March’s installment of 7 Questions With… AAAL Members features Louise Brittain Boisvert, Digital Services Coordinator at the Olds College.

1. What is something interesting you learned in the last month? A hand saw can be played as a musical instrument. It produces this otherworldly sound. One of the many fun rural Albertan facts I have been learning.

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

3. Have you ever had something happen to you that you thought was bad, but it turned out to be for the best? My first year of undergrad was disrupted by a 3 month long strike during which classes were cancelled. I ended up dropping out before the strike ended and went backpacking for 6 months. I couldn’t have planned a better life experience.

4. What is your best piece of life advice? There are no wrong choices. Just the path you choose.

5. What is your proudest work-related accomplishment? Last semester, we hosted the first Long Night Against Procrastination event at Olds College. It turned out to be the most highly attended student event ever held at the college. Fingers crossed, our spring edition will be as popular.

6. What is your favourite quote? No one is good at everything but everyone is good at something.

7. What is your favourite colour?   Blue

February’s installment of 7 Questions With… AAAL Members features Kevin Tanner, Instructional Librarian at the Reg Erhardt Library at SAIT.

1. When was the last time you were nervous? I proposed to my girlfriend of four years this past weekend. I took her on a private sleigh ride in Banff and had the driver pull over to “take pictures” and popped the question. I said a little speech before and I was so nervous I don’t even remember what I said exactly. I knew she would say yes, so I am not sure why I was so nervous.

2. If you could learn to do anything, what would it be? I would learn a programming language that would allow me to automate everything possible. I am thinking Python, but I am not sure if that would be the right choice.

3. Have you ever had something happen to you that you thought was bad, but it turned out to be for the best? During my MLIS, I did not initially get a co-op library placement after interviewing at only a few places. However, I ended up having a second chance and successfully interviewed for an 8 month co-op at The D.B. Weldon Library at Western University. I went from being devastated to jumping for joy in the span of a week.

4. What songs are included on the soundtrack to your life? I could go on and on with this…I’ll keep it simple with five:

1. Black Sabbath – Children of the Grave
2. The Smiths – Well I Wonder
3. Herbie Hancock – Maiden Voyage
4. Minor Threat – Filler
5. Cro-Mags – Life of My Own

That was incredibly difficult and would probably change on a different day.

5. If you had to work on only one project for the next year, what would it be? I would probably work on a project related to scholarly activity at SAIT and how the library can help with research. Scholarly activity is relatively new here with the introduction of degree programs, and I would love to work with researchers throughout the research cycle, from initial conception to dissemination.

6. What is your best piece of career advice? My best piece of career advice is for MLIS students: get that practical experience and make the most of it! Don’t hesitate to take on all the projects and do all the extra work you can. My co-op experience was invaluable. Even if you have library experience as a paraprofessional, it is a good idea to get some professional experience in an academic library if that is the route you want to take.

7. What is your favourite thing to binge watch?  The Office, for sure. I am somewhat ashamed to admit I failed a class in my first year of university, and I attribute it to binge watching The Office. Don’t worry current and future employers reading this, I learned my time management lesson.

Happy New Year everyone!!!! January’s installment of 7 Questions With… AAAL Members features Alison Foster, Instructional Design Librarian MacEwan University.

1. When was the last time you were nervous? I’m teaching a lot this month and I get a little nervous before each session. However, I’m a big fan of channeling that energy and making it a tool in my teaching, it keeps me on my toes and enthusiastic!

2. If you could learn to do anything, what would it be? How to properly swim-I have the basics down and really want to build my swimming skills. For example, how to take the breath breaks when swimming lanes.

3. Have you ever had something happen to you that you thought was bad, but it turned out to be for the best? I moved from Ontario to Alberta last year and was really nervous about leaving behind my family and friends. However, I’ve connected with amazing library people across Alberta and have had a lot of opportunities to grow in my practice and service, both within MacEwan University and in the Edmonton community.

4. What is your best piece of life advice? Try new things but don’t be afraid to fail. Anxiety about failing has often held be back from trying new things and taking the next steps with an idea, but recognizing that failing at something can be just as educational as succeeding has been liberating (and something that I have to tell myself every day!).

5. What is your favourite thing to binge watch? Oddball shows like “Rick and Morty” and the new “Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency.”

6. What do you eat for breakfast? My two go-tos are: Spinach and feta scrambled eggs or banana-nut oatmeal. Figuring out that I could batch-cook oatmeal in the slow cooker was a game changer.

7. What do you do when you’re not working? I love to volunteer with the community, especially with the public library and with local events/organizations. I’m also a recent Edmonton Folk Fest convert, so I will be out and about in Edmonton’s parks this Summer!

December’s installment of 7 Questions With… AAAL Members features Leah Townsend, Instruction Librarian at NorQuest College Library.

1. If you could learn to do anything, what would it be? I’ve always wanted to learn how to surf, which is a bit of a challenge living where I do!

2. Have you ever had something happen to you that you thought was bad, but it turned out to be for the best? For almost three years I taught high school in a small northern community. When I decided to quit, I wasn’t sure if I had made the right choice. In retrospect, it was one of the best things I have ever done for myself. The job made me intensely unhappy, and quitting gave me the opportunity to pursue an MLIS.

3. If you had to work on only one project for the next year, what would it be? I am very interested in library service to distance and online learners. We have a small staff, so we don’t have a dedicated distance librarian at this time. I would love to take a year to develop a thorough outreach program aimed at our distance learners.

4. What is your favourite thing to binge watch? Cartoons for adults, like “The Venture Brothers” or “Archer”.

5. What is your proudest work-related accomplishment? Creating the IL Palooza workshop with Lisa Shamchuk. We wanted to build a free information literacy workshop that focused on real life examples of tools and techniques that have worked in practice. Our first iteration of IL Palooza went so well that it became an annual event, and it is still going strong after 4 years.

6. What do you eat for breakfast? I actually eat two breakfasts most days. A smoothie first thing in the morning before I go to the gym, and then usually a bagel or toast with fruit when I get to work.

7. What do you do when you’re not working? My mother and I are craft vendors at the downtown farmer’s market during the summer months, and at holiday craft shows in the winter. We call ourselves “Bouquet of Crochet”, and we mostly make handmade stuffed toys and animals.

November’s installment of 7 Questions With… AAAL Members features Ebony Magnus, Assessment & User Experience Librarian at SAIT.

1. What is something interesting you learned in the last month? Bumblebees have trouble recovering from stress without sugar. Thank you, sadanimalfacts.com

2. When was the last time you were nervous? Today. I’m filling out this questionnaire on November 9. Donald Trump is the United States President-Elect and I’m not sure I’ve ever been so nervous.

3. If you could learn to do anything, what would it be? Roll my Rs

4. If you could be any fictional character, who would you choose? Ororo Munroe

5. If you could throw any kind of party, what would it be like and what would it be for? Just a room full of puppies and cotton candy. Because puppies and cotton candy.

6. What is your best piece of career advice? Build strong relationships and take every opportunity to learn from those around you. I’ve only been in this profession for three years, but I’ve benefited immensely from the support and knowledge of mentors and peers.

7. What is your favourite quote? The past is always tense, the future perfect. – Zadie Smith