FIMS research grants brought us together, Zoom allowed us to be together and we’ve bonded over public libraries, baby owls and the ups & downs of lockdown.
Sofia Beraldo
I am currently in my final year of pursuing a BA in Media, Information, and Technoculture at Western University, where I am also on the varsity cross country and track teams. In addition to being on this amazing research team, throughout this past summer (2020) I interned in both digital marketing at Refine Digital Media and in public relations at Michael Kors. My personal interests lie within the fashion industry. As such, I am hoping to pursue a master’s degree in fashion and combine the skills I have gained from this project with my passion.
Chelsea Coubry-Forte
I am currently at the tail end of the Master of Media in Journalism and Communications Program at Western University, where I have spent the past five years growing my knowledge in the media industry. In 2020, I graduated with a BA in Media, Information and Technoculture. I am currently a Public Relations intern at the agency, Strategic Objectives. Prior to this, my professional experience primarily constituted of writing, with 9+ years of published work, communications, marketing, SEO/SEM, photography, graphic design, and video production.
Katrina Desjardins
I am currently a fourth year student at Western studying Media, Information, and Technoculture. Through my time in the FIMS, I’ve been able to participate in both extra curricular activities like the Orientation Program and Student Council, and academic opportunities like analyzing and producing projects regarding various aspects of society in the digital age. Working alongside the incredibly talented women on this team has been a highlight of my undergraduate career and has only furthered my interest in the value of social institutions! My other areas of interest include the ways in which social media has impacted access to information and communication, war and militarism in popular culture, social ecology, and trauma and memory in storytelling.
Erin Isings
With a decade of experience in the marketing communications industry, I began teaching at Western in the Master of Media in Journalism & Communication (MMJC) program in 2015. I teach communications, digital marketing and public relations to both graduate and undergraduate students.
I loved working on both the research aspect and the knowledge mobilization aspects of this project—I learned so much about research communication and the opportunities for knowledge mobilization in academia.
My mother was a librarian and I always came to work with her when I was growing up. The public library has always been a place of familiarity and fun for me, which made reading The Globe & Mail articles very entertaining.
Kate McCandless
I’m an MLIS student interested in the ways information is communicated to a variety of audiences and stakeholders. I am passionate about ethics, policy, privacy, and respect for all persons. I have previously worked in public libraries and have only grown more intrigued by how these organizations meet their patrons’ needs and desires through my degree. Working on this project has been an amazing opportunity to explore research with an incredible team of women. It has kept me busy and motivated through this pandemic. I enjoy reading science fiction and contemporary novels about everyday experiences, listening to electronic and indie-alternative music, reflecting on social media and its influence on society, and shopping sustainably where possible. You can read my recent publications in the Emerging Library and Information Perspectives journal.
Pam McKenzie
I am a Professor in the Faculty of Information and Media Studies at Western. I teach in the Master of and Information Science and the LIS PhD programs. I started using the Fredericton Public Library as a small child. I loved reading in the comfy chairs by the windows overlooking the river — I was a big Jean Little fan. When my own kids were small we spent many hours in programs at London Public Library, and I’ve recently become a reading buddy. I’ve been doing public library-related research for almost 20 years. The first project involved observations of caregivers and young children in storytime programs. For the second, an MLIS student and I hung participated in a public library knitting group for several weeks and then interviewed the participants. Most recently, I’ve been interested in how different stakeholders view the public library. This project is one part of my current program of research.
