“I don’t think anybody at any other institution would have the kind of opportunities I’ve had at Trent to take on different responsibilities. I’ve seen the University from a variety of different perspectives,” said Janice Millard, reflecting on a career at Trent which has spanned more than four decades.

“I’ve always enjoyed my job at Trent,” said Ms. Millard, who started in 1974 as an assistant cataloguing librarian in Bibliographic Services. “Working here has always been interesting and the people I’ve interacted with over the years have been absolutely wonderful.”

During her career, Ms. Millard worked in most departments in the library, including acquisitions, cataloguing, reference, serials, gifts and donations, and bibliographic services. She first began working in the Archives as a sabbatical replacement in 1997 and has been the full-time curator of the Archives since 2013. Ms. Millard was also involved with Peter Robinson College, a member of the senate executive, and active with the union.

In honour of her dedicated service, Ms. Millard, who retires at the end of June, will be bestowed with the title of librarian emeritus at Trent University’s convocation ceremony on June 3.

Looking back over her career, Ms. Millard is proud of her role in helping the library transition to the computer age. She was involved in the first automation project in the library in the late 1970s, creating a computer listing of the University’s 6,000 journal tiles.

Later, as head of Reference, she helped with the 1990-1991 introduction of TOPCAT. “We did a good job of moving from the paper-based catalogue to the automated catalogue,” Ms. Millard said. “It was a big project that was phased in over a number of years.”

Describing herself as “very pleased and honoured” to be receiving emeritus status, Ms. Millard said what she will miss most about Trent will be interacting with her co-workers, faculty, staff and students as well as members of the public. She praises her predecessor, Archivist Emeritus Bernadine Dodge, and Jodi Aoki, archivist and art collection coordinator, for their contribution to the Archives.

Asked for some outgoing advice for staff and students, Ms. Millard said: “Be open to change and willing to learn new things. Life is better when you enjoy your work.”

She plans to spend her retirement working on personal projects, researching her family history and adding her personal papers to the Trent Archives.

Posted on Thursday, May 28, 2015.