Lindsay Tripp
Lindsay worked as the Public Services Coordinator for Whistler Public Library, a work term she recalls as “fantastic” and her “most formative experience” so far.
Lindsay Tripp, a SLAIS co-op student who is about to complete her Master’s of Library and Information Studies graduate program, thought she would be a librarian in academia at the start of her Master’s studies. UBC’s SLAIS co-op program changed her mind–and that’s just one example of the many formative experiences Lindsay feels she has undergone as a participant in co-op.
As an ambitious undergraduate, Lindsay completed both a double major in English and History and a minor in Education. Lindsay even spent two years abroad teaching English in Japan and thought she would be a high-school English teacher. But reflecting on her goals, Lindsay wanted to have a major with practical skills “that could actually get you a job”; one that provided “tangible, marketable skills” after graduation. This feeling, combined with a realization that during her undergrad she was drawn to the research process, led Lindsay to her current academic studies. “I know I made the right decision,” Lindsay notes about her program.
Even though SLAIS’ MLIS Program is a skills-oriented program, it is still steeped in the theoretical as opposed to the practical. SLAIS co-op, Lindsay points out, is all about “moving from theory into practice.” After all, upon graduation, employers will highly value employees that not only have excellent educational qualifications, but also have practical previous work experience in a related field. Gaining work experience in a library setting was especially important to Lindsay, who did not have any library experience prior to entering the program.
Lindsay knows first-hand how beneficial co-op work terms can be. In the summer of 2009, Lindsay worked as the Public Services Coordinator for Whistler Public Library, a work term she recalls as “fantastic” and her “most formative experience” so far. At the Whistler Public Library, Lindsay was able to gain multi-faceted work experience. She worked at the reference desk, assisted with the library’s collections management and acquisitions, and liaised with community groups like “Whistler Reads”. More broadly, Lindsay emphasizes, she gained a comprehensive understanding of the operation of a library and its organizational culture.
Working at the Whistler Public Library also gave Lindsay a new sense of direction on her future career path. Like many public libraries, Lindsay’s workplace was very responsive to the needs of the community it serves. It developed programs, such as author talks, that focused on the interests of the public. Lindsay found that she highly values this approach. While acknowledging the incredibly valuable role that academic libraries play, she notes that they exist primarily “to support research” and have “less emphasis on programs” for the public. Now Lindsay feels public libraries might be more aligned with her interests and values. Upon graduation, Lindsay hopes to find a position that brings together her interests in both research and programming.
If Lindsay could talk to prospective SLAIS co-op students, she would certainly tell them to take advantage of the program. Co-op staff’s one-on-one support is something she highly recommends fully utilizing. Having “in-depth interaction with someone who understands how the hiring process works” is extremely valuable, she says.
Even though Lindsay found a fantastic co-op work term, in retrospect she feels that previous library-related experience might have been an asset to her resume prior to entering the co-op program. “Many of my colleagues had previous library experience [upon entering the program],” she recalls, even just in basic jobs like shelving books or volunteering at a reference desk. To gain entry-level experience in libraries or related fields, Lindsay recommends looking for jobs through the UBC library system, volunteering with library-related organizations, and checking out the possibility of volunteering with “Research Rescue” in the Chapman Learning Commons.
Ultimately though, “taking advantage of co-op is huge.” Co-op employers understand that students have a lot of amazing skills to offer, even if they don’t have a wealth of library experience: “employers are often willing to train the right student,” Lindsay says.
Finally, Lindsay thinks SLAIS students should keep an open mind. “Be willing to experiment” when it comes to potential job opportunities, she advises. “Students need to proactively seek career development.”
Lindsay Tripp
Lindsay worked as the Public Services Coordinator for Whistler Public Library, a work term she recalls as “fantastic” and her “most formative experience” so far.
Lindsay Tripp, a SLAIS co-op student who is about to complete her Master’s of Library and Information Studies graduate program, thought she would be a librarian in academia at the start of her Master’s studies. UBC’s SLAIS co-op program changed her mind–and that’s just one example of the many formative experiences Lindsay feels she has undergone as a participant in co-op.
As an ambitious undergraduate, Lindsay completed both a double major in English and History and a minor in Education. Lindsay even spent two years abroad teaching English in Japan and thought she would be a high-school English teacher. But reflecting on her goals, Lindsay wanted to have a major with practical skills “that could actually get you a job”; one that provided “tangible, marketable skills” after graduation. This feeling, combined with a realization that during her undergrad she was drawn to the research process, led Lindsay to her current academic studies. “I know I made the right decision,” Lindsay notes about her program.
Even though SLAIS’ MLIS Program is a skills-oriented program, it is still steeped in the theoretical as opposed to the practical. SLAIS co-op, Lindsay points out, is all about “moving from theory into practice.” After all, upon graduation, employers will highly value employees that not only have excellent educational qualifications, but also have practical previous work experience in a related field. Gaining work experience in a library setting was especially important to Lindsay, who did not have any library experience prior to entering the program.
Lindsay knows first-hand how beneficial co-op work terms can be. In the summer of 2009, Lindsay worked as the Public Services Coordinator for Whistler Public Library, a work term she recalls as “fantastic” and her “most formative experience” so far. At the Whistler Public Library, Lindsay was able to gain multi-faceted work experience. She worked at the reference desk, assisted with the library’s collections management and acquisitions, and liaised with community groups like “Whistler Reads”. More broadly, Lindsay emphasizes, she gained a comprehensive understanding of the operation of a library and its organizational culture.
Working at the Whistler Public Library also gave Lindsay a new sense of direction on her future career path. Like many public libraries, Lindsay’s workplace was very responsive to the needs of the community it serves. It developed programs, such as author talks, that focused on the interests of the public. Lindsay found that she highly values this approach. While acknowledging the incredibly valuable role that academic libraries play, she notes that they exist primarily “to support research” and have “less emphasis on programs” for the public. Now Lindsay feels public libraries might be more aligned with her interests and values. Upon graduation, Lindsay hopes to find a position that brings together her interests in both research and programming.
If Lindsay could talk to prospective SLAIS co-op students, she would certainly tell them to take advantage of the program. Co-op staff’s one-on-one support is something she highly recommends fully utilizing. Having “in-depth interaction with someone who understands how the hiring process works” is extremely valuable, she says.
Even though Lindsay found a fantastic co-op work term, in retrospect she feels that previous library-related experience might have been an asset to her resume prior to entering the co-op program. “Many of my colleagues had previous library experience [upon entering the program],” she recalls, even just in basic jobs like shelving books or volunteering at a reference desk. To gain entry-level experience in libraries or related fields, Lindsay recommends looking for jobs through the UBC library system, volunteering with library-related organizations, and checking out the possibility of volunteering with “Research Rescue” in the Chapman Learning Commons.
Ultimately though, “taking advantage of co-op is huge.” Co-op employers understand that students have a lot of amazing skills to offer, even if they don’t have a wealth of library experience: “employers are often willing to train the right student,” Lindsay says.
Finally, Lindsay thinks SLAIS students should keep an open mind. “Be willing to experiment” when it comes to potential job opportunities, she advises. “Students need to proactively seek career development.”