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Where Daniella dares!

Not, I'm pleased to say, a post about Truth and Dare but another opportunity to lightly interrogate a new member of the BIALL Council. This time around the victim..volunteer is Daniella King past Chair of the Publications Committee and current BIALL President Elect.

First up, What is your background and how did you get into Law Librarianship?

Well - I do remember playing "libraries" as a child and having all my Ladybird books in title and subject order. Maybe I shouldn't admit such things but it shows I started young ! At University - I had originally intended to become a history teacher - but a chat to a nice lady from the Library Association (now CILIP) at a Careers Fair - made me see the error of my ways and I decided to follow the path of librarianship instead !

How would you describe yourself in three words?

I suppose the words chosen would depend on whether a friend or foe was describing me ! Words from the top of my head would be loyal, culture-loving and organized ! I hope that doesn't make me sound too boring.

You've done a lot of work for BIALL already, what do you find most rewarding and why did you stand for BIALL President Elect?

I have been on the Publication's Committee since 2002 - as Chair for the last three. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time - despite the missed lunch hours and having to work late on BIALL projects - and feel it has helped me both personally and professionally. As I was standing down from this - I wanted to make sure that I would still be involved in BIALL which I regard as a very important association. So when the opportunity to run for President Elect arose - I jumped at the chance.

So...BIALL Vice President, taking minutes, attending meetings and a nice Gold Badge?

Well - I do have a nice new gold badge but am still awaiting the tiara - maybe that has got lost in the post or maybe I just dreamt I was getting one of those ! I will definitely be attending lots of meetings I am sure. I won't be talking minutes though as that is ably done by the BIALL Secretary.

What are your priorities for the next year as BIALL Vice President and Chair of the Strategy and Finance Committee?

I have two main priorities over the next year which involve finance and archives.
As a part of my official role as President Elect - I am also the Chair of the Strategy and Finance Committee. The function of this Committee is to advise the Council on strategic and financial issues effecting BIALL. We are an organization which exists for the benefits of our members and is financed by the subscription fees paid for by our members so it is important that we are seen to be accountable and am acting in the best interest of our members.I have also volunteered to look into the Archives. The BIALL archives are currently looked after by our Honourary Archivist Mary Blake who has been doing a brilliant job over the years. However, we do need to look long term and to find them a permanent home and also to look into the issues of electronic storage and hopefully making more of this archive available electronically via the BIALL website. This is a project which I have only just kicked off - so it's all very early days - so watch this space !

You're on a desert island, what BIALL Publication would you take with you and why?

As the former Chair of the Publication's Committee - my initial answer would be that there are so many to choose from that I am spoilt for choice !!! However - if you are putting a gun to my head for one answer I suppose I would have to say the BIALL Newsletter. Always full of interesting and relevant news and also features regarding prominent people in our profession.

If your life wasn't already busy enough what with being a Library and Information Manager and as President Elect of BIALL - You've just a launched a new venture with Sue Doe (Former BIALL Chair) called " Steps in the City " ..... tell us more!

Maybe I just have a fetish for badges ... as I now have my BIALL one and also my Tour Guiding Badge !
Yes it is true - Sue and I have just both successfully completed a course which is sponsored by the Corporation of London called the City Badge Course which means we are qualified to tour guide in the City of London.
We have absolutely no intentions of giving up the day job - but this is something to do in our free time. We put together various walking tours lasting between 1-2 hours which will introduce people to a specific area of London.
The only problem is that several people at work have heard about it - which has resulted in me now giving trips around "Legal London" for the Summer Students and Trainees and even a tour on "Licentious Lawyers of Old Westminster" for some of the Partners here. They have now told me it's in my job contract to provide them with fun tours - it must be in the very small print - as I can't see it !

It sounds suspiciously like a walking tour is going to involve some "walking" how many miles do you think you have clocked up so far?

Yes - walking is compulsory ! Even my Historical Pub Crawls involve some amount of walking but hopefully good fun will be had by one and all !

I bet you must have some really gruesome/interesting facts about London, care to share some with us?

Samuel Johnson once said :-
"When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford"
Although the quote is now over 200 years old - it is still very relevant today ! Whether it is the City, the West End or the outskirts - there is always some hidden gem of a building or a tale about someone famous who lived in a particular building. I am particularly fond of East London as that is where I was born and bred ... and where some of my ancestors have lived for at least 300 years. Researching these walks are always personally interesting and have resulted in me finding a few skeletons in the attic !

I understand you are looking for a new name for the venture, have you had any good suggestions yet?

So far - no suggestions as many people seem to like the name - but we are still hoping for some ideas and there is a bottle of champagne for the winner

Finally...what is your favourite meal?

Anyone who knows me will know the answer to this immediately - I didn't even had to think of it ! It has to be cheese ! I could quite happily eat cheese morning, noon and night ! Actually .... why am I spending time talking to the BIALL Blogger when I could be eating some lovely smelly camembert with crusty new bread .... bye !

Many thanks to Daniella for answering all the questions posed by the BIALL Blogger!

Full post as published by The BIALL Blog on July 31, 2008 (boomark / email).