In her earlier career she worked in various roles including as a teacher librarian, librarian, language and literacy co-ordinator and classroom teacher. In 2000 she won a Victoria University Vice-Chancellor's Citation for Teaching Excellence and again in 2003, as part the library studies team, was awarded citations in teaching excellence and e-learning. Since 2001 she has been undertaking a PhD at Charles Sturt University in the field of education for library technicians. In 2007 Mary received a TAFE research scholarship from Victoria University to pursue some of the research interests brought to light by her PhD research. Mary has written articles in field of library education, teacher-librarianship and education history.