Anika Escher
Master of Library and Information Studies
2024/25 iSchool Co-op Student of the Year, Honourable Mention
Anika Escher made a significant and lasting contribution during her work term as Library and Archives Assistant at BC Hydro Library and Archives (BCHLA). She became an integral member of the team, supporting the library in preserving company history.
Anika quickly took responsibility for a wide range of work. She digitized and described over 1,800 historical photographs, where she had to balance handling fragile items, high-quality scanning, Photoshop editing, and creating metadata for upload to the BCHLA digital collections database. She also assisted in reference and research requests, circulation, and original and copy cataloguing of complex engineering standards, videos, and archival items using the RDA, Dublin Core, and MARC21 standards she learned in her courses.
Anika also led and delivered high-impact projects that raised the library’s profile internally, including the creation of a successful exhibit that honoured Chris O’Riley, BC Hydro’s Chief Executive Officer, who was retiring. She not only developed, curated, and installed the exhibition with the BCHLA Corporate Librarian, but worked closely with BC Hydro’s communications team to promote it across the organization. The project was a resounding success and demonstrated Anika’s exceptional work ethic and confidence.
Anika’s supervisor, Katie Sloan, highlighted both her initiative and quality of work, calling her “an absolute pleasure to work with.” She praised Anika for delivering excellence in every aspect of her work, which added value not just to the BCHLA team but also to BC Hydro as a whole.
Career Goals
Anika says that the iSchool Co-op Program has made her feel “more included in the iSchool community” and given her a platform to demonstrate her knowledge and perspectives. She has sought out mentorship opportunities since returning to campus from her work term with BCHLA, offering guidance to both iSchool and undergraduate students interested in the Masters of Library and Information Studies (MLIS) program.
Anika credits co-op for giving her the confidence to network and prioritize her professional development. Her co-op experience allowed her to refine her professional skills and goals, shaping her career and academic interests. It has also affirmed her commitment to a career in special libraries and desire to work with special collections and archives. She hopes to bring care and empathy to her future workplace and form relationships with communities to create long-lasting change.
About the UBC Arts Co-op Student of the Year Award
The annual award recognizes outstanding achievement in all aspects of the UBC Arts Co-op student’s performance, including academic achievement, job achievement/employer evaluation, personal statement, contribution to co-operative education, and contribution to extra-curricular activities.
Anika Escher
Master of Library and Information Studies
2024/25 iSchool Co-op Student of the Year, Honourable Mention
Anika Escher made a significant and lasting contribution during her work term as Library and Archives Assistant at BC Hydro Library and Archives (BCHLA). She became an integral member of the team, supporting the library in preserving company history.
Anika quickly took responsibility for a wide range of work. She digitized and described over 1,800 historical photographs, where she had to balance handling fragile items, high-quality scanning, Photoshop editing, and creating metadata for upload to the BCHLA digital collections database. She also assisted in reference and research requests, circulation, and original and copy cataloguing of complex engineering standards, videos, and archival items using the RDA, Dublin Core, and MARC21 standards she learned in her courses.
Anika also led and delivered high-impact projects that raised the library’s profile internally, including the creation of a successful exhibit that honoured Chris O’Riley, BC Hydro’s Chief Executive Officer, who was retiring. She not only developed, curated, and installed the exhibition with the BCHLA Corporate Librarian, but worked closely with BC Hydro’s communications team to promote it across the organization. The project was a resounding success and demonstrated Anika’s exceptional work ethic and confidence.
Anika’s supervisor, Katie Sloan, highlighted both her initiative and quality of work, calling her “an absolute pleasure to work with.” She praised Anika for delivering excellence in every aspect of her work, which added value not just to the BCHLA team but also to BC Hydro as a whole.
Career Goals
Anika says that the iSchool Co-op Program has made her feel “more included in the iSchool community” and given her a platform to demonstrate her knowledge and perspectives. She has sought out mentorship opportunities since returning to campus from her work term with BCHLA, offering guidance to both iSchool and undergraduate students interested in the Masters of Library and Information Studies (MLIS) program.
Anika credits co-op for giving her the confidence to network and prioritize her professional development. Her co-op experience allowed her to refine her professional skills and goals, shaping her career and academic interests. It has also affirmed her commitment to a career in special libraries and desire to work with special collections and archives. She hopes to bring care and empathy to her future workplace and form relationships with communities to create long-lasting change.
About the UBC Arts Co-op Student of the Year Award
The annual award recognizes outstanding achievement in all aspects of the UBC Arts Co-op student’s performance, including academic achievement, job achievement/employer evaluation, personal statement, contribution to co-operative education, and contribution to extra-curricular activities.