Our staff are our pride and joy! They keep this place running smoothly, ensuring our community has the materials it needs while offering original programming and library services for our treasured patrons. We’re excited to share more about the amazing staff who work at Wood Buffalo Regional Library in our blog feature: Staff Spotlight!
One of our Library Services staff, the poetry-loving, committed to being seriously silly, and voted “most likely to use her cyberstalking skills for the greater good”, Amanda Lewis, sat down with us for our next staff spotlight interview.
WBRL: What is your role at our library, and how long have you been working here?
Amanda: I am a Library Services Associate, which is a broad title covering a variety of tasks. I provide support for our online resources, make tutorials, create recommended reading lists, curate displays, sit on our safety committee, work on the desk to provide support to our library users... and there is probably more that is escaping me at this moment... It’ll be 9 years in September that I have been here!
WBRL: What is your educational or professional background?
Amanda: I started working at my hometown library which is the Wetaskiwin Public Library in 2012. It is a small library so while I worked there I was able to get experience doing a bit of everything like inter-library loans, cataloguing, and customer service. Then I had a summer student position at the Camrose Public Library where I drove the Book Bike around town to parks and playgrounds to offer books and programs to the patrons there.
WBRL: Sorry, what’s a book bike? I’ve never heard of that before.
Amanda: It was this really cool bike with this large cargo bin on the front that we could fill with books—a patron made it for us. When I stopped at a park or playground, I could flip the lid and use it as a display space. It was neat, but it would be almost impossible to do it here with our giant hills. I’ll see if I can find a photo of it.
WBRL: What is a library project that you are working on that excites you?
Amanda: Fiero!!!! We have a new online resource that is specific to learning the language of computers, App making, animation, and more. This is something I never really found interest in- my brother is more the computer savvy sibling. However, after exploring the resource for a few hours, I found myself getting pumped about learning HTML, making a little video game and just really enjoying coding! It's for ages 8+ and there are options for beginners, intermediate and advanced- it is a fun way for teens and adults to introduce themselves to this world- I highly recommend it!
(Readers, you can try out the Fiero resource yourself, as it is now live on our website!)
WBRL: Describe a library memory or moment that has brought you joy. It doesn’t have to be from WBRL, it can be from when you were a patron at another library!
Amanda: I used to facilitate the Homebound visits, which is a library service where we deliver materials to the homes of elderly or disabled patrons. I bonded closely with one of the patrons I used to see who grew up in Vancouver. I went there for a vacation and decided to do something nice for him, so I wrote his name in the sand on a beach and took a photo of it to frame it for him. He was overwhelmed with joy when I gave it to him, it’s a moment I hope I never forget.
WBRL: Do you have any talents that don’t get a chance to shine at the library?
Amanda: I do have a love of Karaoke…
WBRL: Is there a random subject that you are so knowledgeable about that you could write a whole book on it?
Amanda: How to cyberstalk people—I mean how to protect yourself while online dating...right?
WBRL: What is your current or last read?
Amanda: The Dungeon Crawler Carl series by Matt Dinniman, it’s my first experience with the Lit RPG sub genre. 
WBRL: Could you explain what that is for our readers who aren’t familiar?
Amanda: Sure! It stands for Literary Role-Playing Game and its great for anyone who likes video games because it’s where game mechanics and storytelling come together in a book. This one is great if you are also into stories with post apocalyptic terror and unique enemies with each level.
WBRL: What is your favourite genre to read or watch?
Amanda: I like to read poetry. For horror I love to watch it, but refuse to read it, my imagination is too great for that to be in my head.
WBRL: Okay, last question, what was your favourite movie when you were a child?
Amanda: Thumbelina!
WBRL: Oh, I loved that one!
Amanda: Me too!
WBRL and Amanda in unison: Thumbelinaaa! ♩♪♫♬
Keep an eye on our blog to read more Staff Spotlight interviews!
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