Lara Killian
I’m a Librarian Educator at the Nova Scotia Health Authority
Why did you enroll in Dalhousie’s School of Information Management?
I had held various library positions and information management-type jobs during my undergraduate studies and first Masters degree, and always enjoyed connecting patrons with the information they needed at the time they needed it. As I looked ahead at my career plans I realized everything I had done previously, whether at a library or not, had been related to information management and keeping things organized.
I chose Dal’s SIM because of the focus on management, flexibility of future career options and the great location in the lovely coastal city of Halifax. I moved here from my home state of Vermont and have ended up finding good employment options and a great work-life balance.
How was your experience?
There were many opportunities to get involved and make more out of my experience than simply attending classes. I joined several student associations to grow my leadership skills and public speaking experience, and I pursued a work term at the public library as well as an internship at the health sciences library at Dalhousie.
How did your degree help you land your current career?
Not surprisingly, the MLIS is a job requirement of my current position. Taking my degree at Dal’s SIM gave me the opportunity to take a health librarianship course, as well as complete a year-long internship at the health sciences library at Dalhousie, so when this position was created within the hospital library system, it seemed like an excellent match.
Advice for people looking to get into a similar career?
New information managers should look for job postings without the word “librarian” in the title—there is a need for information management expertise in all industries, so be creative in how you sell your abilities and experience, and you may be able to get your dream job in a field you’re really interested in.