From mineral exploration to dog agility competitions, new Kelowna Library branch head Christine McPhee has enjoyed a varied and eclectic background. But she says that the most exciting aspects of her life right now are the possibilities and opportunities facing the downtown landmark乌鸦传媒攖he largest branch in the Okanagan Regional Library system.

乌鸦传媒淭he Kelowna Library has been a really exciting place over the past year, helping the plans develop for renovations and new services,乌鸦传媒� explains McPhee. 乌鸦传媒淭here乌鸦传媒檚 this great creative energy and civic engagement happening in Kelowna, and I乌鸦传媒檓 looking forward to increasing the ways the library can connect with and support all the activity happening in the city.乌鸦传媒�

McPhee took over the branch head position after 28-year incumbent Fern Teleglow retired in August. She started working at the Kelowna branch in March 2015 as the reference and instruction supervisor after moving back to the Okanagan from the Fraser Valley Regional Library system.

Raised in Penticton, McPhee乌鸦传媒檚 path to librarianship hasn乌鸦传媒檛 been a typical one.

乌鸦传媒淢y first degree is actually in geology and I worked as a field geologist before deciding to return to Okanagan College to study English literature and creative writing.乌鸦传媒�

Then came work as a freelance editor in the Lower Mainland.

乌鸦传媒淚 really enjoyed working with the written word, but being an editor was very isolating and I wanted to connect more with people as part of my job,乌鸦传媒� say McPhee. 乌鸦传媒淭alking to librarians, they all were very excited about their roles, and I乌鸦传媒檇 always loved that libraries are this free, democratic space, staffed with people working to help the public to the best of their abilities.乌鸦传媒�

So McPhee got her Masters of Library Information Sciences from UBC in Vancouver.

乌鸦传媒淚 got my first job at a public library in the Fraser Valley and immediately fell in love.乌鸦传媒�

She feels very lucky to now be back in the Okanagan where she can enjoy personal passions such as cross-country skiing, hiking, and training with her border collie cross and Australian shepherd.

乌鸦传媒淚 even started to learn to sail this summer,乌鸦传媒� she adds. 乌鸦传媒淚 love to be out in nature during my personal time. It乌鸦传媒檚 a balance with my work life, the best of both worlds.乌鸦传媒�

McPhee looks forward to leading the 乌鸦传媒済reat team of people at the Kelowna Library乌鸦传媒� towards the future of library services, which includes a substantial revitalization of the 20-year-old building.

乌鸦传媒淚 think the biggest challenge for libraries is making the transition from these organizations that were very stable for a long period of time to organizations that are facing constant change. This also presents huge opportunities and we have to learn to be agile and constantly learning.乌鸦传媒�

She cites the example of a recent program partnering with UBCO and Border Free Bees on the issue of the decline in pollinator populations, The Pollinizing Sessions.

乌鸦传媒淭here were 70-120 attendees at each of these programs 乌鸦传媒� people that were concerned about what they could do to help on their land or in their gardens and passionate about how to make the Okanagan the best it can be,乌鸦传媒� McPhee describes. 乌鸦传媒淎nd there乌鸦传媒檚 an appetite for the library to help facilitate this kind of learning and community development. We乌鸦传媒檙e just at the tip of the iceberg.乌鸦传媒�