Hunter shares her career journey and library resources that may surprise you
Sue Hunter is an open book when it comes to helping University of Guelph-Humber students fulfill their research needs. The liaison librarian for Liberal Studies, Justice Studies, and Media and Communication Studies is always willing to support students in their endeavours. And naturally, she loves books.
Get to know what makes the pages of her brain turn:
Q: When and how did you discover your passion for books, reading, and research?
A: I was lucky to be taken to the local public library at an early age. To me, it was a magical place, since it offered books on every topic imaginable that could be taken home for a few weeks for free. It encouraged reading, exploring of ideas, and curiosity. Later, during my undergrad and graduate studies, I enjoyed the process of research, gathering and reading journal articles and books for each essay topic, much more than the writing of the essay.
Q: What inspired you to pursue a career as a librarian and how did your educational and professional journey lead you to your role at Guelph-Humber?
A: I did an undergraduate degree in English Literature, and then went to graduate school at Dalhousie University for a Master of Library and Information Studies. Both degrees required lots of reading, library research, and writing. I feel fortunate to have studied at a time when big changes were happening with technology and how library research was being done. With continued changes and advances in technology, accessing information has become more complicated in many ways. My professional interests have always been in teaching how to navigate online resources, developing search skills to access information, and critically evaluating the sources.
Q: If you hadn’t become a librarian, what other career path do you think you might have pursued, and why?
A: Something in the arts, for sure. Art history, art galleries, live music, and creative work have always been a strong personal interest.
Q: What’s a service the North Campus library offers students that they may not be aware of?
A: Every program at Guelph-Humber has a dedicated liaison librarian and their offices are located on the 3rd floor of the LRC (room #3014-3019, just past the Math & Writing Centre). They are accessible to all students in their programs for library research support in the following ways:
- For library research support, book a research appointment to meet with your librarian in-person or virtually.
- Use the Ask: Chat with a librarian service for library research support in the evenings and on weekends. This is a real time chat and texting support service.
- Visit the library on the 4th floor of the LRC for in-person library support and help finding textbooks.
Q: What’s your #1 research tip you like to share with students?
A: The librarians have created a Research Guide for every U of GH program to help get you started with assignments. You can connect with your program librarian here, too.
Q: What book are you reading now for pleasure and what’s it about?
A: This photo shows my summer reading book stack! I have yet to read them all. Not shown are a bunch of eBooks I’ve borrowed from the library. I like to alternate reading fiction and non-fiction. I just finished reading the non-fiction book, Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us (by Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross), which is a fascinating look at the field of neuroaesthetics. It presents case studies and evidence-based research on how engaging with art can improve mental and physical well-being, whether it’s listening to music, looking at art, or doing a creative activity. I just started reading Fayne, a novel by Canadian writer Ann-Marie MacDonald. So far, it is an engaging story of a family in the late nineteenth century set on the border between England and Scotland. It seems there are family secrets yet to be revealed and personal identities to be explored.
Both books are available from the library:
- Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us (to avoid login issues, copy and paste the links into a new browser or incognito window and login with Humber credentials)
- Fayne