Freshly Minted: Rachel Manes

June 27, 2024

MLIS Candidate, Faculty of Information and Media Studies, Western University

Which information studies program are you attending?

I am currently enrolled in Western University’s Master of Library and Information Science program. I am set to graduate December 2024.

What are your current classes like? Which is your favourite so far, and why?

The MLIS courses offered at Western University are quite diverse, with a reasonable mixture between in-person and virtual learning. The courses offered reach a far range of LIS topics including information management, ethics, and architecture as well as privacy, database management, data science and traditional public and academic library courses.

My favourite course so far has been “Privacy and Surveillance.” Data privacy initially drew me to the program, so having the opportunity to take a course specific to my interests has been immensely rewarding.

Is there one aspect of the profession that surprises you that you were not expecting when you started the program? What is it?

The wide variety of backgrounds of fellow students and LIS professionals. The program attracts individuals right out of undergrad as well as those making mid-career changes. I have never been in an atmosphere with such a varying amount of professional / educational backgrounds. This diversity fosters out-of-the-box thinking and highlights the versatility of the LIS field.

What was it that initially drove you to librarianship?

My PhD supervisor introduced me to the field. Previous to starting my MLIS, I was enrolled as a PhD student in the University of Waterloo’s Department of History. My dissertation focused on the digitization and publication of oral history testimonies and its post-mortem ethical implications. Because I wanted to pursue a career in data privacy, my supervisor recommended I look into completing an MLIS before finishing my PhD. From this, I ended up switching into the MLIS program.

If you could work anywhere, and do anything with information, what would your dream job look like?

As discussed above, my real passion lies in data privacy. Any profession where I am permitted to explore such topics I would gladly welcome because data privacy takes many unique shapes according to the industry.

If someone were considering going to information studies, what would you advise them about?

Not to limit yourself. Even if you have additional passions outside of information studies, it is easy to incorporate those aspects into your coursework. That is one of the great parts of information studies is that it truly can be applied to any field, and you’ll be surprised at how you learn and grow from those initial passions to new ones.

What do you think is the most important aspect of being an information professional today?

Flexibility. Whether it’s staying up to date with the changes of technology, growing significance of AI, and the simultaneous threat of data breaches and ransomware attacks, it’s now more important than ever to have the necessary skillset to “pivot.” LIS professionals wear many hats, and the current status of technology has exponentially grown that notion.