Library Staff
Library Staff
This year the new library organization was fully operational and staffing was relatively stable:
- Debra Gold became the Acting Law Librarian (1/2 time) until December 2017
- Alexis Paulusma returned in November 2016 from maternity leave
- Julie Wright, library technician, moved from the Education Library to the Law Library
- Heather Suslyk, after covering for a maternity leave, moved to a temporary position as Test Librarian Graduate Assistant in the Psychology department
Each librarian now has both subject liaison responsibilities and functional portfolios:
- Collections Development Librarian - Louise Wuorinen
- University Archivist - Sara Janes
- Special Collections Librarian - Trudy Russo
- Digital Initiatives Librarian - Jason Zou
- Scholarly Communications Librarian - Moira Davidson
- Emerging Technologies/Copyright Librarian - Debra Gold
- Services and Assessment Librarian - Val Gibbons
- User Experience Librarian - Janice Mutz
- Instructional Technology (Education) Librarian - Gisella Scalese
- Online Learning (Orillia) Librarian - Chris Tomasini
Staff Development
"In February of this year I was able to attend the OLA Super Conference in Toronto. This was a new experience for me as I had never attended any library conferences before. I attended several workshops all on different themes such as UX testing, public services and the use of social media in the library. I not only appreciated learning about the direction that libraries will be going in the future but I also enjoyed meeting other library staff from across Canada and learning about what they are doing in their libraries and institutions. Karen’s belief in the importance of staff development and providing everyone in the library with equal opportunities made this experience possible and I am so grateful for the opportunity."
Library & Information Science Co-op Student
The Chancellor Paterson Library participated in Western University’s co-op program for MLIS students this past January.
“The MLIS Co-op program, begun in 1979, formally integrates a student's academic study with paid work experience. Students are exposed to the professional environment, and have the opportunity to use and develop newly acquired skills, and gain practical experience which will contribute to their training as professionals.”
Mikayla Redden joined the Paterson Library in January as Outreach Librarian, under the auspices of Western’s FIMS (Faculty of Media and Information Studies) program. Mikayla had already completed 2 terms of the MLIS (Masters in Library and Information Science) graduate program and the position here gave her the opportunity to build practical skills and professional knowledge. She worked on a variety of projects including, but not limited to: instruction, collection development, user experience, marketing, and outreach. The experience was definitely not a one way street; Mikayla proved to be a great addition to our staff, bringing energy and enthusiasm to our workplace. She also embraced Thunder Bay, enjoying winter sports such as downhill skiing, and exploring the growing array of new restaurants in Thunder Bay!
From Mikayla:
“My placement at Paterson Library helped me develop competencies as a librarian and gave me the foundation I needed to confidently enter the workforce after graduation. I felt welcome by every staff member at Paterson; they truly embraced me as part of the team. I am so grateful for the opportunity to have joined Paterson Library. I could not have gained such a positive and enriching experience anywhere else.”