M25 SpeedMeet
Welcome to M25 SpeedMeet and Spotlight. Every month we meet someone working in an M25 member institution or someone involved with an M25 Consortium Group, Network, or Committee. They tell us a little bit about themselves and how the Consortium has benefited them.
May 2026: Callum Tilbury
Who are you, where are you based and what do you do?
I’m Callum Tilbury, and I’ve recently been promoted from Library Assistant to Library Supervisor at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in north London.
As the Library Supervisor, I’m the main person responsible for the physical library space, overseeing everything from signage to shelf space, and planning our monthly book displays. I am responsible for the library’s online presence, which I’m currently in the process of reviewing. I’m also the primary contact for any EDI and access-related issues. Besides all that, I’m involved in the day-to-day tasks that keep the library running smoothly: circulation, shelving, staffing the information desk, keeping an eye on the emails, helping people find resources, troubleshooting the printers (!) and generally being on hand to answer our students’ many questions.
I’m also a playwright, and occasionally a drag artist (Lady Aria Grey is both my drag name and my pen name). So working in a performing arts-specialised library is an absolute dream!
What do you enjoy most about your job?
There’s nothing quite as satisfying as helping a student access a resource they were struggling to find – electronic resources can be particularly tricky for students to access, which I’m sure many librarians will agree.
Besides that, receiving new plays is always a treat. Our library has a collection of 13,000+ plays, and we buy most new plays published in the UK every year. On both a professional and personal level, it’s great to keep up with recently published playscripts. I try not to read them at work… but sometimes I take a peek!
What motivates you in your work?
My passion for theatre, performance, and creativity in general. Having gone to drama school myself, I know that they are places infused with huge amounts of creativity, talent, potential, and optimism, and I love being surrounded by that energy every day. Our library is not always as quiet as most others… but it’s a small price to pay.
How has the M25 Consortium supported you in your career?
I’m still relatively new to working in the world of libraries, but I’ve already attended a number of library tours and networking events through the M25 Consortium, which have been an invaluable introduction to the profession.
What would it surprise people to know about you?
Besides being a drag queen, I’m also a keen gamer. Well, perhaps not so surprising, given that this profession seems to be a magnet for introverts.
If I wasn’t working in a library I would…
say I’d be doing more theatre and drag, but I still do those on top of working in a library (and in some ways, it’s working in a library that enables me to do those things). So I’d actually have to mention my other, unfulfilled career dream, in which I am a pastry chef.
What’s your role?
We’re keen to meet even more members so if you’d like to feature in an upcoming M25 SpeedMeet or Spotlight send an email to Jill Howard, m25libadmin@london.ac.uk. You can send in your replies to our questions or alternatively video your answers and we’ll show the video here.
Read more SpeedMeet interviews :
2026
January: Steve Briggs Director of Learning, Teaching, and Libraries, University of Bedfordshire
February: Mary Blomley, Open Research Librarian, University of West London
March: Louise Savage, Collections Coordinator, King’s College London
April: Carly-Ramirez-Herelle, Head of Library and Academy Services at the University of Bedfordshire
2025
Lydia Harris, Collections Manager at King’s College London
Alison Mackenzie, Research Support Librarian, RHS Libraries
Natalie Brown, Library Customer Services Team Leader, Anglia Ruskin University
Eloise Carpenter, Collection Services Manager at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
Leah Gulley, Academic Liaison Librarian, Buckinghamshire New University
Dr Janice Fernandes former Academic Support Manager, University of West London
Helen Curtis, Director of Learning Resources and University Librarian at Oxford Brookes University
Dan Herbert, Library Buildings Development Manager, Queen Mary, University of London
Polly Mortimer, Library Manager and Learning Support Lead, British Psychotherapy Foundation
Ian Clark, Academic Services Manager, University of East London
2024
Chris Foreman, Associate Director of Library Services at University of the Arts, London
Vicky Robertson, Deputy Librarian, UCL School of Pharmacy Library
Laura Scullion, Administrator (Events & Programmes), M25 Consortium of Academic Libraries
Dave Puplett, Associate Director, Libraries and Academic Enhancement, University of Greenwich
Fiona Ainsworth, Head of Library and Archives at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Dianne Shepherd, The British Museum, Senior Librarian
Jill Howard, M25 Consortium of Academic Libraries, Operations Manager
Cliff Van Dort, National Archives, Kew, Head of Library
Camilla Churchill, British Medical Association, Library and Archive Lead
Chloe Carson-Ashurst, The National Gallery, Library Assistant
2020-2023
Birgit Fraser, Anglia Ruskin University, Assistant Director – Academic and Content Services
Sarah Pipkin, UCL – Outreach and Exhibitions Coordinator, Special Collections Library
Anna Gillis, Royal Veterinary College – Research Support Librarian
Rachel Geeson, Anglia Ruskin University – Assistant Director, Customer Services
Jennifer Domingo, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine – Library Assistant
Emma Wisher, University of Essex – Assistant Director for User Engagement
Louise Ellis-Barrett, British Museum – Librarian Acquisitions and Projects
Paul Johnson, University of Surrey – Director of Library and Learning Services
Sara Burnett, Kingston University – Information Specialist
Robert Atkinson, Birkbeck, University of London – Director of Library Services
Laura MacCulloch, Royal Holloway, University of London – Curator
Rowan Williamson, UAL – Associate Director of Library Services and Support
Frances Willis, National Art Library at the V&A – Assistant Librarian
Robin Armstrong Viner, Courtauld Institute of Art – Head of Library Services
Adam Edwards, Middlesex University – Library Liaison Manager
Linda Coombs, Buckinghamshire New University – Library and Learning Resources Manager
Liz Pinel, Royal College of Nursing Library and Archive – Customer Services Manager
David Allen, Royal Society of Chemistry – Librarian
Russell Burke, LSHTM – Assistant Librarian
Verity Allison, St George’s, University of London – Journals and E-Resources Librarian