UNews - Brenda Mathenia

Interns a boon to ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ library

trevor.kenney — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 21:14:33 +0000

You can call it a mutually beneficial relationship.

For the past six years, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Library has had an ongoing association with the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Western Ontario's (UWO) co-op intern program.

Currently, there are three librarian interns working in the library, each pursuing her Master of Library and Information Science degree at UWO. Carla Reimer and Laura Riggs are originally from Ontario and Emma Thompson was born and raised in Nova Scotia.

The interns work at the Information and Research Assistance Desk, where they assist faculty, students, staff and community members with their research and information needs.

Library interns Carla Reimer, Laura Riggs and Emma Thompson.

"Hiring co-op students is an excellent way to enhance the level of service the library can provide to our varied clientele," says Brenda Mathenia, associate ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ librarian-Client Services & Facilities. "I believe in supporting library-specific co-op and placement programs because of my own experience with similar initiatives when I completed my Master of Science in Information."

Beyond working at the information desk, the interns participate in a wide variety of activities at the library. This includes working with professional librarians and library staff to develop the library's collection, update catalog records, deliver introductory information, literacy instruction and create library research guides. Interns also participate in ongoing projects at the library on an as needed basis. These activities provide interns with opportunities to build practical skills and professional knowledge.

"The hands-on experience at the library provides real-world insight that complements the academic theory I studied at school," says Riggs.

Reimer agrees, adding that this experience will give her a better understanding of where she wishes to take her career.

"I look forward to gaining an understanding of the trends within the profession and learning about opportunities within academic librarianship."

The library has an established history of hiring librarian interns from UWO. Since 2007, the library has had interns on staff for four-to-eight month positions. It has proven to be a win-win for both parties and brings a great new perspective into the library.

"Carla, Emma and Laura are a great addition to our staff," says Mathenia. "They bring a level of enthusiasm and energy that is simply refreshing and contagious. Another added benefit is, as students themselves, they provide the library with valuable insight into how students use information, which is helping us in our ongoing efforts to enhance the student experience."

Thompson, who has been at the U of L since September, has gained a real appreciation for the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ as she works with its faculty, staff and students on a daily basis.

"The U of L is a top-notch institution with an excellent reputation," she says. "I've found that there's a real engaged student body and I've felt a strong sense of community since I've been here."

This story first appeared in the February 2013 edition of the Legend. For a look at the full issue in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Library takes Goya's words to heart

trevor.kenney — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 21:45:20 +0000

I Am Still Learning is the title of a sketch by Francisco de Goya (1746–1828). These words adorn a plaque near the west entrance to the Library Information Network Centre (LINC).

Goya's words serve as both inspiration and a reminder that after more than 45 years, the library still has lessons to learn – striving to be a dynamic environment that adapts to meet the needs of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community.

Library staff members are continually looking for ideas and inspiration that can be purposed to suit our own user's needs. Recently, the staff ventured to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Calgary to tour the new Taylor Family Digital Library (TFDL).

The TFDL was formally opened in October 2011 to much fanfare in the library community and stands as a model for libraries to come.

Design aesthetics aside, the TFDL is committed to improvement as they continue to modify and redesign space to serve users. The library is already adding study carrels and changing group workroom furniture in response to the needs and demands of its clientele.

The U of L staff was treated to three distinct tours geared at highlighting the various aspects of the TFDL's environment and services. These included general, services and technologies tours, all of which were tailored to meet the interests of our staff.

"The tour really gave our staff a glimpse of what a true 21st century learning space can be," says Brenda Mathenia, associate ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ librarian. "The entire concept revolves around flexibility (demountable walls and multi-use spaces) and ubiquitous access to technologies.

The focus is on students and the technologies and tools they need, and expect to use, as they learn, share and ultimately create new knowledge and expertise. It's an exciting place to be!"

The new library concept offers a veritable playground of advanced and accessible technologies. Media equipped workrooms and interactive touch panels offer just a glimpse of the technological advances. A unique "visualization room" features a floor-to-ceiling/wall-to-wall high definition screen that can be utilized by astronomers, geologists and statisticians to visualize and analyze data in new ways.

"It's a great example of technology being incorporated into a building right from the design phase to meet the changing needs of users," says Allan Gergel, the library's information systems supervisor. "We were also provided a behind-the-scenes look at the building's infrastructure, which is key to delivering relevant technologies and future expansion."

One of the highlights on the services tour included an overview of the Learning Commons Service Desk, where patrons can borrow resources and get research assistance in one location, meaning no more wandering between desks looking for help.

Taking advantage of an opportunity to view a technology-rich educational facility such as the TFDL can only help U of L library staffers as they continue to search for ways to improve the client experience at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Library. Taking a lead from Goya, the library continues to evolve because regardless of how old we get, we are still learning.

This story first appeared in the June 2012 issue of the Legend. For a look at the entire issue in flipbook format, follow this link.

Study Centre a pilot for other projects

trevor.kenney — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 18:02:07 +0000

Universities and experiments go hand-in-hand. Rats and mazes, however, likely come to mind well before furnishings and interior design.

The experiment in question is part of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge's Recruitment and Retention Integrated Planning (RRIP) project, designed to not only attract new students to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ but also provide existing students every support possible to help them graduate. In the case of a new 24-Hour Study Centre, the goal is to find the proper combination of furnishings and technology to meet the learning and study needs of today's students.

The original concept of the centre called for major renovations or the creation of an entirely new space, says Brenda Mathenia, a member of the Learning Commons Space Subject Matter Team (SMT). Upon further review, however, the group has put forward a smaller, pilot project that uses an existing space. The idea is that it will provide the best means to find out what students want and need in a 24-Hour Study Centre.

Using an evidence-based design, the SMT has moved new, more flexible furnishings into the former study area adjacent to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Hall Atrium, and will now observe how the space is being utilized and what might be missing.

"It's hard to ask students 'what do you want' when they have no concept of what's available," says Mathenia, associate ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ librarian. "We all know you can't please everybody all the time, but that's all part of the learning process – looking at what we didn't get quite right."

The atrium study area previously offered only long study tables for group work and a number of old-fashioned carrels for more private studying. The SMT looked at what a number of other universities were offering for study areas and found today's students demand a greater variety of options. She says there's a desire to retain some "alone space" but they also want to provide options where classmates can pull up alongside one another and collaborate.

"Students learn in a totally different way today than from when I was an undergrad," says Mathenia. "It seems students need a combination of quiet, noisy, group, individual, social and casual spaces for their entire educational experience."

While a different location for the 24-Hour Study Centre was contemplated, they decided it was best to revamp the existing area in the atrium.

"There's not really another space readily available and centrally located. It's a known space, there's heavy traffic and to be quite frank, it was in dire need of updating anyways," says Mathenia.

The changes began the last day of exams in December. The carrels were removed and a bar-height counter was installed to better accommodate students popping in and out to use the computers between classes. Also added were tables arranged in pods to accommodate multiple students huddled around one computer.

The space also has flat, sturdy tables that can easily be moved around, and at one end is a SMART Board interactive whiteboard on a cart that allows students the ability to work on a variety of projects. The space also boasts a flat-screen LCD display where students could connect a laptop and share their work with others.

There are soft-seating areas with low, comfortable chairs and coffee tables with whiteboards on top for jotting down notes, as well as large, rolling whiteboards, which can be used to create a buffer or a working wall to gather around.

"As we saw in the library, there's a lot of formal group work happening with students, as well as informal gatherings. There's a real social aspect to learning," says Mathenia.
There are plans to introduce an assistance desk in the 24-Hour Study Centre, with a proctor of sorts offering assistance with technology or referrals to other campus services. Mathenia says the introduction of Peer Assisted Technology and Support Students (PATSS) in the library this past spring has been a great success and they could be utilized to work the assistance desk on a rotational basis. She says the concept of students helping students has been well received.

"They understand the concept of customer service," says Mathenia. "They may not have the answer to every question but they should be able to help them find someone who does."

The newly reworked 24-Hour Study Centre space opened Jan. 10. As studying picks up throughout the term, the SMT will actively observe how students are utilizing the space.

The information they gather from the project will then be used to further modify the atrium space and assist with the development of future study centres in other areas of the campus.

Library renovation invaluable

trevor.kenney — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 17:16:29 +0000

Recent visitors to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Library may have witnessed the progression of an exciting renovation.

The project (to be completed by June), will provide nine new group workrooms (five on Level 11 and four on Level 10) that will support the learning experience of ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ students. In addition to traditional group workroom amenities such as white boards and tables, the five rooms on Level 11 will include wall mounted LCD monitors in place of a standard data projector.

"We are very excited about the space redesign and how it will further enhance the library's role in being a learning hub in the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community," says Brenda Mathenia, associate ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ librarian, Client Services & Facilities. "Group workrooms are in constant demand so we know that adding nine more will be welcomed by students. We also want to provide more clearly defined spaces for different types of library use and to facilitate access to critical information and technology resources."

Mathenia adds that the renovation both enhances the student experience while sustaining the strategic priority to, "build a healthy, supportive and collaborative environment and culture that promotes student, faculty, staff and alumni success and satisfaction".

In addition to the group workrooms, additional renovations are underway that will provide important changes to library staff work areas, allowing for greater collaborative work that directly supports the ongoing development of innovative information discovery tools, technologies and resources.

Beyond the new construction, unused printer/copier stations on levels 9, 10 and 11 were removed – regaining valuable floor space that will be put to use primarily for student study space (carrels and/or tables).

The renovation required the relocation of a number of student computers and several collections including the Media Collection (now on Level 10 South), the microform collection (condensed to the space adjacent to the Prentice Institute on Level 11) and the map collection (shifted to accommodate the new workrooms on Level 10).

Library renovation invaluable

trevor.kenney — Fri, 07 May 2010 22:07:52 +0000

Recent visitors to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Library may have witnessed the progression of an exciting renovation.

New faces in ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Library are all about service

trevor.kenney — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 18:02:52 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Library continues to be an innovative campus leader, and it's reflected in the new personalities they bring into the fold.

A year ago, new ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Librarian Alison Nussbaumer was introduced, bringing a fresh approach to the highest post in the library's administration. This fall, two more new faces have been added to the mix in associate university librarians Brenda Mathenia and Wendy Merkley. And while their responsibilities may be unique to their positions, their philosophies are remarkably similar.

"One of my goals is to make sure our public service is at the top, that we're putting our users first," Mathenia says.

As the Associate ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Librarian for Client Services and Facilities, Mathenia's group is often the first contact for people using the library. As such, customer service is at the forefront of her efforts.

A Michigan native, Mathenia has a wide and varied background, having worked in primarily academic settings throughout her career. A cartography and geography undergrad, she earned her first master's degree in urban geography.

After working in that field however, she soon found that the information aspects of her job, finding information, helping others find it and use it appropriately, led her back to library school.

"I've always been very inquisitive and liked to know a lot about a lot of things," Mathenia says, calling herself a jack-of-all-trades.

"Librarianship is the perfect discipline to go into because you can dabble in all manner of subject areas."

She was given that latitude in her last job, at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Nevada-Reno. For four years she worked primarily in the sciences but also managed a branch library and dabbled in major collection development.

"I've had my fingers in a lot of different things in the library and it's served me really well and been very good experience," she says.

"I like to help people navigate the world of information. It's always been easy for me, so I like to share those skills and make it easier for other people."

Merkley, a Manitoba native who worked previously in the Lethbridge public system, is all about simplifying the search for information. The difference is that her work is done behind the scenes as the Associate ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Librarian for Information Systems and Technical Services.

"There have been major changes in how technology is being used in the library world, and this is a really good time with two new AULs and a relatively new ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Librarian, we're looking at how do we integrate some of these new things into what we're doing," Merkley says.

Her journey to librarianship was also non-direct. An English undergrad at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Manitoba, she worked in the faculty library while completing her degree.

"I would love to say it was a great passion and I always knew what I wanted to do, but it really came from that experience," Merkley says. "I really enjoyed the atmosphere of a library and the people I worked with and it just seemed like a logical thing to do."

From there she moved to Alberta and completed her master's degree at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Alberta before coming to Lethbridge and entering the public library system. Positions in Lethbridge and then later in Calgary set up a three-year stint in the United Arab Emirates (2005-2008).

"I call it my running away period," she laughs, noting that the pull of her daughter, a third-year kinesiology-psychology double major at the U of L, was a major influence in her return.

"It was tremendous. You learn an awful lot about yourself when you go in and have to adjust to being a stranger in a strange land."

Her route to the U of L was delayed by a one-year stint implementing video conferencing services for rural Alberta libraries but saw this role as too good to pass up.

"In the end, it's about facilitating that process of helping people find information," she says. "We strive to find a happy medium between simplicity and still allowing people to do the kinds of research they need to do that sometimes requires a more elaborate search strategy."

She's enthused about the new technology being implemented and how it can reshape the way the library helps its clients.

"It's really exciting and I'm really looking forward to it. That's one of the reasons I've stayed in library so long, because it's such a changing environment."

UNews - Brenda Mathenia

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