Beginning Cataloguing - Tidy Beginnings

General Information

Tidy Beginnings grew out of my existing work cataloguing the books and papers of artists and writers. Some clients asked me to help them  organise materials outwith the usual remit of a private librarian, and I looked for information about best practice in decluttering and professional organising, which, of course, led me to the APDO website.

I spent 3 months as a provisional member and attended the course on Starting a Professional Organising Business, as well as other training events on Virtual Organising and Virtual Administration before opening services up to new clients.

From the Tidy Beginnings website, you can book a free half-hour discovery meeting to see if I’m the right person to help you with:

• decluttering your home
• tidying up your workspace
• organising your books and papers
• moving
• creating an inventory
• preparing materials for sale or donation
• cataloguing, where a finding aid and / or fuller inventory is required
• any other activities you might expect from a private librarian, archivist or professional organiser

Specialist expertise/experience

I hold a Masters degree in Information and Library Studies and wrote the core textbook used to teach librarians how to catalogue. When I’m not organising people’s books and papers and helping them declutter, I’m working on the new edition (following a major change in the international cataloguing rules).

During my Postgraduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education, I focused on blended learning, using online delivery to supplement and consolidate work in class. As well as running in-person training for heritage professionals, I run monthly seminars and online courses, so I may be one of the newest virtual organisers on the block, but I’ve been using technology to teach and support learners for over a decade.