About me

I’m Becky Canovan, and Getting to Ta Da is my library blog. I’m the Reference and Instruction Librarian at the University of Dubuque.

Getting to Ta Da is something that started as a thought, and then became a spark. It started when I tried to explain my glee about a student who had stopped in my office to tell me about his grade on a paper I’d help him research. It was like the little kid who is so proud of an accomplishment they just exclaim “Ta Da!!” And that’s when I realized that my library instruction is really all about getting the students to that Ta Da moment in any way I can.

This website contains my attempts at getting my students there. A place to put my ideas, lesson plans, tutorials, and presentations. Well, and anything else I think to put here.

Now just a little more about me:

I spent my college years as a triple major in history, politics, and English at Cornell College where I sat through many a wonderful information literacy session. Oh the advantages of research heavy majors! I also spent a month in Chicago studying at the Newberry Library, an experience that inspired my decision to become a librarian.

I headed back to my home state of Wisconsin to complete my Master’s degree in Library and Information Studies at UW-Madison. I spent 2 years working at the Center for Demography and Ecology Library doing just about everything, but where I learned how to find stuff with incomplete citations and how to organize research. I also logged time at College Library doing virtual and in-person reference. I took courses in information literacy instruction, reference, and information architecture. But it was at the reference desk where I really got my first taste of instruction.

And that’s how I ended up at the University of Dubuque, Charles C. Myers Library as the liaison librarian to Sociology, Psychology, History and the Core Curriculum. Where I’ve also found myself the unofficial girl photographer and co-leader of the Young Adult Book Club.

If you’re interested in my non-work blogging, feel free to look for me here.