By Dawn Van Vlack
Posted April 16, 2026
I have never considered myself a history buff. In fact, I found history painfully boring in high school. It was a struggle just to stay focused, let alone feel engaged enough to participate. Maybe that had something to do with the teacher. Or maybe it was my own lack of attention. Or perhaps I simply saw the subject as irrelevant to my life at the time.
Fast forward a few decades, and I find myself completing a work placement at the University of Windsor’s Leddy Library, working in Special Collections—surrounded by what I once might have dismissed as “old stuff.”
My primary task was to use the LibGuides software platform to organize and present thematic areas within the Special Collections, making it easier for users to explore the materials. As part of this process, I selected and highlighted resources from different collections to feature on the guide.
To my surprise, I was completely intrigued.
Some of the materials I worked with dated back to the 1500s. That alone was fascinating. I can barely manage to keep things in my own home for more than ten years—aside from my children, of course. And maybe a few photos of them. But a book from the 1500s? It’s almost unimaginable.
I wondered, were these materials kept by the original “pack rats”? In all seriousness, we owe a great deal to those who had the foresight to preserve and pass down these historical materials. Without them, these tangible connections to the past would be lost. So perhaps they were visionaries, not “pack rats”? Ok, maybe a little of both!
One of the most memorable aspects of my placement was the opportunity to physically handle some of these books. Many were beautifully embossed, with intricate details that made them feel almost magical. Holding them, I felt a sense of awe—and curiosity. I found myself wondering: what stories do these pages hold? What can they teach me?
This experience taught me far more than just technical skills. Yes, I learned how to build and organize digital resources, but I also discovered something more personal. My perspective on history has changed. I no longer see it as distant or irrelevant, but as something meaningful and worth exploring.
In the end, this placement didn’t just connect me to the past—it helped me better understand how much my own perspective has evolved, and how valuable that connection to history can truly be.
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Dawn Van Vlack completed a field placement in the Leddy Library Archives & Special Collections in Spring 2026. She originally completed a degree in Human Kinetics from the University of Windsor followed by a Diploma in Massage Therapy. After many years dedicated to raising three children, and pursuing many hobbies and experiences, she is currently working towards her Library and Information Technician diploma at Mohawk College.
Posted April 16, 2026
I have never considered myself a history buff. In fact, I found history painfully boring in high school. It was a struggle just to stay focused, let alone feel engaged enough to participate. Maybe that had something to do with the teacher. Or maybe it was my own lack of attention. Or perhaps I simply saw the subject as irrelevant to my life at the time.
Fast forward a few decades, and I find myself completing a work placement at the University of Windsor’s Leddy Library, working in Special Collections—surrounded by what I once might have dismissed as “old stuff.”
My primary task was to use the LibGuides software platform to organize and present thematic areas within the Special Collections, making it easier for users to explore the materials. As part of this process, I selected and highlighted resources from different collections to feature on the guide.
To my surprise, I was completely intrigued.
Some of the materials I worked with dated back to the 1500s. That alone was fascinating. I can barely manage to keep things in my own home for more than ten years—aside from my children, of course. And maybe a few photos of them. But a book from the 1500s? It’s almost unimaginable.
I wondered, were these materials kept by the original “pack rats”? In all seriousness, we owe a great deal to those who had the foresight to preserve and pass down these historical materials. Without them, these tangible connections to the past would be lost. So perhaps they were visionaries, not “pack rats”? Ok, maybe a little of both!
One of the most memorable aspects of my placement was the opportunity to physically handle some of these books. Many were beautifully embossed, with intricate details that made them feel almost magical. Holding them, I felt a sense of awe—and curiosity. I found myself wondering: what stories do these pages hold? What can they teach me?
This experience taught me far more than just technical skills. Yes, I learned how to build and organize digital resources, but I also discovered something more personal. My perspective on history has changed. I no longer see it as distant or irrelevant, but as something meaningful and worth exploring.
In the end, this placement didn’t just connect me to the past—it helped me better understand how much my own perspective has evolved, and how valuable that connection to history can truly be.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Dawn Van Vlack completed a field placement in the Leddy Library Archives & Special Collections in Spring 2026. She originally completed a degree in Human Kinetics from the University of Windsor followed by a Diploma in Massage Therapy. After many years dedicated to raising three children, and pursuing many hobbies and experiences, she is currently working towards her Library and Information Technician diploma at Mohawk College.
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