Rochelle Mazar joined UBC Library in 2021 as the Assistant Director of the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre (IKBLC). She recently served as the Acting Head of X̱wi7x̱wa Library from November 2022 until December 2023.
After working in Ontario and New York, Rochelle brings her experience in librarianship, academic engagement, faculty development and instructional technology from previous positions at the University of Toronto Mississauga and the University of Rochester. She joined UBC Library in search of a role that resonates with her values and interests: “I was looking for a job and a place that I would love, with people who are kind and good, and doing work that I felt was aligned with my values.”
At IKBLC, Rochelle leads three teams and collaborates with library faculty and staff, UBC partners and community members. She provides guidance for programs and services such as the Chapman Learning Commons (CLC) and the Centre for Writing and Scholarly Communication (CWSC), and manages the Learning Centres’ community engagement and outreach initiatives.
Rochelle is particularly excited about the exceptional EDI work underway with the Community Engagement team in IKBLC, the workshops on “Elements of Indigenous Style” in the CWSC, and the focus on supporting neurodivergence and student community building at the CLC. “This is a caring, thoughtful, and creative group of people in IKBLC. They’re always surprising and inspiring me with their ideas for what’s next!” says Rochelle.
Rochelle also works closely with Julie Mitchell (Associate University Librarian, Teaching, Learning, and Engagement and Director, IKBLC) to oversee the building’s facilities and foster effective, welcoming spaces. She brings her passion and knowledge about design and architecture for learning spaces to co-lead renovation projects, such as the Level 2 Learning Concourse upgrades, completed during summer 2023.
In November 2022, Rochelle was happy to step in as Acting Head of X̱wi7x̱wa Library, establishing the X̱wi7x̱wa Library Hosts to support library operations, fulfilling three recruitment processes, and helping connect the X̱wi7x̱wa Library team with eager collaborators in IKBLC and beyond. She is especially proud of the Basic Indigenous Reference training initiative, inspired and driven by Karleen Delaurier-Lyle’s exceptional work and led with openness and compassion by Alex Kuskowski.
Despite her array of responsibilities, Rochelle notes that the most interesting part of her role is the people she works with.
“It’s always the people. It’s such a delight to work with everybody in IKBLC and X̱wi7x̱wa Library as well as my fellow branch heads and colleagues, who are such intelligent people with interesting experiences and goals,” says Rochelle. “The projects are also great, but I think they’re great because of the people.”
Learn more about the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre.