Originally published on the Arts Co-op Program website
Luke McLeod, an Arts Co-op student completing his Master of Library and Information Studies (MLIS) with the UBC iSchool, was recently recognized for his work as an Information Specialist at the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) Patent Branch. Luke was awarded for his contribution to the identification and implementation of the Library Discovery Tool, which allows patent examiners to quickly retrieve literature necessary for patent reviews.
Luke’s contribution to the project entailed designing and facilitating training sessions for Canadian patent examiners to conduct their research more quickly. As the training is mandatory, Luke’s goal was to streamline the process and mold the training to fit with existing workflow. “I was trained on the basics of patent examination, and I interviewed examiners on what obstacles they encountered in their research,” says Luke. By learning what the examiners needed to conduct their research, Luke notes he was able to “tailor the training to their actual needs.”
“Co-op was a chance to apply the knowledge and theory that I gained from my studies,” explains Luke. “It was a step that helped me ensure that my knowledge is relevant and applicable to the profession.” When speaking about his prospective career path after graduation, Luke notes that his perspective has changed. “I realized that I would like to work in an environment where I can teach or put on events because one of my strengths is connecting with people,” says Luke. “There are many forms that this could take, so it doesn’t necessarily limit me to a particular kind of library.”
Having worked on multiple projects ranging from collections to information management, Luke says that he was able to strengthen his project management skills, and his ability to be flexible and adaptable. These skills allowed him to take on extra projects which he found very rewarding and relevant.
“I feel that Co-op will benefit me in my search for work in a variety of ways. It was a chance to gain knowledge and experience by learning on the job,” says Luke. Luke believes that the skills and experience that he learned at CIPO are extremely useful and transferable, and hopes to apply them in future library environments.
