Access Services Librarian
What is your interaction with DelVal students and in what capacity?
I wear a couple of hats here at DelVal. I oversee about 25 students at the library, which is always a bustling hub of activity. Additionally, I've been teaching DelVal l and ll for about six years now, and I absolutely love it. In these classes, I have the privilege of guiding students through their first year of college while also serving as a mentor in my supervisory role. It's incredibly rewarding to watch them flourish and grow both personally and professionally during their time here.
What are the characteristics of a successful student at DelVal?
Driven. Passionate. Awareness of their self-worth. Some of the best students I’ve worked with are acutely aware of what they bring to the table. They don't see obstacles; they see challenges to overcome. And that's almost every student I’ve met here at DelVal. They really have it in their mind’s eye what they want to achieve, and they’re determined to make it happen.
What brings you the most satisfaction in your job?
Definitely working with the students. I kind of live vicariously through them and I love it. When a student has a research topic I often find them really cool especially when it’s something I never would have thought about, which you see a lot here. Helping students explore those topics and helping them with research is very rewarding. In my role as an instructor of DelVal one and two, a big part is helping the students explore career paths. Being there for the moment when they’re writing down what their “why” is, is fulfilling for me. It’s great to see what all these students want to do with their lives and how they want to change the world. It’s really humbling for me and I love cheering them on.
How do you harness the pillar of experiential learning and apply it in your everyday teaching?
I think there’s really three different ways I apply experiential learning. When I visit classrooms, I teach students how to research and we learn by doing sample research. Learning how to navigate the information world is something that everybody's going to have to do, so I teach students tips and tricks that can help them in their classes and in their professional fields. Then, as an instructor in DelVal l and ll, I really push them to explore themselves as professionals to use what we're trying to teach them as practical skills, such as how to get up and have an interview, how to greet people, or how to write a professional email. We require them do to informational interviews where students speak to someone in their profession and ask them probing questions to better understand the industry and their line of work.
Are there any other specific activities or initiatives that you prioritize when mentoring students?
I encourage all students I interact with to really just take advantage of everything DelVal has to offer. I’m really big on One Health so I push our students to get involved with that and attend the seminars that pertain to their interests. I also think we have a really strong Center for Student
Professional Development (CSPD) team. I went to a big university and I didn’t get the kind of help career wise that we offer our students at DelVal. Our CSPD team here is out of this world and the amount of work the put in to helping our students get jobs makes it an amazing resource that every DelVal student should take advantage of.
I'm really big into One Health, I love it. I always encourage students to attend based on their personal interests. If One Health does not interest them there are other opportunities I share. One or two of my current students are English majors. They love writing. They love drawing. They love photography. So I say, ‘Did you know about the Gleaner? Let's work with the Gleaner.’ I’ll push towards their interest, and I also really push specific services on campus. Like the writing center, the tutoring center, and student research.
What else are you involved in on campus outside of Library and DelVal one and two?
I’m part of One Health, the Gleaner and I’m on the President’s Commission on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB)
If you were to be a YouTube influencer or TikTok influencer, what would the subject of your content be?
It would probably be a native plant channel – I love native flora and fauna. I’m one of the people that cringes at the site of traditional lawns and I want to rip them all up and replant them all with native flora and fauna. I’m actually trying to get a native plant garden started behind the library and I have enlisted students to help me dig up some of the old stuff and redo them with native plants.
About Claire Drolet
Claire Drolet is an access services librarian at Delaware Valley University. She has a master's degree in library and information science from Drexel University with a specialization in digital libraries.
"In the library world, I’m most interested in physical and digital circulation analysis, patron experiences and preferences, and copyright law. I’m also passionate about the One Health Initiative and enjoy research on equitable solutions for people, animals and the environment."