Wendy Wright, Library Director

Wendy serves as Director of the Smithers Public Library. She has always loved connecting people with stories, ideas, and information in various formats and enjoys creating opportunities for community members to learn from each other. Wendy worked in bookstores and the publishing industry for nearly two decades before side-stepping into the world of libraries. She holds a Community Library Training certificate and a Library Technician diploma from Langara College.

Melissa Sawatsky, Communications / Program & Event Coordinator

Melissa works behind the scenes crafting library communications and promotions, program and event materials, and library displays. She also coordinates programs and events for adults and general audiences. Melissa writes poetry and creative non-fiction and is passionate about creating safe spaces where everyone in the community can connect, learn, and collaborate. She’s also a lifelong cinephile, adores musical theatre, and loves to dance. Melissa holds a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from UBC and has partially completed a Master of Library and Information Studies at the University of Alberta.

Erin Hart, Technical Services / Circulation Coordinator

Erin H. joined the library team in 2016. Her loves include rare book libraries, gardening, historical fiction, cookbooks, and the ocean. Her library work includes repair, processing, interlibrary loans and book club sets. Among the numerous reasons why Erin H. loves her work is that she gets to care for and collaboratively steward a collection built by many hands and hearts over decades. She especially enjoys growing our Library of Things and (of course!) conversations about books.

Sandra Schuffert, Children’s & Youth Services

Sandra enjoys her work (with her partner, Pete the Puppet) as the Children’s and Youth Coordinator at the Smithers Public Library. When they are not singing, dancing or sharing stories with you, they might come up with a new NID idea, or organize a class visit. Besides taking courses in Children’s and Young Adult Services, Sandra has also taken numerous courses to teach children and young adults with diverse abilities. Sandra has also been a homeschooling mom, is a Special Olympics coach, and lives with her family on a hobby farm.

Lynnda McDougall, Library Assistant

Lynnda arrived in the valley in 1971 and has worked at the library for the last 20 years. She is a storehouse of local information and knowledge. Her interests are eclectic and far-ranging: from 1970s era Marvel comic books to classic Canadian literature to crime fiction. Prior to joining the library staff, she worked as a bartender, secondary school teacher on-call, stump to dump logging contractor, bookkeeper and carpenter-in-training on the Old Church restoration. When not in the library or emceeing events, you will find Lynnda hiking the valley trails.

Vicki Alton, Library Assistant

Vicki has worn many hats at the Smithers Public Library—volunteer, staff member, board member, Friend of the Library, and after 14 years at Smithers Secondary School Library, has come back to help look after our busy front desk. She enjoys using the tools from her Community Library Training to empower people to access information. Historical fiction is a personal favourite, but her great love is putting the right book in the right hands at the right time.

Erin Cockriell, Library Assistant

Erin C. began working in libraries at the tender age of 8. As an adult she spent some wonderful years at the Prince George Public Library and currently loves her work at the Smithers Public Library. When her nose is not in a book she can be found adventuring with her family, cooking, gardening, and playing the ukulele.

Vanessa Martin, Library Assistant

Vanessa started working at Smithers Public Library in January 2022. These days, she splits her time between the library and Mills Interior Stationery. If she’s not out exploring this beautiful Bulkley Valley, she’s probably curled up with a good book and a cup of coffee.