Our staff are our pride and joy! They keep this place running smoothly; making sure our community has the materials they need 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 Resources & Communication staff, our lady with the scoop on school-needs, the blooming fibre artist, and voted “most likely to retire (or run off) to a sun-kissed island”, Kelly Moore, 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?
Kelly:My partner and I moved to Fort McMurray in 2015, and I was thrilled to jump right into working at the library part time. Over the past 10+ years, I’ve had the pleasure of serving in a variety of roles here at the Wood Buffalo Regional Library, including Adult Services Reference Assistant, Community Engagement Programmer, and Manager of the Reference/Information Library Services Department. This month, I’m excited to step into a new role as Library Resources and Communications Manager, where I’ll be working with a new team, channeling my creativity into supporting our collections and communications.
WBRL: What is your educational or professional background?
Kelly: My background combines education, library services, and leadership, with a strong focus on community impact. I hold an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies as well as a Bachelor of Education, along with specialist qualifications in librarianship, instructional technology, special education, and school leadership. This educational foundation shapes how I think about access, equity, and supporting people with diverse learning needs.
Professionally, I began as a Kindergarten teacher, then worked as a school’s teacher-librarian before moving into coaching and district-level leadership roles where I supported educators and students across a school district in Ontario through professional learning and technology initiatives. Moving to Fort McMurray in 2015 led me from schools to public library land 😊
WBRL: What is a library project that you are working on that excites you?
Kelly: I am really looking forward to working with my amazing colleagues to plan summer reading challenges and outreach services which will be engaging for kids and families this coming summer. Stay tuned – we have great things coming!
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!
Kelly: It’s not exactly one moment, but instead it’s a sort of vibe the library gets into on busy days when everything is happening at once; questions are coming in, meetings are stacked, technology hiccups pop up, and the team is juggling a million tasks. Everyone works together to keep things running smoothly, and by the end of the day, there’s this quiet sense that we’re really making a difference for our community.
WBRL: Do you have any talents that don’t get a chance to shine at the library?
Kelly: I love sewing, especially upcycling old clothing and giving pieces a new life, and recently I taught myself to crochet. I even made a ridiculously long scarf that I’m really proud of despite the awkward length! I’ve torn through all of the WBRL sewing and crocheting books, so I’ve just received a stack of sewing books from other libraries in Alberta through our Inter-library Loans service.
For those of you that aren’t aware, you can request materials that we don’t have in our collection from other libraries across Alberta, with no charge to you!
I also eat a plant-based diet and enjoy experimenting with making hearty soups in the kitchen. The Oh She Glows books got me started when I first started with a plant-based diet.
I’m also a total dog lover — I could happily talk about canines for hours!
WBRL: Well, now I must ask if we can have a photo of your pups, I know you have a couple of cuties!
Kelly: Oh, don’t worry, I’ve got many photos of my three doggos, Millie, Murphy, and TC!
WBRL: Is there a random subject that you are so knowledgeable about that you could write a whole book on it?
Kelly: I could probably write a book on the art of knowing just enough to realize I don’t know everything, and probably never will! At this point, it would mostly be blank pages with notes in the margins, because there’s always something new to learn.
WBRL: What was your favourite book when you were a child?
Kelly: As a child, my favorite book was Anne of Green Gables. I loved Anne’s imagination and spirit, and with my family coming from PEI, reading it always felt like a little trip home. I can picture Anne’s world so vividly, and it never fails to make me smile. I’m eagerly anticipating my next visit to PEI, toes in the red sand and all.
Keep an eye on our blog to read more Staff Spotlight interviews!
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