Christina Luo
Master of Library and Information Studies
2023/24 iSchool MLIS Co-op Student of the Year, Honourable Mention
Christina’s work ethic, strong skills, and dedication as a Library and Archives Assistant at the Cumberland Museum and Archives (CMA) left an indelible mark on the institution and the wider community of Cumberland on Vancouver Island. Entrusted with revitalizing a challenging collection, she tackled the work head on, demonstrating exceptional adaptability and initiative in a dynamic small museum.
With analytical skills from her coursework and her own interest in analyzing family archives, Christina assessed the collection, identifying key areas for improvement, and implementing new policies. She managed cataloguing using Microsoft Access and Access to Memory (AtoM). Beyond her technical contributions, Christina also delved into researching copyright regulations and preparing museum artifacts through condition reporting and documentation.
Focused Academics
Christina’s role at the CMA brought together her past experiences and current academic interests. Her undergraduate studies, which emphasized the future of media communication and publishing technologies, equipped her with the valuable technical and managerial expertise she brought to her role.
A standout example of this was her initiative in researching and updating library subject headings and systems related to historic communities of Chinese, Japanese and Indigenous people. Christina’s tenure at CMA was a seamless blend of her past experiences and forward-thinking academic pursuits. She consistently translated her academic insights into practical solutions, demonstrating an ability to merge academic theory with real-world application.
How Arts Co-op Has Influenced Career Goals
Christina’s experience at the Cumberland Museum and Archives solidified her commitment to hands-on work in the cultural heritage sector. Collaborating with a dedicated team to preserve and share complex local histories was an honor she deeply appreciates.
Her co-op term has strengthened Christina’s passion for storytelling, archival research, and museum work, giving her the confidence to apply her skills in future roles. As she prepares for graduation, she remains committed to creating meaningful and lasting change in the Galleries, Libraries, Archives and Museums (GLAM) sector.
About the iSchool Co-op Student of the Year Award
The Arts Co-op Program’s Student of the Year Award recognizes two co-op students in UBC iSchool (Library, Archival, and Information Studies). Two annual awards of $1,000 are available: one to a MLIS or dual student (who used their MLIS background on the co-op job) and the other to a MAS or dual student (who used their MAS background on the co-op job).
These annual awards recognize outstanding achievement in all aspects of the UBC iSchool co-op student’s performance, including academics, the workplace, and professional/community involvement.
Christina Luo
Master of Library and Information Studies
2023/24 iSchool MLIS Co-op Student of the Year, Honourable Mention
Christina’s work ethic, strong skills, and dedication as a Library and Archives Assistant at the Cumberland Museum and Archives (CMA) left an indelible mark on the institution and the wider community of Cumberland on Vancouver Island. Entrusted with revitalizing a challenging collection, she tackled the work head on, demonstrating exceptional adaptability and initiative in a dynamic small museum.
With analytical skills from her coursework and her own interest in analyzing family archives, Christina assessed the collection, identifying key areas for improvement, and implementing new policies. She managed cataloguing using Microsoft Access and Access to Memory (AtoM). Beyond her technical contributions, Christina also delved into researching copyright regulations and preparing museum artifacts through condition reporting and documentation.
Focused Academics
Christina’s role at the CMA brought together her past experiences and current academic interests. Her undergraduate studies, which emphasized the future of media communication and publishing technologies, equipped her with the valuable technical and managerial expertise she brought to her role.
A standout example of this was her initiative in researching and updating library subject headings and systems related to historic communities of Chinese, Japanese and Indigenous people. Christina’s tenure at CMA was a seamless blend of her past experiences and forward-thinking academic pursuits. She consistently translated her academic insights into practical solutions, demonstrating an ability to merge academic theory with real-world application.
How Arts Co-op Has Influenced Career Goals
Christina’s experience at the Cumberland Museum and Archives solidified her commitment to hands-on work in the cultural heritage sector. Collaborating with a dedicated team to preserve and share complex local histories was an honor she deeply appreciates.
Her co-op term has strengthened Christina’s passion for storytelling, archival research, and museum work, giving her the confidence to apply her skills in future roles. As she prepares for graduation, she remains committed to creating meaningful and lasting change in the Galleries, Libraries, Archives and Museums (GLAM) sector.
About the iSchool Co-op Student of the Year Award
The Arts Co-op Program’s Student of the Year Award recognizes two co-op students in UBC iSchool (Library, Archival, and Information Studies). Two annual awards of $1,000 are available: one to a MLIS or dual student (who used their MLIS background on the co-op job) and the other to a MAS or dual student (who used their MAS background on the co-op job).
These annual awards recognize outstanding achievement in all aspects of the UBC iSchool co-op student’s performance, including academics, the workplace, and professional/community involvement.