A bit of panic as a senior undergraduate student a few years ago brought Sarah Bartlett to her career in librarianship. She says she couldn't be happier.
"It's exciting for me to be here," says Bartlett, who became the Libraries and Archives' new term Music Librarian in August. "I hope to be an asset to the school of Music while I'm here, and also to the library as a whole."
Bartlett's path to librarianship began at Memorial University, where she studied music. As a pianist and brass player with some percussion and vocal training, she was familiar with the rewards and stresses of stage performance.
"I sort of had this panic at the end of my third year," she laughs.
"It was kind of around that time that I realized I had a vested interest in my local library and I enjoyed being in the background more than on stage," says Bartlett, who was also working with her school's Dean to create panel discussions and workshops for music students. "That was more interesting to me than sweating bullets before going on stage.
"I started thinking about different career paths."
This interest in teaching and music research led her to a Master of Library and Information Studies degree at Western University, with a practicum in the Open Scholarship Department at Queen's University.
Before coming to Mount Allison, Bartlett worked as the Eastern Regional Librarian for the Newfoundland & Labrador Public Library system, overseeing 29 libraries.
"I loved it," she says. "I love the public library system."
While there, she performed a broad range of tasks, from circulation and reference work to collection development. Small is good, she says.
"I like small to mid-sized schools," she says, adding that Mount A appeals to her because the university is integrated into the town, not located on its outskirts and far removed. "I'm from Newfoundland. I'm used to small towns, and that's where I feel comfortable."
Her advice to students: "On a micro level, I think first years need to be told not to be quiet in the library. I feel like the antiquated idea of librarians shushing you endures."
You can find Sarah Bartlett on the Research Help Desk in the R.P. Bell Library on Mondays and Thursdays from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. and in the Music Library on Monday through Thursday mornings and Tuesday/Wednesday/Friday afternoons.
Sarah Bartlett's Reading Recommendations
Currently reading:
Mountains Beyond Mountains by
Available at Novanet Libraries
Sarah Bartlett's comments: "He's a really interesting subject. I can't put it down."'
Favourite book:
The Goldfinch by
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