Name: Sam Elliot Schwanak
Pronouns: they/them
Hometown: Sherwood Park, AB 

What is your favourite summer activity? Or your favourite Halifax activity?
These days I play a lot of boardgames and table-top roleplaying games and write novel length fanfics, but in the before times I could be found at the theater, the symphony, haunting the comic shop or staring at the ocean.   

What is your internship title? Which library (and archives!) location are you affiliated with? 
I am a Dalhousie Libraries Intern based out of the Killam Library.  

What brought you to the MI program at Dal?
I worked at the SMU Patrick Power library as a student assistant for three years and that cemented in my mind that I wanted to continue working in a library in some capacity. It also felt like I would be able to take my skills from my English degree and push them even further through library science, as well as working towards a career that would allow for constant learning and growth, provide new challenges every year, would leave me fulfilled and happy, and aligns closely with my morals and convictions.  

What drew you to the internship opportunity at the Dal Libraries?
The opportunity to learn and experience working at an academic library was a big draw, as well as the fact that I would be given the opportunity to work on projects in a fairly self-directed manner, and do work that would create a tangible benefit for students that used the Killam.  

What’s your educational background?
I took a bachelor’s degree at Saint Mary’s majoring in honours English, with a double minor in German language and creative writing.  

What have you been doing during your internship and how has the pandemic shaped your internship?
So far I’ve been working on an involved project to create an audit that will allow the library to easily collect data about the accessibility of ebook databases and readers, so that the library can make more informed decisions about which ones to invest in when it comes to supporting students with (dis)abilities. I’m also helping with some tutorials for business software and a project on copyright processes, among other projects that will come down the pipeline later this summer.  

The pandemic has shaped my internship by allowing me to have extremely self-guided productivity, which has grown my confidence in running projects on my own. It is also useful because while my workspace isn’t always the best because it was never meant for working, working from home when you’re disabled can be much easier, especially if you’ve already built-in whatever accommodations you need.  

Name: Grace Bourret
Pronouns: She/her
Hometown: Toronto, Ontario 

What is your favourite summer activity? Or your favourite Halifax activity? 
My favourite summer activity is biking around the city and exploring different parks! I also love having picnics with friends on nice summer days. 

What is your internship title? Which library (and archives!) location are you affiliated with? 
My internship title is: Dalhousie Libraries Intern, based out of the Killam Library in Research and Reference Services. As such, I am affiliated with the Killam Memorial Library, however, I am also currently working on a project affiliated with the Dalhousie University Archives!  

What brought you to the MI program at Dal?
Before coming to Dalhousie University, I completed a BA in History and Art History, and I found myself working in museums and art galleries as I am very passionate about sharing information with others. Throughout this experience, I realized how fundamental libraries are in helping people access this information. Academic librarianship has since become a career goal of mine and to gain both educational and professional experience in the field, I applied to Dalhousie University’s Master of Information program. 

What drew you to the internship opportunity at the Dal Libraries?
I was particularly excited about this internship opportunity because of the hands-on experience that comes with it. As a student and future information professional, I wanted the opportunity to work in an academic library setting where I could see how the workplace functions and what different roles exist within it. 

 I was also drawn to this internship because of the community I get to work with. As a Killam Library Intern, I have connected with librarians and information professionals from across the Dalhousie University community. This has allowed me to learn diverse perspectives from various professionals.  

What’s your educational background?
My educational background is a Bachelor of Arts in History and Art History from McGill University. 

What have you been doing during your internship and how has the pandemic shaped your internship? 
Within this internship, I have worked with other librarians and interns on projects related to instruction, information literacy, research data management and other projects related to academic library work. In the near future, I will also be learning to answer reference questions for students across the Dalhousie University community.  

A main way that the pandemic has shaped my intern experience is that I have been working remotely from Ontario. Although I miss being on Dal campus, it has been so nice to connect with colleagues and information professionals virtually. It has been very fulfilling to work with such a tight-knit community in a field that I am passionate about- even if I am not physically in the library!