A new head librarian, Katherine Wagner, began her position at the Weyburn Public Library on Thursday, with a day of training by Southeast Regional Library’s library director Kate-Lee Nolin.
Born and raised in Regina, she took her post-secondary education in Ontario, where she lived for six years, and spent three years in Japan teaching English.
Wagner lived in Nagoya, the third largest city in Japan, and taught students English at a private school, including giving English lessons to people ranging from very young to adults and of all ability levels.
“Their culture is different, but in many ways people are also all the same,” she said, adding of Nagoya, “It’s a really beautiful city. I really loved living in Nagoya, and loved teaching people.”
Wagner returned to Ottawa in 2018, and took her master’s degree in information studies at the University of Ottawa. During this time, she worked for a year in the Brian Dickson Law Library, and for a year as a reference librarian in the Library of Parliament.
As there are major renovations ongoing to the Parliament Buildings, part of its library was moved to Sparks Street nearby, and she had her office in the Confederation Building where a number of MPs also had their offices.
Libraries fill an important role that she hopes to be a part of, as Wagner pointed out that in this day and age, people place great importance on having access to information.
“These days there is so much information available. Libraries are able to help people find the correct information. I think if people have the information they need, it can help them do whatever they need,” said Wagner.
She applied for this position as she grew up in Saskatchewan, and Weyburn seemed like a great place to come to, with everything that a person could want available.
She still has family in Regina, so she isn’t far from them, and she noted her grandfather was originally from the Tyvan area.
“I’d like to be continue offering the excellent service that the Weyburn Public Library has been offering, and help manage the gradual opening up from the closure caused by COVID,” said Wagner.
She has also been getting to know her fellow staff members at the library, and Nolin has been training her up in the procedures and systems of the library.
“Weyburn seems to be a really beautiful city,” she said.
