any Nora Roberts books (whether they be romance, magic or crime). I enjoy suspense/murder/crime books, as well as horror and fantasy!

My all time favourite 5 books:

in Death series… - J.D. Robb (Nora Roberts) (I can’t pick out one)
The Stand - Stephen King
Johnny and the bomb - Terry Pratchett (This is in the children’s section, but a good read for all ages.
Magic Kingdom for Sale/Sold - Terry Brooks
Blue Smoke - Nora Roberts

My favourite childhood book: The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

My favourite place to read: I love to read anywhere at any time, but especially late at night, curled up on the settee, wrapped in a blanket with a glass of wine and a bag of Maltesers!!

Lucy – Library Assistant (Central Library)

My reading tastes: Sometimes can be eclectic – a variety of genres and non-fiction.

My all time favourite 5 books:

Atonement – Ian McEwan
Behind the Scenes at the Museum – Kate Atkinson
Cat’s Eye – Margaret Atwood
Alias Grace – Margaret Atwood
Perfume – Patrick Suskind

My favourite childhood book: Famous Five series – Enid Blyton

My favourite place to read: At the table e.g. staffroom at lunchtime, at evening meal.

Mary – Library Assistant (Central Library)

My reading tastes: My reading tastes are quite varied – I like good mysteries, I enjoy the classics but if someone recommends a book to me that is not what I would normally read I usually will try it.

My all time favourite 5 books:

Pride and Prejudice – Jane Austen
Fair Stood on the Wind for France – H.E. Bates
A Kind of Loving – Stan Barstow
Birdsong – Sebastian Faulkes
The Scarlet Pimpernel – Baroness Orczy

My favourite childhood book: Dr Doolittle – Hugh Lofting

My favourite place to read: In bed at night.

Nicola - Library Assistant (Brigg Library)

My reading tastes: I read all sorts, anything that catches my eye but worryingly do seem to gravitate towards forensic pathologists and serial killers (anything with blood splatter).

My all time favourite 5 reads:

The Horse Whisperer - Nicholas Evans
Angels and Demons - Dan Brown
North and South - Elizabeth Gaskell
My Sword Hand is Singing - Marcus Sedgwick
Grave Secrets - Kathy Reichs

My favourite childhood book: Watership Down - Richard Adams

My favourite place to read: Conservatory, rain lashing, wind howling, dog snoring, cappuccino and a wagonwheel.

Pam – Library Assistant (Relief)

My reading tastes: Because I never seem to get much time to read, I prefer to learn about people and/or events. However, I like to read a more light-hearted book in between the “heavies”.

My all time favourite 5 books:

An Evil Cradling - Brian Keenan (About his time as a hostage in Beirut)
Into the Arms of Strangers: Stories of the Kindertransport - Mark Jonathan Harris
Blue-eyed Son - Nicki Campbell (His search for his birth family)
Falling Leaves Return to their Roots:the true story of an unwanted Chinese Daughter - Adeline Yen Mah
Nothing is Impossible - Christopher Reeves

My favourite childhood book: Black Beauty by Anna Sewell

My favourite place to read: In my dreams it would be on a tropical beach somewhere with a long, cool drink. In reality, it is in the living room on a winter’s day with a mug of coffee.

Pauline - Library Assistant (Central Library)

My Reading tastes: Varied subject matters, but well written, thought provoking or emotionally moving, with believable characters.

My all time favourite 5 books:

Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte
History of Love - Nicole Krauss
Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden
Oyster Catchers - Sue Fletcher
Thousand Splendid Suns - Khaled Hussein

My favourite childhood book: Heidi

My favourite place to read: Anywhere nice and warm and comfortable.

Rachel – Library Support Assistant (Central Library)

My reading tastes: I don’t usually have much time to read but when I do have the time I usually got for fiction rather than non-fiction. I like mysteries and tragedies as well as the romantic comedies.

My all time favourite 5 books:

The Collector – John Fowles
The Color Purple – Alice Walker
Mates, Dates and Sleepover Secrets – Cathy Hopkins
To Kill a Mockingbird – Harper Lee
Wuthering Heights – Emily Bronte

My favourite childhood book: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, but my favourite book from early childhood was Old Bear and His Friends by Jane Hissey

My favourite place to read: On holiday whilst sunbathing.

Sonia – Library Assistant (Westcliff)

My reading tastes: I enjoy Martina Cole - modern day crime. I also enjoy Lesley Pearse.

My all time favourite 5 books:

Remember me - Lesley Pearse
The Runaway - Martina Cole
Hope - Lesley Pearse
Georgia - Lesley Pearse
Lesser Evil - Lesley Pearse

My favourite childhood book: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe – C.S. Lewis

My favourite place to read: In bed.

Sophie – Library Support Assistant (Central Library)

My reading tastes: A wide range including fantasy, romantic and non-fiction (autobiographies mainly). I don’t like crime and mystery much.

My all time favourite 5 books:

To Kill a Mockingbird – Harper Lee
Atonement – Ian McEwan
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Price – J.K. Rowling
PS I Love You – Cecelia Ahern
Anne of Green Gables – L.M. Montgomery

My favourite childhood book: The Famous Five – Enid Blyton

My favourite place to read: In bed – morning (Sunday) or evening. On the beach on holiday. During school holidays.

Sue – Library Assistant (Education Library Service)

My reading tastes: Varied. Will try anything once but if I find I don’t like a genre I tend to avoid it.

My all time favourite 5 books:

Far From the Madding Crowd - Thomas Hardy
Little Women – Louisa M Alcott
Clan of the Cave Bear – Jean Auel
Winnie the Pooh – A A Milne
Notes from a Small Island – Bill Bryson

My favourite childhood book: Winnie the Pooh

My favourite place to read: Late at night just before bed.

Sue – Library Assistant (Central Library)

My reading tastes: I like mysteries, horror and some biographies and general fiction.

My all time favourite 5 books:

Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte
The Stand - Stephen King
Dombey and Son – Charles Dickens
Pride and Prejudice – Jane Austen
The Fog – James Herbert

My favourite childhood book: Any Lone Pine Story by Malcolm Saville

My favourite place to read: I like to read after tea when I have a free couple of hours (unless I’m really tired!)

Sue - Library Assistant (Riddings Library)

My reading tastes: Varied - adventure fantasy, allotment gardening, historical, murder, un-cheffy cookery.

My all time favourite 5 books:

The Persian Boy - Mary Renault
Memory, Sorrow and Thorn - Tad Williams (a trilogy - I can't choose between them)
The Winter King - Bernard Cornwell
The Crystal Cave - Mary Stewart (in fact the whole series)
Alloted Time - Robin Shelton

My favourite childhood book: When We Were Very Young - A.A. Milne

My favourite place to read: A nice steamy, herbal bath (disturb me at you peril!!)

Teresa – Service Supervisor

My reading tastes: Like a good mystery/thriller. Alternatively a good historical fiction for holidays. Travel and history would be my factual choices.

My all time favourite 5 books:

Postmortem – Patricia Cornwell
Last Empress – Anchee Min
Alone on a Wide Wide Sea – Michael Morpurgo
Operation Red Jericho – Joshua Mowll
Little Women – Louisa M. Alcott

My favourite childhood book: Little Women and sequels!

My favourite place to read: Outside in a hammock, with a sunshade just covering the top of my head and the book, on a warm sunny day! Drink by my side!

Terri – Library Assistant (Central Library)

My reading tastes: I have always enjoyed reading and will try new genres although I come back to old favourites.

My all time favourite 5 books:

All quiet on the Western front – Erich Maria Remarque
Jane Eyre – Charlotte Bronte
Earth’s Children – Jean Auel
Scarlet Pimpernel - Baroness Orczy

My favourite childhood book: The Eagle of the Ninth – Rosemary Sutcliff

My favourite place to read: In my sunny conservatory, sun streaming in, cup of tea and biscuit to hand.

Veronica - Library Assistant

My reading tastes: Family sagas. Easy and relaxing to read. Nothing unpleasant or gory, just ordinary family life, preferably 1940's.

My all time favourite 5 books:

Cuckoo Child - Katie Flynn
Fallen Angels - Valerie Wood
Goodbye Liverpool - Anne Baker
Doorstep Girls - Valerie Wood
Orphan of Angel Street - Annie Murray

My favourite childhood book: Heidi - Johanna Spyri

My favourite place to read: In bed or sat in the sunshine with a cup of tea.

Now that you've seen what your local library staff like to read why not see your local librarians' choices.