Debra Labern

About me

I am an information professional with a diverse background in adult education, community development, research, and counseling.

Currently, I hold the position of Senior Access Services Specialist at John P. Robarts Library. In this role, my responsibilities include creating and managing the weekly schedule for the Robarts Library Ask Chat service and main U of T Libraries email information service. I also have the privilege of training and mentoring student library employees. Additionally, I provide service on the reference chat platform and act as a daily supervisor on the main University of Toronto's LibraryHelp email information service by ensuring that patrons receive timely and accurate responses to their research inquiries.

In the past, I served as the Course Reserves liaison at the Gerstein Science Information Centre. This role involved supervising, training, and mentoring student employees. I also provided information services to patrons, maintained liaison with students and faculty members, prepared course readings and course websites for faculty, and managed the Course Reserves print collection.

My goal is to bring the knowledge and skills gained from my background in motivational counseling, diversity studies, and adult education into every interaction I have with students. By doing so, I aim to inspire and motivate students to reach their full potential. It is of utmost importance to me to foster self-growth and awareness in students, while also helping them achieve their personal, academic, and professional goals.