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 a new blog feature: Staff Spotlight!
One of our Communication staff who has curly hair for days, is our office's spell-check and is most likely to be voted “soul-sister to her senior dog”, Nicole Andrews, 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?
Nicole: I am the Communications Coordinator, which means that I do the advertising for the library. This includes all the in-house, digital, and external promos so with this I get to design posters, billboards, bus ads, pins, stickers, clothing, and even create reels and posts for social media. I also organize the Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour (shameless plug that tickets are now on sale) each year and support all other departments in their marketing needs.
The long answer for how long I’ve spent here? 20 years since I’ve started as a Page. However, I’ve been in Marketing and Communications for 16 years.
WBRL: What is your educational or professional background?
Nicole: I went to school to study to become a teacher, but I realized that wasn’t for me, so I self-taught myself the skills to become the Communications Coordinator, with WBRL providing me with plenty of training opportunities and courses throughout the years so I could work my way up through positions.
WBRL: What is a library project that you are working on that excites you?
Nicole: I’m always excited for the Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour (this year it takes place on January 9th and 10th). It's always a good time filled with high adrenaline films that show off the breathtaking landscapes of Canada. Something that is coming up a little sooner though is the staff Holiday party. I sit on the social committee who is responsible for planning our holiday celebrations and we have some fun surprises planned for staff to commemorate a great year with everyone, including karaoke and delicious food!
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!
Nicole: I have had many joyous library experiences with how many years I’ve been working in libraries (shoutout to Red Deer Public and College Library for my stints there too), but my favourite would be when I presented at a PLSB Symposium, Shifting Services for Inclusivity (Dear library readers, the Public Library Service Branch guides Albertan municipal library branches in how they serve their patrons. Each year they host a yearly symposium for emerging library service topics) on our Storytime at the End of the Rainbow program for toddlers. It’s a LGBTQ2+ positive storytime where we invite local drag queen, Simma Downe to join us to sing songs, play with puppets, and show us that everyone is welcome. We were the first library to offer such a program so in the presentation I was able to share tricks and tips, recommended reads, laid out the steps to get it started and generally just brought the pride.
WBRL: Do you have any talents that don’t get a chance to shine at the library?
Nicole: We have entered Cranberry Bliss Bar season, so I feel like I have to say my baking skills. I am the family birthday cake maker,
after all. I also have gotten into cross-stitching and crocheting lately. I’ve even been able to make a couple of Christmas presents for friends and family. The Everyday Crochet book had really helped me with the process of learning how to crochet, along with watching online tutorials.
As for cross stitch pattern books, a couple favourites are Maybe Swearing Will Help and Feminist Cross-Stitch.
WBRL: Is there a random subject that you are so knowledgeable about that you could write a whole book on it?
Nicole: The Real Housewives, the Golden State Killer, or microtropes in Romance.
WBRL: What is your favourite genre to read or watch?
Nicole: Romance, of course!
WBRL: What was your favourite book or film when you were a child?
Nicole: The Nightmare Before Christmas (edited to add, I stand by that it's both a Halloween AND Christmas movie)
Keep an eye on our blog to read more Staff Spotlight interviews!
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