Michael Lorenzen, candidate for Wilson Library's assistant dean of public services position, answers questions for the audience following his presentation Monday. Photo by Carey Rose

Michael Lorenzen: The person basically oversees the public services roles in the library, and that involves working with the library administration, going out around campus, and finding out what people need and working with the campus community in a way that helps the library and the patrons in getting the best service.

WF: What do you hope to achieve should you get this position?

ML: To make sure that I am running the place in such a way that we’re teaching people how to use it and, being good stewards of the resources that we’re given, spending money wisely and actually contributing to the university.

WF: Why is information literacy important for Western students?

ML: Students can’t always evaluate information. Stuff is biased; stuff is put up by special interests just to make money, to make a particular viewpoint. So, [literacy involves] teaching people to be able to identify information, find it and evaluate it, and know when to look for more information. I think the library is primed to teach about this, and it’s a very important part of our role in higher education.

WF: The library is often seen as a passive entity where you find information yourself.  How can a library more actively help students?

ML: [Students] can come in and they can get help, be it in person, they can get help right there at the desk immediately. They can do it by e-mailing us, by calling us, they can post a message on our Facebook page. We need to be there when they need the help, and we need to be set up so that people don’t even necessarily need to ask us

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