We are pleased to introduce Kirsten Huhn as our new Collections Analysis Librarian. Kirsten started with the Dal Libraries on February 4.

Prior to joining the Dal Libraries, Kirsten was the Head of Acquisitions and Serials at Concordia University Library in Montreal. She has also worked as a librarian at Jacobs University Bremen in her native Germany. Kirsten has extensive professional experience in Collection Services, specifically in the areas of acquisitions, collection management of serials and electronic resources, and budget management.

The Collections Analysis Librarian is a new position in the Dalhousie Libraries. In this role, Kirsten is supporting the acquisition, assessment and integration of the Libraries’ print and electronic collections. Working as part of the Resources team, she is closely involved in collection development and management operations. In addition to her role in the Resources team, Kirsten serves as a subject liaison to Earth Sciences and Environmental Sciences.

Kirsten is a strong believer in user-centered service and is looking forward to supporting the academic mission of Dalhousie, through her role with the Dal Libraries.

Kirsten has a Master of Library and Information Studies (MLIS) from McGill, and a Magister Artium (M.A.) from Leipzig University. In 2000, she was a visiting student in the Graduate Studies program at Dalhousie.

We’re so happy to welcome Kirsten back to Dalhousie and Halifax.

 

 

 

We are pleased to announce that Brian Lesser is the new Manager of Operations in the Academic Technology Services (ATS) unit, which is the Dal Libraries department responsible for managing technology in the libraries and classrooms, video conferencing services, and Brightspace.

This role is a new one for the Dalhousie Libraries. Brian will be responsible for overseeing the Libraries technical infrastructure, provide management and leadership to the operations team (system administrators, developers, and statistical computing), will be responsible for the implementation of technology-enabled learning projects, and will have ownership of the academic software lifecycle.

Brian is a two-time Dalhousie alumnus, with a BA and a Master of Library and Information Studies (MLIS). He was awarded the Louis Vagianos Medal on convocation in 2018 for “the capacity for blending originality with practical thinking and the courage to seek solutions to professional problems outside the mainstream.” The first winner of this award was our very own University Librarian, Donna Bourne-Tyson.

A Nova Scotia native, Brian started his career in academic technology at Acadia University as a student assistant and pedagogical researcher running summer technology camps for secondary school teachers and students. His career at Dalhousie began in 2004 as a student assistant, then in 2006 he became a Systems Administrator with the former Academic Computing Services department of central IT services.

Brian joined the Dalhousie Libraries in 2013 when Academic Computing Services merged with the Dalhousie Libraries’ ITS, now known as Academic Technology Services. His early career had focused on instructional technologies and eLearning, but since joining the Dalhousie Libraries and pursuing an MLIS degree, Brian has developed a strong interest in library systems and library services, including a keen interest in user experience, service design, and research data management.

 

We are pleased to welcome Morning Star Padilla to the brand-new role of Indigenous Services Librarian with the Dalhousie Libraries.  

Morning Star Padilla (Diné/Apache) has a Master of Arts degree in Community Development from Clark University and Master of Archival Studies and Master of Library and Information Studies degrees from University of British Columbia. She brings a background in social science research, community engagement, and Indigenous cultural/intellectual property and language reclamation.   

Morning Star will spend time in both the MacRae Library on the Agricultural Campus and in the Killam Library on Studley Campus, but she will be available to work with people from all campuses. She will work closely with faculty, researchers, staff, and students to support learning and research on Indigenous topics in all disciplines. Morning Star will also coordinate reference support, programming and other services to users of Dalhousie’s National Centre for Truth & Reconciliation Hub in the MacRae Library.  

“We have identified Indigenous Services as a priority within the Dalhousie Libraries and I am looking forward to working with Morning Star to develop new services and initiatives in this area.  We envision these services extending not only to our Indigenous and non-indigenous students, staff and faculty but also to our local Indigenous communities,” said Elaine MacInnis, Associate University Librarian Services and Head, MacRae Library.

“I am happy to be here in Mi’kma’ki and to take part in the positive work that Dalhousie is doing towards building its relationship with Mi’kmaq and other Indigenous peoples,” said Morning Star.

Welcome, Morning Star!