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.

February 2026: Mary Blomley

Who are you, where are you based and what do you do?

I am Mary Blomley. I am an Open Research Librarian for University of West London. I maintain the institutional repository; ensure the outputs added are in line with sector standards; provide data on repository activities; support the postgraduate researchers by providing Open Research drop-ins and deal with Open Access enquiries.

With the Open Research Manager, I promote open research across the university by delivering Open Access and REF seminars. I try to establish working partnerships with colleagues across the university to advocate for Open Access.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

The variety of my role, especially reviewing outputs added to the repository. My previous role involved cataloguing, which I loved. This role follows a similar process, and I enjoy coming across the works by UWL staff and researchers.

Another surprising aspect that I’m finding enjoyable is the challenge of learning. I rarely shy away from learning something new, however difficult it can be to grasp. Through this role, I’ve gained a better understanding of the scholarly publishing industry and research.

What motivates you in your work?

The positive impact I see my work has on someone, small or big. Throughout my library career, from library shelver to librarian, I have always enjoyed informing people to equip them with knowledge that could support their endeavours. It’s a special feeling.

How has the M25 Consortium supported you in your career?

From the beginning of my career, the M25 has always organised events I enjoyed attending. When I was fortunate enough to get a Library Assistant post, I recall M25 facilitating a visit to the BFI library. Library visits are valuable, not just for sightseeing but to understand how other libraries operate.

M25 offers a wide range of CPD events for people across all levels in academic libraries. You get to meet interesting people involved in interesting projects. I attended a ‘So you want to be a librarian?’ workshop when I was a library assistant. It helped me decide to pursue a Masters degree. Then at last year’s Annual Conference: Shaping the Future, I had the great opportunity to co-present a lightning talk with my colleague.

What would it surprise people to know about you?

I disliked the idea of being a librarian when I was a teenager. Being the quiet one at school, my classmates insisted that I should be librarian. I hated that stereotype and actively worked against it and pursued art. Shortly after, I got a work placement at a public library in 6^th form, then worked as a library shelver at university, and so forth. As we know, contrary to popular beliefs, this is not a quiet profession. In fact, I’ve become more social because I’m a librarian!

If I wasn’t working in a library I would

work somewhere in the GLAM sector. My fantasy job would be running a comic book library with a social space where people can host tabletop board games, have creative workshops, author/artist talks and live bands. The reason is, I love graphic novels and comic books. The format is a powerful way to communicate ideas and tell stories. Plus, I think we need a third space outside the internet/social media where people can go for free and share interests. Public libraries have been doing this, and I want to dedicate a space for comic books/ ‘geek culture’ specifically. But that’s a dream job (literally!)

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

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