Kira Vandermeulen
Master of Library and Information Studies and Master of Archival Studies
2022/23 UBC iSchool MAS Co-op Student of the Year
During her co-op term as an Appraisal and Processing Archivist with Simon Fraser University’s Archives and Records Management Department (ARMD), Kira not only exceeded expectations but also underwent a transformative experience that reshaped her desired career path. In her co-op role, Kira successfully managed two key projects—one with a records management focus and the other with an archival focus.
In her first project, Kira was expected to review and appraise 30-50% of the records management backlog (approximately 1200 boxes of unscheduled records which had been previously transferred to the University Records Centre). Her job was to review the boxes and assign a records retention schedule. In addition, Kira identified schedules for future drafting in cases where none existed. Surpassing all expectations, Kira managed to appraise an impressive 90% of the backlog within a short timeframe, thereby optimizing valuable space in the University’s Records Centre for future acquisitions. Shamin Malmas, Kira’s supervisor, emphasized the remarkable achievement, highlighting the volume of boxes appraised, the meticulousness of her work, and the effectiveness of the retention schedules she developed.
In her second project, Kira processed an accrual to the Board of Governors Fonds. These records hold immense importance as governance records for the university. Completing the project within 6 weeks was especially impressive, considering the detailed descriptive practices required by the department.
Reflecting on 10 years of experience in the field of information management, Kira’s supervisor remarked, “I have never had a student who surpassed my expectations the way Kira did. She exceeded expectations in every aspect of her work.”
Linking Work and Studies
While Kira enjoyed studying the theoretical aspects of the profession, including the foundational principles of archival theory and records management, she knew it was necessary to graduate with concrete knowledge of how to put these into practice. Through co-op, Kira was given an opportunity to deepen her understanding of concepts and even challenge her assumptions about working in records management. “My co-op experience not only enriched the knowledge I gained in the classroom but also allowed me to discern where I want to be in the information profession,” reflected Kira. She found herself really enjoying record management work, as it aligned well with her personality and skills.
From Classroom to Co-op and Beyond
Kira’s co-op experience motivated her to contribute to the Arts Co-op community and connect with students considering applying for the co-op program. On the iSchool student Discord server, she offered guidance and answered inquiries. When it was time to prepare her co-op capstone assignment, Kira created an engaging video to help students recognize the significance of co-op experiences. Her commitment to community building and professional development is evident through various activities, including serving on the executive team of Library and Archival Studies Student Association (LASSA) in her first year, publishing a blog post about her co-op experience on SFU’s ARMD website, and actively participating in three archival professional associations.
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.
Kira Vandermeulen
Master of Library and Information Studies and Master of Archival Studies
2022/23 UBC iSchool MAS Co-op Student of the Year
During her co-op term as an Appraisal and Processing Archivist with Simon Fraser University’s Archives and Records Management Department (ARMD), Kira not only exceeded expectations but also underwent a transformative experience that reshaped her desired career path. In her co-op role, Kira successfully managed two key projects—one with a records management focus and the other with an archival focus.
In her first project, Kira was expected to review and appraise 30-50% of the records management backlog (approximately 1200 boxes of unscheduled records which had been previously transferred to the University Records Centre). Her job was to review the boxes and assign a records retention schedule. In addition, Kira identified schedules for future drafting in cases where none existed. Surpassing all expectations, Kira managed to appraise an impressive 90% of the backlog within a short timeframe, thereby optimizing valuable space in the University’s Records Centre for future acquisitions. Shamin Malmas, Kira’s supervisor, emphasized the remarkable achievement, highlighting the volume of boxes appraised, the meticulousness of her work, and the effectiveness of the retention schedules she developed.
In her second project, Kira processed an accrual to the Board of Governors Fonds. These records hold immense importance as governance records for the university. Completing the project within 6 weeks was especially impressive, considering the detailed descriptive practices required by the department.
Reflecting on 10 years of experience in the field of information management, Kira’s supervisor remarked, “I have never had a student who surpassed my expectations the way Kira did. She exceeded expectations in every aspect of her work.”
Linking Work and Studies
While Kira enjoyed studying the theoretical aspects of the profession, including the foundational principles of archival theory and records management, she knew it was necessary to graduate with concrete knowledge of how to put these into practice. Through co-op, Kira was given an opportunity to deepen her understanding of concepts and even challenge her assumptions about working in records management. “My co-op experience not only enriched the knowledge I gained in the classroom but also allowed me to discern where I want to be in the information profession,” reflected Kira. She found herself really enjoying record management work, as it aligned well with her personality and skills.
From Classroom to Co-op and Beyond
Kira’s co-op experience motivated her to contribute to the Arts Co-op community and connect with students considering applying for the co-op program. On the iSchool student Discord server, she offered guidance and answered inquiries. When it was time to prepare her co-op capstone assignment, Kira created an engaging video to help students recognize the significance of co-op experiences. Her commitment to community building and professional development is evident through various activities, including serving on the executive team of Library and Archival Studies Student Association (LASSA) in her first year, publishing a blog post about her co-op experience on SFU’s ARMD website, and actively participating in three archival professional associations.
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.