Thanks to Nevena Tomic, Subject Specialist at KAUST, Saudi Arabia, and member of IOP Publishing’s Library Advisory Board, for agreeing to take part in our Librarian Spotlight interview series.

“Be bold, be brave, and be proud of your profession. Our position and perspective in the research community is unique, do not feel afraid to share your opinion.”

• Why did you become a librarian?

Librarianship is my main passion. I loved libraries from the earliest age, and becoming a librarian was more of following my heart, than a rational decision. My Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD degree are all in library and information science. I still very much enjoy the journey that started more than two decades ago.

• What’s the best thing about being a librarian?

For an academic librarian it’s observing and supporting the miracle called science.

• Tell us about your favourite book

There are many, but I would say for 2023 there are two that inspired me, both about the same person, French artist Francoise Gillot – Life With Picasso and The Woman Who Says No: Francoise Gillot on Her Life With and Without Picasso.

• After a hard day, how do you relax?

My favourite passive weekend mode is reading a book at KAUST’s South Beach on the Red Sea, my daily stress reliever is the gym.

• In your opinion, what are the most important skills to have when working as a librarian?

Passion for learning and sharing knowledge, open-mindedness, social skills, and dedication to the research community.

• What’s your favourite place in your library?

I am lucky to work in a library with the most gorgeous view of the Red Sea and the KAUST beacon (King Abdullah’s vision for KAUST was to be a beacon of knowledge that bridges people and cultures for the betterment of society). So, my favourite place is open space with glass wall that looks to the beacon (photo below).

• Is there anything you would like to share with other librarians?

Be bold, be brave, and be proud of your profession. Our position and perspective in the research community is unique, do not feel afraid to share your opinion.

• What is your favourite part of the day at work?

I like early mornings; they are opening the first page of a new book.

• Could you give us one book recommendation that everyone should read?

I think everybody should read Viktor Frankl’s Man’s Search for Meaning.

• If you had to describe a library in one word (or short phrase) what would it be?

It’s not possible to do that in one word, but Borhes did it masterfully in his short story The Library of Babel.