To showcase the interesting and important work being done by libraries across the province, MLA interviews library workers about the unique work they do in order to deliver library services to Manitobans.
This month we talked to Dylan MacDougall, a Reference Librarian at Red River College Polytechnic and also the MLA’s Membership Director. Read Dylan’s profile to find out about his passion for library instruction and his latest movie recommendations!
Can you tell us a bit about your library system or branch?
I work in the library at RRC Polytech. As part of the only Polytechnic institution in Manitoba, the RRC Polytech Library is devoted to supporting students pursuing careers in a wide variety of industries across the province. Our library has two main locations, at the Notre Dame campus and at the Exchange District campus, and we also offer support to students studying out of our regional campuses.
What is a challenge you are currently facing?
I suspect that I speak for many academic librarians in saying that I wish students (and faculty, to an extent) were not only more aware of the various ways we can support them, but also more willing to engage with our services on a deep level. It seems to me that there has been a change in recent years, with students approaching library services in a somewhat transactional way, rather than in a more collaborative or intellectual way. This is a challenge that librarians are facing now, and will continue to face as new technologies like artificial intelligence become more advanced and able to provide easier (but not necessarily more reliable) solutions to students’ research needs. That said, even the toughest challenges are still opportunities for professional growth and learning, and this is no different.
What is something happening at your library that you’re excited about?
One thing I am really excited about at the RRC Polytech Library is our library instruction. I believe that library instruction is incredibly effective when it comes to promoting library services to students while also providing them with a foundation to build upon when it comes to conducting effective academic research. I have had numerous opportunities to go into classrooms and provide library instruction for students, and not only is the experience incredibly rewarding for me in a professional sense, but it is also great to see the way in which it helps students. I think that we offer excellent instruction here at the RRC Polytech Library, and I hope that instructors at the College continue to invite us into their classes.
What are you reading/watching/playing right now?
I’m currently reading a novel, “Children of Dune” by Frank Herbert, as well as a non-fiction book, “The Rape of Nanking” by Iris Chang. I’m not finished either, but so far they have both been excellent. As for what I’m watching, I am a bit of a film obsessive, so I tend to watch several films a week. Some notable recent examples include “Come and See” by Elem Klimov, which I watched on Remembrance Day, and “Anora” by Sean Baker, which I saw in the theater.
We’re always looking for more library workers to feature! Are you doing something interesting at your library that you want to share, or do you know someone in the province that is? Reach out to us at communications@mla.mb.ca.
