Felicity Windmill
This week reporter David Hepburn talks to Felicity Windmill, who is records and information manager at HarperCollins in Bishopbriggs.
Felicity (27) has worked for the publishers for two years.
What did you do before joining HarperCollins?
I originally come from Reading and moved to Scotland around 10 years ago to study English Literature at Stirling University. I then did a MSc in Information and Library Studies at Strathclyde University.
After my course, I wanted to be a librarian. The HarperCollins job was the perfect way to combine my love of literature with information and library studies.
What does your job involve?
I look after the archives, which include historic documents, artwork, book files and publishing records, and I promote the history of HarperCollins to our staff to ensure they know what a fantastic and important company it has become since being founded nearly 200 years ago.
We have about 200 boxes of historical files on everything from Enid Blyton and Agatha Christie to JRR Tolkien.
It wasn't all catalogued until about three months ago. I applied a year ago for funding to catalogue the book file room and the archive boxes, and we finished the job in June.
I also work with our communications department to put on events like 'Doors Open Day' last month, when the public were allowed to look at a selection of the archives.
Was Doors Open Day a success?
We were overwhelmed by the response, the number of people who came and their positive comments. Hopefully it will lead to similar events.
We have lots of projects in the planning stages, including the possibility of creating our own museum, lending some of our archives to other museums, and creating an on-line exhibition.
Do you enjoy your job?
I love it. There aren't many like it in the entire country, so to
find one in Glasgow was an opportunity I couldn't turn down.
Me and my husband love Scotland and wouldn't want to live anywhere else.
What is your favourite part of the job?
Dealing hands-on with the history of HarperCollins, promoting it to the public and making it more accessible to people.
When I first started I saw the number of files and thought I had to do something with them.
The post was created just six years ago and it's exciting to be in such a new position.
What is your favourite item in the archives?
Probably the letters written by Agatha Christie because I'm a big fan and love her books. They are easy to read, but really make you think. It's amazing to read about what she thought about her books - for example she really didn't like people to be on her book cover.
What type of books do you like to read?
I like historic books, like Philippa Gregory, modern fiction like Joanne Harris and, of course, Agatha Christie.
What are your hobbies?
I love the countryside and my husband and I tend to go for a long walk most weekends.
I also like to read. A copy of every first edition published by Harper Collins gets sent here so I'm never short of a book. I also love going out to restaurants.
I write whenever I have time in the evening. My dream is to be a best-selling novelist, but I'm not sure if I would ever have the dedication needed.
Getting to know you
First car: Vauxhall Astra
First record: Baby Come Back by Pato Bantan
Favourite holiday destination: The Shetlands
Favourite TV programme: Strictly Come Dancing
Book currently reading: The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski
Famous person most like to meet: Stephen Fry
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Weather for Kirkintilloch
Wednesday 30 May 2012
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