A New Addition to the McGill Library Team!

The McGill Library would like to give a warm welcome to our newest Liaison Librarian for East Asian Studies Studies and Political Science, Hye-jin! In honour of this new addition, we spoke with Hye-jin to get to know her a bit more!

Q: What is your history with libraries? What inspired you to become a librarian?

Hye-jin Juhn (HJ): At the time I first thought about becoming a librarian, I was a Korean language professor at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, California. As beautiful as the environment was, the place I felt most comfortable in was the library. I wanted to be part of the system that collects, stores, and disseminates information. I wanted to contribute to education in ways other than teaching, for example, by helping people with their self-education.

Q: Why did you choose to come work at McGill?

HJ: After more than a decade as the East Asian Studies Librarian at Notre Dame, I wanted new opportunities for growth. McGill seemed to be an ideal new environment to seek such opportunities in. Not only that the University is internationally renowned, the McGill Library is also reputable, especially among the East Asian librarians, for its innovative project, Ming Qing Women’s Writings. More than anything, I was impressed with the services and professional activities of the HSSL librarians that I learned from their publications and the library website. I had no doubt that this was a group I wanted to be part of.

Q: Do you have any interesting facts about yourself that you’d like to share?

HJ: I have important educational experience that doesn’t appear on my CV. After dropping out of my Ph.D. program, I considered becoming a carpenter. I consulted an administrator at a community college about whether it would be suitable for someone like me, who couldn’t do much heavy lifting, to pursue such a career. She told me that carpenters work collaboratively and there was room for every size and body weight in the carpentry world. In my beginner carpentry course, I learned to carefully plan and follow a sequence of actions for the best outcome. I also learned, in each action, to leave plenty of room for readjustments and mistakes. Even though my dream to become a carpenter never materialized, the skills from the experience have become important assets that I apply in everything I do at work and, of course, at home.

Q: Is there anything else you’d like to add?

HJ: I’m grateful to have the opportunity to serve the McGill Community as a member of the group of talented and dedicated library colleagues. I’m looking forward to contributing to all the library initiatives (such as the Fiat Lux Project). I’m also looking forward to the many celebrative moments ahead of us.

The Library is excited to have Hye-jin join the team of Liaison Librarians, a full list of which can be found here.

2023 Beatty Lecturer: Alanis Obomsawin

One of the most acclaimed Indigenous filmmakers in the world, Alanis Obomsawin, will deliver the 2023 Beatty Lecture at McGill University on Monday, October 16 from 6-7PM at Pollack Hall in McGill’s Strathcona Music Building. Tickets went on sale last week — $5 for students and $10 for general admission. For details visit www.mcgill.ca/beatty/upcoming-lecture or the Facebook event page.

Obomsawin has been creating documentaries for over five decades. Her extraordinary body of work includes the landmark film, Kanehsatake: 270 Years of Resistance, released in 1993, which documents the 1990 Kanien’kéhaka (Mohawk) uprising in Kanehsatake and Oka. The National Film Board of Canada has archived Obomsawin’s films and they can be streamed for free here. You can also access most of her films through McGill Libraries (e-video and DVD), as well as some secondary sources, including Alanis Obomsawin: Lifework and Alanis Obomsawin: the vision of a native filmmaker.

Photo credit: Julie Artacho

Introducing Veronica: Liaison Librarian for Kinesiology and Physical Education, Linguistics, and Philosophy

Our Passionate Liaison Librarian with a Knack for Connecting People and Information

We are delighted to introduce our newest team member, Veronica Bergsten to the Humanities and Social Sciences Library as the new Liaison Librarian for Kinesiology and Physical Education, Linguistics, and Philosophy. Veronica is a dedicated librarian with a passion for serving the community and a love for all things music. Her journey into the world of libraries began with a deep-rooted desire to help others and an insatiable curiosity for information.

Veronica Bergsten is a young woman with long dark brown hair and glasses. She is smiling widely with bright red lipstick. She is seen from the chest up, wearing a dark blue shirt.

Veronica’s pursuit of a career in libraries was motivated by her innate love for finding information and connecting with new people. After completing her undergraduate degree, she was drawn to the idea of a profession that would allow her to continuously search for knowledge while making a meaningful impact on the lives of others. Little did she know that librarianship perfectly encapsulated both of these passions.

As Veronica delved deeper into the profession, she discovered the incredible potential to utilize the skills she had acquired while working in a university setting. Her experiences at the University of Alberta, from her role as a student worker at the University of Alberta Libraries to supervising the ONEcard program, cultivated a service-oriented mindset that became the cornerstone of her professional practice.

During her Master’s of Information Studies program, Veronica further honed her expertise as a Graduate Student Reference Assistant (GSRA) at McGill Library. Here, she had the opportunity to answer reference questions and collaborate with other librarians to conduct workshops. Upon graduation, Veronica embraced the role of a Teaching & Research Librarian at Concordia University Library, where she fostered connections with students, faculty, and researchers across various disciplines. Notably, she played an instrumental role in creating an educational mini-series that explored emerging trends and technologies in the realm of information.

Now, with an array of rich experiences under her belt, Veronica is thrilled to return to McGill and embark on new endeavours in her latest role. Her past experiences have shaped her into a librarian who is committed to helping users on their academic and lifelong journeys. She finds immense joy in teaching users the skills and resources they need, and this unwavering motivation propels her to continuously strive for excellence.

Outside of her professional life, Veronica is a true connoisseur of music. Her free time is often spent attending concerts and scouring record shops in Montreal, a city renowned for its vibrant music scene. Whether it’s discovering new artists to see live or expanding her eclectic vinyl collection, Veronica’s love for music knows no bounds. She even enjoys knitting while listening to her favourite records, creating a harmonious blend of relaxation and creativity.

As our readers appreciate getting to know the individuals behind the library services, Veronica’s diverse range of interests and hobbies truly adds depth to her character. She eagerly welcomes recommendations for record stores and concert venues, always seeking new avenues to explore the world of music:)

We are delighted to have Veronica join our library team, bringing her passion for serving the community, her wealth of experience, and her vibrant personality. Her dedication to connecting people with the information they seek is bound to enhance the services we provide. Let’s give Veronica a warm welcome as she begins this exciting new chapter in her journey as a librarian!