Thursday, October 13, 2016 by Mary Lynne Bartlett
Hello! My name is Brenna Middleton and I am completing my fourth year in Rhetoric, Media, and Professional Communication with a Digital Media specialization. One of my professors referred me to the Library Ambassador program because she knew I wanted to become more involved with the Library, and this seemed like the perfect opportunity! The outreach aspect of the Library Ambassador position was very appealing to me because I think it’s important that students use all the resources they have at their disposal during their time at the University of Waterloo. I also plan to be a librarian myself one day, so I hoped to gain insight on what working at a library would actually be like.
During my time at UW the Library has always been a place where I can study, grab a coffee, or meet with friends between classes. The Library also has a very positive environment. Everyone there genuinely wants to help you succeed with whatever you are working on. I appreciate how easy it is to find the materials you are looking for. When I have time between assignments I like to browse the stacks in the hopes of finding a new novel to read.
Working as a Library Ambassador has been a very rewarding experience so far. I always feel a little nervous before starting any new job, but the whole LA team was very welcoming towards me. As a LA you learn a lot through experience, which I think is a great way to determine where your strengths lie as well as any areas you could improve upon. The events themselves are a lot of fun, and it’s great to work with other people who share similar interests and goals. I think the best part of being a LA is having the chance to give back to the UW community. I was never one to join clubs or teams at school, but I’m really glad I decided to take a chance and apply for the LA position. If you have been looking for the chance to become more involved with the Library or UW community, this is a great place to start!
For my term project I will be setting up a Lego and Colouring table with my fellow Library Ambassador Rabia Gill. I remember the Lego and Colouring table from last term and I thought it was a really cool idea. Self-care is important, and I think students forget sometimes that it’s okay to take a break and do something for themselves. Rabia and I are also teaming up to package buttons for the Button Contest being held by the Library.
As a Library Ambassador I’ve become a lot better at thinking on my feet. You can’t always predict what kinds of questions you will receive at a given event, which means you have to decide in the moment what the best course of action is. I also feel a lot more confident when it comes to my public speaking skills. During the LA orientation we were given several tips for public speaking, and they have proven to be very helpful! Whenever I am in a situation that requires public speaking (whether work or school related) I always try to keep those tips at the back of my mind. The LA program also provides the opportunity for you to meet with a mentor at the Library. I had the pleasure of meeting with Sandra Keys (liaison librarian for Accounting, Economics, Religious Studies, and Classical Studies), and it was a very eye-opening experience for me in terms of my career path. In the coming weeks, I will be working at the Office of Academic Integrity table in the Davis.
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