Lauren Lok Man Wong
Master of Library and Information Studies and Master of Archival Studies
2022/23 UBC iSchool MAS Co-op Student of the Year, Honourable Mention
Lauren’s co-op experience working with the Nikkei Internment Memorial Centre (NIMC) in the Village of New Denver, BC as a Collection Assistant has encouraged her to embrace the challenge of delving into a memory institution’s archives and collections. NIMC is a National Historic Site dedicated to telling the story of over 22,000 Japanese Canadians who were forcibly relocated during World War II. Located on the site of “The Orchard” internment camp, the NIMC contains original buildings and period artifacts.
In her role, Lauren demonstrated exceptional commitment by creating comprehensive lists and records for every item within the archives. She also streamlined the cataloging and tracking of materials, ensuring efficiency and organization by rehousing objects and paper documents into acid-free archival storage materials with a consistent labelling system. To enhance cross-referencing capabilities, she updated internal spreadsheets and databases.
NIMC’s Director Lane McGarrity believes Lauren’s impact has been profound, for transforming the Centre’s archives and collections space by establishing a well-organized and cohesive system for collections management. He commends Lauren for “ensuring the preservation and accessibility of our collections for years to come.” This will ensure that the Japanese Canadian community, researchers and visitors can fully benefit from NIMC’s archives.
Connections Between Work & Studies
Reflecting on her co-op experience, Lauren expresses gratitude for the impact it has had on both her academic and professional growth. Serving as a Collection Assistant at the NIMC, she gained practical insights into the ethical responsibilities of archives management, thereby enhancing her understanding of the profession. The experience aligned strongly with her archival studies that emphasize anti-racism and decolonization and how community archives, such as those at the NIMC, offer an avenue for combatting misinformation and misrepresentation. Drawing from archives courses, Lauren also identified significant challenges with the Centre’s archival practices and devised strategic solutions, showcasing the direct application of her academic learning in a real-world context.
Benefits of Co-op After Graduation
For Lauren, the co-op experience has cemented the belief that hands-on work is crucial for understanding the complexities of her field. Working with collections at the Nikkei Internment Memorial Centre, despite lacking Japanese heritage, is an incredible honour she will always value. Acknowledgment from her supervisor and NIMC colleagues further reinforces the impact she has made. These months have affirmed Lauren’s passion for cataloging, metadata, and digitization, as she continues her journey forward from co-op to graduation.
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). The SOTY Adjudication Committee may choose to award an Honourable Mention to students who have shown excellence in their co-op work in either the MLIS or MAS categories.
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.
Lauren Lok Man Wong
Master of Library and Information Studies and Master of Archival Studies
2022/23 UBC iSchool MAS Co-op Student of the Year, Honourable Mention
Lauren’s co-op experience working with the Nikkei Internment Memorial Centre (NIMC) in the Village of New Denver, BC as a Collection Assistant has encouraged her to embrace the challenge of delving into a memory institution’s archives and collections. NIMC is a National Historic Site dedicated to telling the story of over 22,000 Japanese Canadians who were forcibly relocated during World War II. Located on the site of “The Orchard” internment camp, the NIMC contains original buildings and period artifacts.
In her role, Lauren demonstrated exceptional commitment by creating comprehensive lists and records for every item within the archives. She also streamlined the cataloging and tracking of materials, ensuring efficiency and organization by rehousing objects and paper documents into acid-free archival storage materials with a consistent labelling system. To enhance cross-referencing capabilities, she updated internal spreadsheets and databases.
NIMC’s Director Lane McGarrity believes Lauren’s impact has been profound, for transforming the Centre’s archives and collections space by establishing a well-organized and cohesive system for collections management. He commends Lauren for “ensuring the preservation and accessibility of our collections for years to come.” This will ensure that the Japanese Canadian community, researchers and visitors can fully benefit from NIMC’s archives.
Connections Between Work & Studies
Reflecting on her co-op experience, Lauren expresses gratitude for the impact it has had on both her academic and professional growth. Serving as a Collection Assistant at the NIMC, she gained practical insights into the ethical responsibilities of archives management, thereby enhancing her understanding of the profession. The experience aligned strongly with her archival studies that emphasize anti-racism and decolonization and how community archives, such as those at the NIMC, offer an avenue for combatting misinformation and misrepresentation. Drawing from archives courses, Lauren also identified significant challenges with the Centre’s archival practices and devised strategic solutions, showcasing the direct application of her academic learning in a real-world context.
Benefits of Co-op After Graduation
For Lauren, the co-op experience has cemented the belief that hands-on work is crucial for understanding the complexities of her field. Working with collections at the Nikkei Internment Memorial Centre, despite lacking Japanese heritage, is an incredible honour she will always value. Acknowledgment from her supervisor and NIMC colleagues further reinforces the impact she has made. These months have affirmed Lauren’s passion for cataloging, metadata, and digitization, as she continues her journey forward from co-op to graduation.
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). The SOTY Adjudication Committee may choose to award an Honourable Mention to students who have shown excellence in their co-op work in either the MLIS or MAS categories.
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.