Prepared by Marijan Kolevski, Patience Imuero, and Basia Kapolka

1. Basia Kapolka
Digital Humanities Librarian
Northwestern University Libraries
Chicago, Illinois, US
basia.kapolka@northwestern.edu
Patience Imuero
Academic librarian
Dennis Osadebay University Library
Awai, Asaba, Delta state, Nigeria
pattyimuero@gmail.com
I am 42 years old and started working as a librarian three years ago. My activities as an
information assistant include helping users to find their requested information. I explain to them how
to use our online catalog called COBISS+ which is found on our home page www.nuub.mk. Our
catalog includes plenty of search capabilities that enable users to meet their educational needs. I
help students and researchers find relevant literature, communicate with users about their book
expressions, make information brochures for our library, placards for events, etc.
I’m involved in many projects that cover educational workshops for all ages that enable the
development of their creative abilities. Promoting and participating in cultural and community events
are also activities that we often carry out. And I also started working as a responsible editor for our
librarian magazine “Librarian Trend”, which has existed for 20 years and leaves a mark on the time
in which we are actively acting.
Presently working in a university library has broaden my knowledge in different library operations. The
university library has engaged in assisting undergraduate students as well as members of staff who are
in need of information materials to enhance their learning, teaching and research activities; Render on-
line library service in our e-library section. A library web site has been created to render full on line
library services so staff and students of the university; Helping with research activities; Cataloging and
classify purchased books; Attending to all the query of the library users.
I have participated in co-authoring a study material on “THE USE OF LIBRARY” for undergraduate
students to equip them with the knowledge on how to use the library. Also I have been a member of a
committee for establishing Part-Time Program in Library and Information Science in my University.
In addition engaging in networking with other professional librarians outside my purview has also widen
my scope on the librarianship profession. I have a better understanding of how other libraries functions
and what other professional librarians do to enhance their career.
I started library school when I was 32. My first job was as an intern at one of Northwestern’s smaller
libraries–answering reference questions and working at the front desk. From there I was hired to be
the supervisor of that same front desk. After a few years, I got a job managing the circulation desk of
the main library, a much larger place where I had many students and several full-time staff to
manage. While I was working in circulation, I volunteered on several library-wide committees,
participated in librarian discussion groups, and helped the theater librarian with research consultations
and presentations. I waited a long time for a position to become available in a field that I had some
experience in.
Now I work in an academic library as a digital humanities librarian. My day-to-day varies a lot.
Mostly I support researchers, students, and teachers with workshops and consultations about digital
humanities projects. I have a lot of autonomy, which can be both good and bad (hard to stay
motivated sometimes!) I also work some shifts on our chat reference service and at an information desk
in the main library.
Marijan Kolevski
Information Librarian
NI University Library “St. Kliment Ohridski”
Bitola, North Macedonia
marijankolevski@yahoo.com