By JOSEPH PARADA Staff Writer

Walking into the library, you are greeted with a smile and a “How can we help you?” Karen McGrath is the college’s manager of library services. She has been the manager of the libraries at both Niagara-on-the-Lake (NOTL) and Welland campuses since February 2008.  

Gordana Vitez and Geoff Brown are always willing help out students using the libraries at Niagara College. Photo by Jason Costa

“I’ve really had the opportunity to work in different work environments and different kinds of libraries. I really find it’s great that I can bring most of that and bring it together here at the college. It’s very much a question of understanding who your clientele is, who you are serving, and developing services that are relevant,” says McGrath.

When she heard about Niagara College wanting to expand its library she wanted to be part of it. “With the college having the reputation it has in the community, it seems like a place I wanted to work,” she said.

To understand what Niagara’s libraries are all about, Gordana Vitez, the systems co-ordinator of the campuses, explains: “In a nutshell of our day-to-day operation of the library, everybody strives to make available their services to help students on assignments, whatever the faculty needs.” Vitez also graduated from the U of T Library Science program. “I must admit that I had a lot of connection with the library staff there when it came to researching,” she says of her time as a student. What interested her in library sciences was the fact “you didn’t have to focus on one thing.”

“I couldn’t imagine doing a master’s [degree] in only one aspect of English or history. With the library, you get to do a little bit of everything.” After graduating she decided to earn her tech diploma at Sheridan College in Oakville, Ont. While completing her degree she saw the construction happening for the NOTL campus and thought, “Wow, wouldn’t it be neat if I could get a job there, and, lo and behold, I did.”

She worked there for eight years and has been at the Welland campus for eight years. McGrath says all 11 of her staff members are friendly and always willing to help. “No matter what we are doing, the people that come to the desk are our first priority.” And that’s exactly what happened. With the interview over, Vitez returned immediately to the desk to help a student.