Kayla Morin is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in English concurrently with a Library Technician Diploma at UFV. Having a passion for making a positive difference through her love of literature, Kayla has been working for the Fraser Valley Regional Library system for the past four years, bringing joy and knowledge to diverse communities across the region.

Kayla began her journey at UFV in 2017 with the goal of becoming a middle/secondary school English and Info Tech teacher. However, chronic health issues forced her to reconsider this path. Determined not to abandon her progress, she found a new direction that perfectly aligned with her interests: the Library Technician Diploma program. This discovery allowed her to pursue her passion for libraries, which had always been a safe space for her growing up, while also enrolled in the BA program.

Kayla’s academic journey took an unexpected turn when she secured a practicum with the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC). Initially applying to be a tutor for inmates, her resume caught the eye of the Education Director, who was impressed by her library experience and thought it would be useful to acquaint her with their library system. This led to a unique practicum opportunity as a library assistant at the Pacific Institution, under the guidance of librarian Dan Vitaly.

“I honestly didn’t even know correctional institutions had libraries,” Kayla admits. “I was thrilled to experience a unique library workplace I would not be able to witness elsewhere.”

Her role involved participating in various activities, from attending staff training workshops on suicide and self-injury intervention to participating in smudging ceremonies led by local Elders with Indigenous inmates. These experiences not only deepened her understanding of corrections but also allowed her to apply classroom concepts in real-world scenarios.

One of the biggest challenges Kayla faced was adapting her understanding of library work to an institutional environment. Unlike the public library system that she was used to, working in a correctional facility required balancing numerous high-priority tasks simultaneously.

“I really came to understand the true difficulty of constantly having to balance between so many different things that all need to get done. (…) Observing how my supervisor managed his time and priorities was an invaluable lesson in problem-solving and adaptability.”

Kayla’s practicum also challenged her preconceptions about the justice system. She was encouraged to learn about some of the ways correctional services, particularly in the Pacific Region, provide different forms of rehabilitation and support for Indigenous offenders.

I was especially encouraged to witness some of these programs myself at Pacific Institution, such as the Lalem Xeyíyá:qt Healing Unit and the Huli Tun Healing Lodge.  It was so incredible to see all the efforts at Pacific to support Indigenous inmates, providing the space and freedom to facilitate healing and rehabilitation that follows the Sacred Teachings and allows inmates to reconnect with their culture, ancestry, and teachings. These efforts of decolonization and reconciliation in a highly restrictive government facility was amazing to witness firsthand. I was very grateful to have the opportunity to attend several morning smudging ceremonies (also called ‘morning prayer’ or ‘morning circle’) during my practicum alongside fellow CSC staff members, Elders, and Indigenous inmates at Lalem Xeyíyá: qt. I hope to make use of the knowledge I received to support further decolonization of the Indigenous Peoples across Turtle Island. There is still of course so much to be done, but I was so impressed that a lot of the resources provided at the institution were more accurate, culturally appropriate and up-to-date than the limited amount of resources available to the general public.

Kayla’s supervisor, Dan Vitaly, was equally impressed by her performance.

“Kayla provided library services to a diverse inmate population, including regular inmates at medium and maximum-security levels, as well as specific units for the mentally ill, geriatric inmates, and hospitalized inmates”, Dan writes. “She enthusiastically undertook the extensive project of creating a visual catalogue of audiobooks using her computer and design expertise, which will be especially useful in engaging the large portion of the inmate population who are illiterate.”

Dan praised Kayla’s strong work ethic, professional competence, and excellent rapport with both inmate patrons and CSC staff, concluding, “I have no hesitation recommending her for any endeavour she chooses to pursue.”

This practicum experience has significantly influenced her career aspirations.

“Prior to starting the practicum, I had not considered working in an institutional library as a future career option. This changed in an instant after my very first day,” Kayla says.

As she continues her studies, Kayla is excited about the future possibilities her education has opened for her. She advises fellow students to seize opportunities like practicums to explore potential career paths and gain practical experience.

“My advice to future students is to make the most of opportunities like practicum placements to get a glimpse of what a career you’ve been considering is really like”, she says. “Continually ask yourself why you are pursuing the field of study you’ve chosen and why you are considering certain future careers for yourself.”