Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I moved to Lethbridge in 2011 for a one-year contract at the ULethbridge Library and I’m still here, so that worked out well! I moved here from New Mexico, where I had been working in libraries and enjoying the natural beauty and culture of the southwest for the better part of a decade. Before that, I had lived, studied and worked in Ontario and Newfoundland for the most part. I grew up mostly in Burlington, Ont. and completed my Master of Library and Information Science at the University of Western Ontario. I also have two degrees from Memorial University of Newfoundland. I’m currently taking courses in the Art department here at ULethbridge. I like learning new things, which is one of the reasons I enjoy being a librarian and working at the University.
How long have you been at ULethbridge and what do you do here?
I’ve been working at the Library for almost 13 years, and I've had various roles over that time. Broadly speaking, I would say my job as a librarian is about connecting researchers (from first-year students to faculty members) to information resources. Resources are incredibly varied, including scholarly journals, books, videos, primary sources, open access repositories, archives, visual content, even other people, but also information about Open Access publishing, research data and its management, copyright, research methods and the scholarly communication lifecycle. I meet with students in research consultations and I teach them in classrooms. I answer all kinds of research questions that arrive by email, instant message, in person, by referral and sometimes by bumping into people on the bus or at local cafés. I contribute to developing the library’s collection through the purchase and recommendation of books and digital resources. In addition, along with all of my colleagues at the library, I work on making the library a welcoming shared space for everyone, with initiatives like the Contemplation Corner on level 9, library exhibits and programming. A big part of my job is being the liaison librarian to various faculties and departments, which include the Faculty of Fine Arts, English, and Modern Languages. Starting in July, I will be filling in for a year as liaison librarian for the Faculty of Education as well.
What's the best part of your job?
There’s a lot of variety in my job, which I enjoy, and I really appreciate the fact that library work at its core is about sharing and collaboration. I love having the opportunity to connect with a diverse range of people on a daily basis, from students to colleagues. It warms my librarian heart when I see a student’s eyes light up with excitement at the range and quality of research they have available to them through the library and beyond. One of the most rewarding parts of my job is when I can help students not only find the resources they need, but understand, use, and think critically about the information universe that is at our fingertips.
What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
Lots of things! I like hiking, kayaking, camping, going for coffee, making things, reading, baking, photography, yoga, travelling… and I really appreciate our amazing community art centre, Casa, where you will often find me in the clay studio or taking advantage of the wide range of classes they offer.