CAPAL Member Profile: Amanda Wheatley

October’s CAPAL Member Profile is with Amanda Wheatley, Liaison Librarian for Management & Business at McGill University and chair of CAPAL’s Publication Committee.

What would you be if you weren’t a librarian?

Definitely an astrophysicist, it was always my dream job. Either that or a party planner.

 

What are you reading right now (professional or personal)? What is it about?

Right now I am reading Brotopia: Breaking Up The Boys’ Club of Silicon Valley by Emily Chang. It’s looking a the toxic bro culture that was rampant in the 90s/2000s and the lack of women in the tech industry. Great read!

 

What are you most excited to be working on right now?

My most exciting work project right now is developing the Entrepreneurship functionality of my position. I get to teach interdisciplinary sessions and approach the subject in innovative ways. I am really enjoying evaluating the collection and building up plans for future workshops and collaborations.

 

Do you have a mentor in the library field?

My “mentor” in the field (and I say that in quotes only because she is truly so much more) would be Afra Bolefski, the Business Librarian at the University of Manitoba. Afra gave me my start in libraries and business librarianship and for that I owe her everything. She taught me how to refine my reference and teaching skills, how to engage with my faculty and create partnerships. She encouraged me to build up my research interests and to serve my library community. Afra taught me to go after what I want and to be less timid about approaching my interests. Because of her, I had the opportunity to immerse myself in active learning and gamification – two of my priority research areas. The advice and friendship I received from her has made me the librarian I am today.

 

Weigh in: is CAPAL pronounced ‘capple’ or ‘ca-pal’?

I’m a “capple” girl myself, but that could be my bias love of Diet Snapple speaking…

 

If you would like to be profiled (or know someone that should be profiled), please contact the chair of the Communications Committee at kevin.tanner[at]sait.ca