Meet your SMU Student Librarians!

This weeks blog post features Toni Beaton, Student Librarian in both Information Literacy and Research Help this summer. We asked Toni a few questions to get to know her better! Read her answers below.

  • When was the last time you were nervous?

The last time I was nervous, my husband was pretending to toss around my hardcover copy of Stephen King’s “Carrie” – part of a collection I’ve been growing over the past year (I think my eyes almost bulged out of my head).  

  • If you could learn to do anything, what would it be?

If I could learn to do anything, it would be to master all languages, which I think would amount to a superpower in my mind. 

  •  If you could be any fictional character, who would you choose?

I’d be Ariel, as I’ve idolized “The Little Mermaid” since my days as a wee child in the early 90’s (not to date myself too much).  

  • What project are you the most excited to work on this summer?

This summer at the library, I’m most looking forward to working on a project with my fellow interns, in which we completely revamp the virtual tour of the Patrick Power Library – stay tuned!

  • What is your proudest work-related accomplishment?

My proudest work-related accomplishment would have to be the impact I’ve seen while teaching primary grade level students… when something finally clicks for them, and you can see they are having a “light bulb moment”. I am proud to have been a contributor to that.

  • What is your proudest non-work-related accomplishment?

My proudest non-work related accomplishment has to be sailing my 39’ sailboat more than 5,000 nautical miles over the geographical span from Bonaire to right here in Halifax.

  • What is your favourite quote?

My favourite quotes are both by my ride or die author: “Books are a uniquely portable magic” & “Get busy living, or get busy dying” – Stephen King. 

Meet your SMU Student Librarians!

This week’s blog post features Madeleine McGregor, student librarian working in Archives and Research Help this summer. We asked Madeleine a few questions to get to know her better! Read her answers below.

  1. When was the last time you were nervous?  

I get nervous when I give presentations or lead seminars. I had a presentation last week and I was very nervous.  

2. If you could learn to do anything, what would it be?   

How to be confident when speaking in front of people.  

3. If you could be any fictional character, who would you choose?   

I think I would want to be Jane Bennett, because I feel like I am already most like her.   

4. What project are you the most exited to work on this summer?   

This summer I get to build a map for different collections in the Archives! The goal is to showcase all the materials in the University Archives that can be connected to different locations across Nova Scotia.   

5. What is your proudest work-related accomplishment?  

Last summer I made a neat historical timeline for Saint Mary’s University! You should explore the events in our school’s history! Check it out here: https://www.smu.ca/academics/archives/university-history.html

6. What is your proudest non-work related accomplishment?  

During the first year of quarantine (summer 2020) I crocheted a massive blanket for my parent’s wedding anniversary. I got too excited, so it had a lot more details in it than I had originally planned, but I’m proud of how well it turned out!  

7. What is your favourite quote?  

“It is important to draw wisdom from different places. If you take it only from one place, it becomes rigid and stale” — Uncle Iroh  

Introducing this year’s Student Librarians

Meet Isabel!

This week’s blog post features Isabel Brechin, Student Librarian for Outreach & Engagement and Research Help this summer. We asked Isabel a few questions to get to know her better! Read her answers below.

  • When was the last time you were nervous?

The last time I was nervous was starting this job! Starting fresh can be daunting. But I am so happy to announce there was no need to be nervous. Everyone has been so welcoming!

  • If you could learn to do anything, what would it be?

If I could learn to do anything it would be to speak a third language fluently. I speak fluent French and value it a lot, but my Spanish is completely terrible. I’ve tried to pick it back up multiple times in my life with little success.

  • If you could be any fictional character, who would you choose? If I could be any fictional character, I would be Winnie the Pooh!

It seems like a nice life- just eating honey and hanging out with my best friends all the time, getting up to mischief.

  • What project are you the most exited to work on this summer?

I’m the most exited to work on the “Save Husky” online scavenger hunt! What a joy to get to make up a choose your own adventure for a living. Coming soon to a library near you.

  • What is your proudest work-related accomplishment?

My proudest work-related accomplishment so far is developing partnerships with various food pantries in Halifax. At my previous position working for a farm and their market, I got to facilitate a mutually beneficial relationship where our unwanted produce got repurposed, organizations got free food for their user-base and people got fed!

  • What is your proudest non-work-related accomplishment?

My proudest non-work-related accomplishment is learning to live alone for the first time and making my apartment a home! Nothing makes me feel more self-sufficient than cooking in a kitchen that I’ve set up just for me.      

  • What is your favourite quote?

“we are each others harvest: we are each others business: we are each other magnitude and bond.” –Gwendolyn Brooks