THE MODERN LIBRARIAN
With a diverse set of skills critical to success throughout the research lifecycle, the job of the modern librarian is about much more than simply finding books or journals for readers and researchers.
Eva Dodsworth, Geospatial data services librarian
They say a picture is worth a thousand words; this can be especially true when you’re trying to share large sets of data and present impactful conclusions. Dodsworth and her team in the Geospatial Centre help make all kinds of data sets visual – if there are geolocations, they can map them. From planners looking to track the historical development of a city to history students wanting to visualize a particular military battle, mapping has widespread applications in learning and research but is often overlooked or relegated to specific disciplines. The team is constantly anticipating what data researchers may need and adding it to the Centre, spending time connecting with colleagues at other universities or negotiating licensing agreements. While the Geospatial Centre responds to more than 350 questions a term and regularly teaches individual researchers how to use mapping technology, much of the rest of Dodsworth’s time is spent reaching out to faculty and instructing classes from across disciplines on how to incorporate mapping technology into their research. Visual communication is key in modern research and the Geospatial Centre has the technology researchers need to share their findings in an impactful way.
Tim Ireland and Agnes Zientarska-Kayko, Librarians in Information and Resource Services, Dana Porter Library
Citations often come up in consultations subject librarians Zientarska-Kayko and Ireland have with students, so it’s something they think about regularly. Last year they were given an opportunity to hone their skillset, with the citation software Zotero. They were approached by a post-doctoral student at Waterloo who was involved in the V2V Global Partnership, an international group researching ways to sustainably support small-scale fisheries. Members of the group are spread across the world, so they needed a low-cost solution that allows for easy collaboration. Ireland and Zientarska-Kayko put together a two-hour hands-on workshop, to walk the team through the software, which enables users to easily collect, organize, cite and share research. Since successfully running that workshop in February 2021, they’ve tailored the workshop for several more groups on campus, including first-year undergraduate classes, graduate student research projects and faculty research teams. An important part of supporting students and faculty throughout the research cycle is sharing the latest resources available, up to and including citations.
Rachel Figueiredo, Librarian in Information Services and Resources, Davis Centre Library
A key to succeeding as an entrepreneur is understanding the problem you’re trying to solve or the need you’re trying to fill. To do that you need to do your research. And at Waterloo, where entrepreneurial spirit runs rampant, Figueiredo can be an entrepreneur's secret weapon. She has been curating a collection of market and industry databases for the past eight years so if Waterloo students and faculty are looking for a competitive advantage, this could be it. With access to highly specialized and unique resources, Figueiredo provides consultations to help Waterloo researchers, students and faculty alike find the information they need to develop and commercialize an idea or apply for a patent. Students often find Figueiredo through direct referrals from professors, coaches or mentors from the Conrad School, Concept or through the entrepreneurship ecosystem. No matter how students and entrepreneurs find their way to her, they are all extremely glad they did – thorough research can be the make-or-break point for anyone with a big idea.