Page 12 - link magazine

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AT YOUR LIBRARY
INTRODUCING ROCHELLE CLARKSON
RICHARD WALKER
77 High Street, Purton
Complete framing service with over 200 styles of
moulding to choose from.
Extensive range of pictures in stock or to order
from our catalogues.
Now also at West Swindon Centre.
Open six days a week.
Purton Shop open Mon., Tues., Thurs., Fri. 9.30-5.30
Sat. 9.30-12.30. Other times by arrangement.
Telephone: 771874 or 770124 evenings.
Give your home She tells me she has wonderfull pite careers advice that she would
a memories of that library - all be better off as a chiropodist (!)
facelift
9 ham whilst being allowed to
[90)
with bright 'new aluminium
or UPVC windows & patio doors
WE can't change the
view, but we can give
it a brighter frame.
Replace those old
windows and give
your home a facelift.
OKUS ROAD, SWINDON. TEL. 615262
More personal revelations this choirs, orchestra and recorder
month with assistant librarian group, she visited old people's
Rochelle Clarkson in the lime- homes (not to deliver books!) to
light! Yet another Lancashire sing and entertain and discover
lass, Rochelle was born in Roch- how much being with people
dale where she lived up until the mattered to her. Having decided
age of 4 and despite trying very from an early age that she
hard, recollectons are very dim! wanted to be a librarian, Rochelle
Just after her fourth birthday her became involved with the school
father's job brought her to library. The school boasted a
Devizes. First memories are of purpose built library the size of
Devizes as being an extremely a small branch and Rochelle
busy and yet friendly town - worked with the senior assistant
unpedestrianised and not as at shelving, issuing books and all
developed as it is today, Rochelle the basic library routines which
remembers her back garden giv- would give her career a good
ing way to a massive car park start.
development with the arrival of Determined to qualify as a
Tesco. librarian, Rochelle started work
Educated at Southbroom infant on a voluntary basis at Chippen-
and junior school in Devizes, ham central library. This soon
Rochelle also had books play a led to the post of Saturday assist-
prominent part in her early life. ant and additional work during
She admits to a facination with school holidays. She remembers
the arts from her junior school with horror - the old card issue
days, and when she was not play- system and was fortunate enough
ing the recorder and participating to see the implementation of
in poetry and musical competi- Wiltshire's Plessey computer
tions, she was wrapped in the system. The yards of barcodes to
world of Mable Ester Allan, be matched with thousands of
Noel Streatford and Eve Garnet. books did not dissuade Rochelle
By the age of 9, Rochelle had from her fundamental belief that
discovered Devizes library which computers are the best thing
she visited everyday on her way since the proverbial sliced bread!
home from school. All credit to Rochelle chose her 'A' level
Devizes library staff who demon- subjects, English, history and
strated a great deal of patience at environmental studies with a view
Rochelle's constant 'pestering'. to a place at Brighton Poly. Des-
wood, peace and sunshine! From
Rochelle did go on to take a B.A.
this period of her life has re- in librarianship at Brighton. She
mained her great love of the was able to further her artistic
Brontes (did you ever wonder interests in opting for media
why there is so much on West orientated courses at College.
Swnidon's shelves!). An inveterate 'cinema buff, the
After 6 years Rochelle moved media options allowed her to
to Lacock with all its rural attrac- reconcile her love of the arts and
tions. She had the advantage of a her love of people.
secondary education in Chippen- After graduation Rochelle
returned to Wiltshire Library
indulge her interests. She has and Museum Service for a short
lovely memories of 'blackberry
spell in cataloguing at Trowbridge
time' and cows practically in the before being offered an assistant
front garden. Lacock was very post at the shortly to be opened,
different in those days - not West Swindon library. In addi-
quite so touristy but with all the tion to her responsibilities for the
excitement of the Lacock and urban mobile service, she has
Chippenham Folk Festival each been able to use West Swindon's
year - the American and Japan- space to develop the community
ese tourists had not discovered
information corner as well as to
Lacock en masse in those days! make her own information dis-
Secondary education for plays.
Rochelle was the Chippenham West Swindon is just the start
Hardenhuish school. Hers was for Rochelle's professional career
the last 'all girl year' before the in libraries but she admits it has
arrival of the comprehensive given her a solid foundation for
system when the school amal- the future. Last word from
gamated with the local grammar Rochelle on the community we
school. Literature and music serve "a searching, demanding
were now an integral part of and active people" from who she
Rochelle's life - a member of 2 has learned a lot.
by Linda Black