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!
Our Community Engagement Manager, WBRL’s big idea generator, Care Bear collector, and voted “most likely to have a cardboard cutout of Sam Heugan”, Sheri Anthony, 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?
Sheri: I am the Community Engagement Manager; in my role I assist my department to make sure they deliver the best programs and events for newborns to seniors that we have to offer. I also work closely with the different community partners, including in our indigenous communities, to understand their
specific needs in order to deliver accessible services and programs. It’s always my goal to bring literacy to the forefront of RMWB’s mind! I have been working here for 24 years.
WBRL: What is your educational or professional background?
Sheri: I studied Sociology at Munn Memorial University. As for library experience, I had spent some time volunteering at my local library in high school as well as working with Laubach Literacy, an adult peer to peer literacy and basic skills learning organization, to increase literacy rates in Burin, Newfoundland.
WBRL: What is a library project that you are working on that excites you?
Sheri: I have been working with Miki on baby welcome kits called Baby’s First Chapter Kits where WBRL will supply each baby born in RMWB with a package that includes a book, literacy tips, songs, and reading recommendations. When the family comes in to get their newborn a library card, they will receive the second book that comes with the package. It will start November 7th at the pregnancy fair, and we are so excited to start rolling this project out—we can’t wait to see all the new littlest cardholders in our library! [Editor's note: big thank you to Suncor for their support with this project!]
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!
Sheri: All of the local talent that we have had over the years has been great to watch, like Finnegan and his magic shows where he would show books and play music along with his tricks. Or Elder Robert Cree when he came to launch his book The Many Names of Robert Cree, and we saw all his hard work come to fruition in front of his friends and family. Seeing the local talent be so invested in the library is such a wonderful thing.
It’s also been amazing to see some of the special guest talents we have had from out of town visit us like Phyllis Webstad, the author of The Orange Shirt Story. I also cannot forget how amazing it was to get to go to all the schools to see Robert Munsch interact with the children!
WBRL: Do you have any talents that don’t get a chance to shine at the library?
Sheri: I can play the piano and I like to do crochet projects. I also can rock a storytime, but these days I am more behind-the-scenes in my role.
WBRL: Is there a random subject that you are so knowledgeable about that you could write a whole book on it?
Sheri: Outlander, I have read all the books and watched all of the show, so I am well versed. I could also write all about the Care Bears—my team knows I am life-long fan!
WBRL: What is your current or last read?
Sheri: Verity by Colleen Hoover
WBRL: What is your favourite genre to read or watch?
Sheri: Chick-Lit. I want to be all intellectual and high brow, but give me the romantic stuff, I love it.
WBRL: What was your favourite movie or book when you were a child?
Sheri: There were these old children’s paperback books that had dogs pretending to be Sherlock Holmes and Watson. I can’t remember the title though, so let’s just go with Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
We have done some sleuthing for the title of the long-lost book with the clues Sheri has provided, and the title is Sherluck Bones Mystery Detectives.
WBRL: Name a book or film that changed your life.
Sheri: Outlander, its been a big obsession for a while.
WBRL: Name a book or film that you wish you could experience for the first time again.
Sheri: E.T
Keep an eye on our blog to read more Staff Spotlight interviews!
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