Q: Can you share a favourite memory or one of your proudest moments during your time as a Library and Museums staff member? As a little girl, working at a library was always one of my dream jobs! Having worked at Rutherford North for 3 years, I am proud of learning new skills like scanning microfilm and also being able to pass on this knowledge to new co-workers! I am also proud of our work in creating the Course Materials list each semester, ensuring students have access to their course materials.

Q: What advice would you give to future student staff about working in the library or museums? Working at the library is an amazing experience! It teaches you about navigating various systems, being detail-oriented, and feeling connected to libraries on a global scale. You also get to know your co-workers, many of whom may have different backgrounds from you, and work together to ensure smooth operations of the library! Be open to learning new skills (and it’s okay to make mistakes!), and there are many transferable skills you can gain for all facets of your life. 

Q: What do you hope to take from your university work experience in your future endeavours? One of the biggest takeaways from working at the library is how much goes behind ensuring access to educational materials for students. For example, through Interlibrary Loans (ILL), we help students access resources from around the world while also contributing to global knowledge sharing, and feeling connected to international educational initiatives. As I transition into a Doctor of Medicine (MD) at the University of Toronto this Fall, I hope to continue building on the system level process to improve equity and access initiatives, and carry on the skills such as paying attention to details, being a team-player, and engaging in lifelong learning!

Q: Can you share a favourite memory or one of your proudest moments during your time as a Library and Museums staff member? One of my favourite memories is from when I received an email from my supervisor with a link to the DALAM website. On this website was a poster I had created that highlighted the purpose and mission of DALAM. I remember looking at the poster and noticing the little box on the side that gave a citation to use for the poster, which started with my name. This was the first time I made something that other people could use and officially cite, and it was a very proud moment for me.

Q: What advice would you give to future student staff about working in the library or museums? Don’t be intimidated by tasks that seem out of your comfort zone or knowledge range. Many of my tasks and jobs began with me not really knowing what to do. But it was this process of having to figure things out that allowed me to grow and learn so many new skills throughout my time working for the library.

Q: What do you hope to take from your university work experience in your future endeavours? My refined research and organisation skills, as well as my increased ability to problem-solve and figure out new technologies and softwares.

Q: Can you share a favourite memory or one of your proudest moments during your time as a Library and Museums staff member? I’ve been lucky to work on many interesting projects at Bruce Peel Special Collections, including working with a collection of historical LGBTQ+ fiction books. After inventorying and researching these books, the research collection page that I wrote for this collection was put up on the Peel library’s website – in the same week that I presented about my work with this collection at the Forum for Information Professionals conference! That was definitely a proud moment, and a very tangible example of the work that librarians do, seeing how my work has made these books more accessible for readers and researchers.

Q: What advice would you give to future student staff about working in the library or museums? Ask questions! Ask everyone about their job! I’ve gotten to talk to dozens of very interesting people in the library world – librarians, book sellers, bookbinders, and all kinds of people with unique roles in the world of libraries and books – all because I asked. I’ve gotten to tour special collections and rare books stores, interviewed librarians as far away as Texas, and even seen a professional bookbinder’s home workshop. Every single person in the library world has been so kind, welcoming, and excited to talk about what they do. Never be afraid to ask!

Q: Can you share a favourite memory or one of your proudest moments during your time as a Library and Museums staff member? I can’t pin down a single favourite memory or proudest moment working at the library because there are a lot, but I really did enjoy getting to know everybody on the fifth, fourth, second and first floors of Cameron. The people I got to meet treated me with respect, and I am proud that I got to know them as trusted and kind colleagues.

Q: What advice would you give to future student staff about working in the library or museums? It is always daunting starting a new job, and I am fortunate to have worked in libraries and museums for as long as I have. I got to work with other amazing library clerks, and I had a supervisor who respected and guided me. 

Libraries and museums are jobs that will give you many opportunities to grow, but which will also give you the support to build and improve your skills. The people you meet will be more than willing to help and guide you. You’ll be fine.

Q: What excites you most about graduating and moving on to the next chapter of your life? I am so beyond excited to take it easy for a few months. I am going to see some people I have not been able to see for some time, play some games and watch some anime that has been on my list for a while, and I’m just going to…relax.

Q: What advice would you give to future student staff about working in the library or museums? I would give the following three pieces of advice:

1. Take advantage of any opportunities you are given! Library & Museums is huge with so many areas to learn about and diversify your skillset.
2. Share your ideas and opinions. As a student it can feel scary, but your opinions and ideas are important and valued and help support Library & Museums’ growth.
3. Enjoy your time here! It goes by way too fast.

Q: Can you share a favourite memory or one of your proudest moments during your time as a Library and Museums staff member? I loved getting the chance to create a book display for the main library.

Q: What advice would you give to future student staff about working in the library or museums? 80% of the job on desk is listening and asking the right questions.

Q: What do you hope to take from your university work experience in your future endeavours?  The experience in libraries I gained has been invaluable, and I hope to bring the customer service and technical skills that came with it forward into my future endeavours.

Q: What excites you most about graduating and moving on to the next chapter of your life? The chance to help people and have a level of financial stability.

Q: Can you share a favourite memory or one of your proudest moments during your time as a Library and Museums staff member? Truthfully, it is a bit random and maybe conceited to say. However, one of my favourite moments was coming back to the Access Services team after two years of being away, and seeing that the range markers I had written on the 3rd floor were still there. I have given a lot to this library that cannot be seen, so to see the writing still present, guiding students to specific call number ranges, meant a lot to me.

Q: What advice would you give to future student staff about working in the library or museums? Some might say that “it is just a library,” but working here is a special opportunity. You inadvertently assist your fellow students, staff, and faculty by putting items on the shelf or pulling holds, and you support academic freedom by ensuring materials are kept on library shelves. So, please enjoy your time in and amongst the shelves and know that we have all done our best to keep things moving forward.

Q: What do you hope to take from your university work experience in your future endeavours? Someone always has an answer or solution. Regardless of which role I have been in, I have been cognisant of asking questions, seeking advice, and working with the assistance of others. When I was younger, I was stubborn when it came to asking for help, but I have realized that it is often the best way to accomplish tasks. Teamwork truly is the best.

Q: What advice would you give to future student staff about working in the library or museums? Be open to learning and do not be afraid to ask questions, especially when you are new to the role and still figuring things out! It can feel overwhelming at first, but confidence grows naturally with time and experience. Take the opportunity to get to know your coworkers, as they can teach you a lot and make each shift more enjoyable. Most importantly, take pride in your role and the welcoming environment you help create.

Q: What excites you most about graduating and moving on to the next chapter of your life? What excites me most about graduating is the opportunity to begin a new chapter in the Honours After Degree Nursing program at the University of Alberta North Campus. My time at Augustana helped me grow both academically and personally, and I am excited to build on that foundation in a career focused on helping others. Nursing will allow me to combine science, communication, and compassion in meaningful ways while continuing to learn and challenge myself in new environments. Most of all, I look forward to making a positive difference in people’s lives.

Q: Can you share a favourite memory or one of your proudest moments during your time as a Library and Museums staff member? One of my proudest moments was contributing to the transition from SirsiDynix WorkFlows to Alma. It was a major shift that required strong collaboration, adaptability, and patience. What stood out most was how everyone on the team was willing to learn, support one another, and work together. This experience reinforced my belief that librarianship is truly about teamwork and collaboration. I was also proud of how quickly I adapted and how the transition allowed me to apply concepts I was learning in class to real-world practice, strengthening both my confidence and professional skills.

Q: What advice would you give to future student staff about working in the library or museums? My advice to future student staff is to stay curious and never hesitate to ask questions. Libraries and museums are rich learning environments, so be open to developing new skills on the job and don’t limit yourself, explore different areas and opportunities. Be willing to step outside your comfort zone, as that is where real growth happens. There is also a strong culture of knowledge transfer, so take advantage of learning from colleagues and sharing what you know. Most importantly, value teamwork. Collaboration makes the experience more meaningful and helps provide better service to users.

Q: What do you hope to take from your university work experience in your future endeavours? I hope to carry forward a deep understanding of what it means to truly support others through information and service. My university work experience has shaped how I think about librarianship, not just as a role, but as a responsibility to connect people with the knowledge they need in meaningful ways. Through assisting users and working alongside colleagues to solve complex problems, I have learned that impact often comes from patience, collaboration, and thoughtful engagement. I want to continue building on this foundation, applying both theory and practice to create inclusive, responsive spaces. More than anything, I hope to remain grounded in service, growth, and a commitment to making information accessible and empowering for all.

Q: What excites you most about graduating and moving on to the next chapter of your life? What excites me most about graduating is the opportunity to apply everything I have learned to real-world practice and make a meaningful impact. I am excited to step into the next chapter with a sense of purpose, especially in supporting users, improving access to information, and contributing to the profession. I also look forward to continued growth, learning from new experiences, building professional relationships, and taking on new challenges. Graduating marks both an achievement and a beginning, and I am excited to see how my skills, passion, and experiences will shape my future.

Q: Can you share a favourite memory or one of your proudest moments during your time as a Library and Museums staff member? There are too many to pick just one but I always enjoy helping out students who are frantically cramming a last minute paper or assignment. The look of relief they give when you help them find the book they need or print out the paper that’s due in 30 minutes is always so satisfying. We’ve all been there, and I’m proud I was able to support students during those moments.

Q: What advice would you give to future student staff about working in the library or museums? My time working as both a SISA and Student Archives Assistant was a great complementary experience to my MLIS education. I often found myself practically implementing concepts discussed in class when interacting with patrons on the reference desk and researchers in the archive. I would highly encourage future students to pursue student positions at the U of A as a way of reinforcing their education while also building valuable experience.

Q: Can you share a favourite memory or one of your proudest moments during your time as a Library and Museums staff member? Although I did not have a ton of interaction with patrons while I was on the job, I always loved being able to help others find a book they were looking for. It was very rewarding to use my knowledge of how to navigate the library to assist my fellow students.

Q: What advice would you give to future student staff about working in the library or museums? Don’t be afraid to ask for help! There was definitely a learning curve to working in Access Services, but asking for clarification when I needed it allowed me to confidently do my job. It is always better to make sure you are doing something right than to find out after that you did it wrong!

Q: What excites you most about graduating and moving on to the next chapter of your life? I will be starting law school at the U of A in September, and I am very excited to begin the program that will lead me directly into my future career! Even though I will not be working at the campus libraries anymore by then, I can say without a doubt that I will still be spending a lot of time there over the next three years.