Cheryse Durrant

Most readers would love to be surrounded by books. Bundaberg Regional Library Youth/Community Services Librarian Sue Gammon not only gets paid to do this every day, but was recently nominated as Australia’s Favourite Librarian* so she gave me permission to journey inside her mind for a fascinating Q&A. These are her answers:

What is your favourite shade of nail polish? Dark Red

What do you eat for breakfast? I’m a yoghurt and toasted muesli person.

What three special things do you keep on your desk? My porcelain mug, a potted cyclamen and a Marvin the Martian lolly jar.

What sort of a teen were you and what books were you reading back then?  A fairly quiet teen I think, but very involved with books and art. I read almost anything – at that stage I think I was into true crime and fantasy fairly exclusively.

What era was it and what was hot?  The late Seventies – flared jeans, cork shoes, curly hair and horrific music…

What were your favourite books or films back then?  Definitely Lord of The Rings for the book, and probably Star Wars for the movie – I remember seeing it 7 times at the movies!

If you could have dinner with any three storybook characters (any galaxy, wookies included), who would they be?  Hercule Poirot (as long as I wasn’t the murdered person), Psmith from the PG Wodehouse series, and Dr Who of course!
If you could have afternoon tea with any three authors (any space or time), who would they be? Enid Blyton, Charles Dickens and C.S.Lewis  – and maybe Agatha Christie if I can have a gatecrasher!

Are there any special questions you’d ask them? I’d be learning about their lives, and their impetus to write the books they did. And what they think of how well known their books have become.
What is your favourite quote from a movie or a book? Buckaroo Banzai across the Fifth Dimension: “Wherever you go – there you are.”

Do you have a favourite genre? Probably Urban Fantasy or Paranormal at present
What are your favourite books? Hard one – I have a lot! My favourite childhood book was Ursula Moray Williams’ The Adventures of the Little Wooden Horse (don’t know why exactly, it just was). My current favourite is Deborah Harkness’ A Discovery of Witches

What are you reading right now? About 10 books, from non-fiction to thrillers, fantasy and romance
Are you a Hunger Games fan? Yes – I thought the books were great.

What is the next big book happening for YA?  To be honest I have no idea – media dictates a lot these days, so a sleeper novel could go ballistic if a movie is made.

When did you decide to become a librarian? Sadly, when I was about seven, I announced to my parents that I was going to become a librarian and that was it – total focus and nothing else would do! I did think though, that it meant sitting around in libraries reading books all day…

Did you have a favourite librarian when you were growing up?  Yes, the daughter of a family friend became a librarian about 15 years before I did, and inspired me a lot.

Why do you think you are a favourite librarian? I think it’s about making an impact on someone at some stage, and maybe that’s why. I’ve been doing the job for 30 odd years so, it’s nice to know at least someone out there has appreciated something I’ve done.

If you were stranded on a desert island, what three things would you not be able to live without? Three books that I could re-read forever.
What gift do you never-ever want to be given? A Country and Western CD – of any kind…

To vote for Sue as Australia’s Favourite Librarian, an initiative of the Australian Library and Information Association, visit Australia’s Favourite Librarian website before April 15. The winner will be announced during Library and Information Week in May.