A chance encounter with a library information studies course coordinator changed Nalini Premadish’s life.
Through that meeting she found her life’s calling.
Nalini works as a librarian for the Pasifika Community University’s (PCU) ‘The George Knight’ library in Nasese, Suva.
Her journey in a world where encyclopedias, books, and research papers ruled began while working in the Ministry of Agriculture’s registry between 1990 and 2003.
She grew up in a large nuclear family of eight siblings where she was the third youngest. Her father was a policeman so her family lived at the police barracks in Nasova Police for a number of years.
“My parents were poor and we were brought up in a very congested home. For example, four siblings slept in one bed; this was the barracks, ” she reminisced.
“Then my parents moved to Nausori where we stayed with our grandparents.”
Growing up, Nalini always wanted to be a dentist. But fate had other ideas.
“I used to admire dentists. My father, who was a policeman, would tell me ‘you have to provide service to the public, like me — I’m a policeman.
“So I joined the ministry of agriculture, where I worked in the registry. While working there, we did a course on records management through an initiative by the Public Service Commission and the lady who was monitoring us was a diploma library course coordinator at USP (University of the South Pacific).”
Through the encouragement of the course coordinator, Nalini later did a library information studies course and graduated in 2013. It was also through the course coordinator’s help that she was able to join the George Knight library.
“She was the advisor for the George Knight Library. There was a vacancy, and she asked me to apply and I got the position.”
In 2017, Nalini attained her bachelor’s in library science from the Fiji National University, making her one of the course pioneers.
With an undergraduate degree in the bag, she was finally confirmed as librarian of the George Knight library, a position she has held from 2018 until today.
As a Hindu, working in a Christian institution often prompts curious questions from those she meets. Her response has always been “as long as you know your work. Our role is to process books and provide the best service to our clients so they are satisfied with their research work”.
She said the best part of her job was helping students and being the go-to person for those students facing language barriers.
“I love my students because for most of them, English is not their first language, and I like helping them because I was also a student once and I know how difficulty it can be for them.
“When we do not have a particular book in the library that students request, I’d reach out to my network colleagues in Australia and New Zealand, and even in USA.
“I just email them and I could get a book in half an hour, but with copyright rules and regulations.
Aside from the serious requirements of the job, Nalini uses her time with students to interact with them.
“What I usually do is, I’ll joke and make friends with them so that they get used to me. Then if they need any assistance, they’ll be bold to come forward and ask.”
The 56-year-old mother of two doesn’t see herself leaving her job anytime soon.
“As long as I’m healthy and I’m capable of working, I am willing to provide my services to PCU.
“My advice to women two is ‘get educated and stand on your feet so that you are not a burden to anyone. Be honest, be dedicated, be efficient and be effective in everything you do.”
