Lyn Feterika – a turn-up for the books A significant chapter is over for Lyn Feterika as the Assistant Librarian closes the book on a 22-year career at College’s library, Big School. Built in 1863, Big School is the Juggling work, a teenage son, and study proved daunting but Lyn quickly found her niche as an integral member of the Big School team. As colleague Caroline Black
the big shake. I was amazed to see one boy reorganise himself on the Quad and continue his homework while another stood in stunned silence. While this year has also been challenging, it has been really positive from a College perspective, with great staff and boys.” Lyn also values her “worthwhile role” in helping to develop a “user- friendly, forward-thinking library”. During a storied career, Lyn has turned her “hand to anything in the library”, “supporting boys to research a subject or find their way around Big School” while also encouraging students to read all the books and explore the many resources on offer. From sourcing books to smoothing the student study path to meeting and greeting new and familiar faces to cataloguing, stocktaking and creating signage, Lyn has done it all over more than two decades. “It has been wonderful to be immersed in the College community and all the history while helping thousands of boys. However, the time is right for a change of pace.” Volunteer work and catching up with friends are among her plans, along with making a bit of a splash in the local pool as she returns to aqua-jogging. However, all has been organised in the library first, with Lyn having created a raft of “how to” manuals for the next person fortunate enough to work in Big School.
oldest educational building still in use in New Zealand – and Lyn has loved being in that unique, historic place every day. “I have seen and learnt so much at College since walking through those gates in May 1999 as a solo mother of one hoping for a fresh chance and a career restart,” Lyn says. She soon realised that her opportunities were endless as she left behind her office background to follow a support agency suggestion and become an assistant in the College library where she was encouraged to gain her formal library qualifications through the Open Polytechnic.
points out, “it has been a privilege to work with Lyn” and she will be “very much missed”. Christchurch-born and bred, Lyn says she will also miss the companionship of wonderful staff and, of course, the boys – both “quiet and bookish or boisterous”. “I will miss helping the boys, particularly those who always say ‘good morning’ and thank me for my help. I have met a wonderful range of boys. It has certainly never been boring,” she says. “I have seen the students in good times and tough. I can recall the day of the 22 February 2011 earthquake, with boys rushing from the library amid
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