Books Are My Business: Lori Moriarty, librarian, Laois County Council
Lori Moriarty is a librarian with Laois County Council
I started off on an academic path. I did my degree in UCC and an MPhil in Popular Literature in TCD. I started a PhD in UCD, then realised it wasn’t for me. I had always been a tour guide in the summer, then I did that full-time for the OPW in Kilkenny Castle, and I loved it. When I saw the job advertised in the library, I thought that books have always been there for me and it was the right time to get into it.
One of the things I love about working with the public is that it involves a bit of everything. You can be covered in glitter one minute, giving book recommendations the next or setting up for an event. I love that kind of day where you can be doing 50 different things. I also love chatting to people.
Children’s Book Ireland did some training on book recommendations for young adults through the Library Association of Ireland. They were also looking for reviewers which sounded brilliant, so I started doing that. I had done a parenting section in our library after covid, as a lot of parents were coming in with anxious kids. We had done a picture book section covering feelings, milestones, and celebrating difference and it was so popular. With my own kids, I had realised how many amazing books are out there for children, especially by Irish authors. Then they did a callout for book doctors, I did an interview and got a position. I absolutely love it. I could be in the middle of a field at a sports day, at a festival, or corporate events. I love talking to a child and coming up with books they might find interesting. It is not about the parents or getting them to read ‘proper’ books, it is about finding something the love, and in a way they can access, whether it be a graphic novel, an audiobook, or an actual book.
As a librarian, it is how dynamic it can be but the backbone of everything is literacy and books — putting the right book into someone’s hands at the right time. That goes for the book doctor role as well. And also being able to recommend books by Irish authors — which is why I got involved with the Discover Irish Children’s Books campaign, which encourages people to support books by Irish authors and those based in Ireland.
I never have enough time. The flip side of that is I am always busy though and I do love that as well.
It is a space where nothing is expected of them — they can just be themselves, it is not going to cost them money. It is really rewarding when you see someone find what they like to read or do — even if a kid comes in and does a coding club in the library or tries out chess. They can come in and try these things for free or they can discover a book where they can see themselves in it. It gives them a sense of connection.
There are two books I can’t stop thinking about — by Catherine Ryan Howard and by Mark O’Connell. One is crime fiction but it is really talking about non-fiction subjects and the other is non-fiction and it is talking about our relationship with fiction and how we make stories up. I also just finished listening to Andrea Mara’s latest book . As a mother, the first chapter gave me a panic attack.
Three children’s book recommendations Deirdre Sullivan’s new YA book, . My kids would kill me if I didn’t mention by Myra Zepf — I have had so many parents come up to me and say that was the book that made going to school OK for their kids. by Morag Hood — it is probably my favourite book to read to kids in the library.
