For Jakob Roberts, transitioning from Mount A Music grad to Mount A Music Library employee is both a perfect career choice and a somewhat surreal homecoming.
"It is delightfully strange," says Jakob, who began a new permanent position as Music Library Assistant in November.
Jakob, a clarinet player, graduated with his Bachelor of Music in 2014. While at school, he had career aspirations to teach, but soon realized teaching didn't bring him joy. As a music student, he spent a lot of time in the Music Library, and turned to Music Librarian Laura Snyder for advice.
"That following school year, I started as a student assistant here," he says, gesturing around the library. "For lack of a better word, I fell in love. Library work was a different avenue to use my degree."
Jakob took some courses in a Master of Library and Information Studies program, and also earned a Library Technician diploma through the Nova Scotia Community College. Upon graduation from NSCC's Library and Information Technology program, he worked at the NSCAD University archives and the Anchor Archive Zine Library in Halifax. He also held student work placements in libraries at Mount Saint Vincent University and the Canadian Music Centre.
"Once I actually did the schooling, I got really interested in cataloguing," says Jakob, whose job in the Music Library involves cataloguing music materials. "It's very detailed work and I find myself attracted to more detailed work. It's very involved. There are usually right answers, but you can argue your point. It is rigid and flexible at the same time."
In his job as Music Library Assistant, Jakob will also assist students in myriad ways -- something he knows well from both his experience as a music student and a student assistant in the Music Library.
"Working as a student, I developed my affinity for library work," he says. "It's definitely getting to use both of my knowledge bases at the same time. I'm finding it very rewarding."
His advice to Mount Allison Music students?
"Have an open mind and don't restrict yourself. There are so many places your degree can take you."
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