Andrew, library officer at Mayfair Library
We are the last place that’s truly altruistic.
My name is Andrew and I’m a Library Officer. I’ve been here at Westminster for 20 years.
Without people we are just a book warehouse. We are the only place left that is completely free for everyone to come to.
I say to people, wherever you are in the world, go to a library because the people will tell you where accommodation is. They will help you if you’ve lost your passport, with visas, with doctors, with solicitors, with housing. If we can’t do it ourselves, we will find places for you to get help. We are the last place that’s truly altruistic.
We have online resources, We’re on Facebook and on Twitter. We have leaflets in the building and also word of mouth from the staff, we tell people what’s happening.
This is still the best job in the world. People who join libraries tend to stay and want to stay. It takes a certain person to work in a library. You don’t do it for the money. We do it because we want to help people and that’s the most important thing.