Resume

Julia Brewster

Motivated Information Professional with a passion for libraries

julia.brewster@gmail.com | www.juliabrewster.ca | http://twitter.com/juliabrewster | 403.400.1648

Education

2007-2009     Master of Information Studies (MISt)
Faculty of Information, University of Toronto

2001-2005 Bachelor of Arts, International Development & Spanish
University of British Columbia

2004                 Advanced Certificate in Spanish
University of Salamanca

Professional Experience

2009                 Practicum, Blake Cassels & Graydon LLP

• Updated and resdesigned subject specific research and reference guides
• Developed the guides to meet the priority needs of the lawyers, law students
and articling students
• Guides were designed to ultimately end up on a Sharepoint Intranet

2008 Student Research Assistant, Blake Cassels & Graydon LLP

• Provided excellent reference support to 40 summer law students as well as lawyers
• Assisted with training of summer law students in the use of research databases
such as Lexis, Quicklaw and WestlaweCarswell
• Liaised with government, business and other external contacts to assist with research

2008              Practicum, Goodmans LLP Library

• Redesigned library staff manual as an online wiki using Sharepoint 2007
• Developed an effective layout for and distribution of the staff manual to meet
priority needs of library staff
• Provided a training session to library staff on the function and use of a wiki

2007-2009  Information Services Assistant Info Express/Library Assistant

Bora Laskin Law Library, University of Toronto

• Research and retrieve scholarly documents in various formats to support
reference librarian
• Support student and faculty scholarship and information needs of other
academic institutions and law firms
•  Assist with basic research inquiries

2005-2007   Graduate Programs Assistant, Centre for Neuroscience Studies
Queen’s University

• Exceeded expectations as contact person for the neuroscience program by effectively
researching and synthesizing answers to complex administrative problems
• Established effective ways of compiling and distributing important information
to all faculty and students a part of the program
• Impressed staff with the ability to multitask in a fast-paced environment
• Responsible for organizing multiple annual events for students and staff
with attendance of up to 300 people.

2003-2005  Library Assistant 1 & 2, Vancouver Public Library

• Received continuous positive feedback from supervisors for
excellent performance
• Demonstrated proficiency in VPL’s extensive internal computer system (Horizon)
• Successfully carried out a wide variety of circulation and reference duties

Professional Service

2009                Special Libraries Association, Toronto Chapter Secretary

• Responsible for designing and maintaining Confluence wiki for the SLA Toronto
chapter
• Responsible for minute taking and ensuring action items are completed on time

2008-2009   Student Council President, Masters of Information Studies Student Council
Faculty of Information Studies, University of Toronto

• Ensured that the student council committees were on track in order to effectively
complete student council’s priority activities
• Organized and effectively chaired monthly student council meetings
• Liaised with faculty and students to enhance communication
within the Masters program

2007-2008   Professional Development Committee Co-Chair, Masters of Information
Studies Student Council, Faculty of Information Studies

• Spearheaded the provision of professional development workshops for students
to help build resume skills, interview skills and group work skills
• Successfully promoted students’ job fair, increasing  attendance of several
information professional organizations from throughout southern Ontario
• Liaised with faculty and staff of the iSchool in order to perform all of the above functions

Awards

2009 Gordon Cressy Student Leadership Award Recipient

• Recognises students who have made outstanding extra-curricular
contributions to their faculty

2008 FP Infomart Student to Conference Award – SLA Toronto Chapter

• Received $1500 grant to attend SLA Conference in Seattle, WA