Hi everyone! My name is Jason Wu, and I’m honored to serve as the Library Ambassador at Northeastern University’s Seattle campus. This experience has been one of the most memorable parts of my Northeastern journey. I’d love to share a bit about my experience with you.
A nervous but exciting start
Before the semester began, I was both excited and a little nervous — I had never been a Library Ambassador before, and everything felt so new. Luckily, under the guidance of my amazing supervisor Anaya Jones (Accessibility and Online Learning Librarian), I was able to ease into the role. I started by thoroughly exploring the library website and getting familiar with the wide range of resources and services available.
At the same time, I worked closely with Anaya to develop a detailed work plan for the semester, and we made sure everything was ready for our first big event: setting up the library’s booth at the Campus Spring Fest.
A special Spring Fest
When the new semester kicked off, I was thrilled that both Anaya and Lawrence Evalyn (Text Mining Specialist) flew in from Boston to join us for the Campus Spring Fest. It was a wonderful opportunity to meet librarians face-to-face and learn more about the vision and mission behind our library services.
Leading up to the event, I had also prepared a lot of trivia questions about the library to make our booth more engaging. I honestly didn’t expect so many students to be so interested in library resources! Thanks to all the preparation I had done, I was able to confidently answer their questions and help them learn more about what the library offers.
That experience really helped me better understand the significance of this role — and made me even more excited to share these resources with my fellow students.
Designing and promoting library events
One of my favorite parts of being a Library Ambassador was designing posters for events like the Reading Challenge and various library workshops. Behind each poster was a lot of effort — I spent hours fine-tuning the layouts, adjusting the masks and decorative elements, experimenting with color schemes, and carefully crafting the wording, all to make sure the posters would look as polished and eye-catching as possible when displayed on campus bulletin boards and shared online.
Seeing the posters I designed spread across the campus — and knowing they helped more students learn about library resources — made me feel incredibly proud and fulfilled.
Weekly drop-in hours: Connecting with students
Every week, I hosted a drop-in hour on campus where students could stop by and ask questions about the library’s online and physical resources. Some students asked how to properly do citations for their assignments, while others were curious about what my role as Library Ambassador involved. There were even students who wanted to know how they could earn prizes from the Reading Challenge!
Getting to meet students face-to-face, listen to their questions, and better understand their needs was truly one of the best parts of this role. I also handed out library stickers and other small goodies, making each interaction both fun and memorable — and helping more students discover how the library could support their academic journeys.
A field trip to the Seattle Public Library
Another highlight of the semester was organizing a group visit to the Seattle Public Library in collaboration with the One More Chapter Club. Over 10 students joined the tour, where we explored the library’s stunning architecture, learned about its history, and discovered the different functional areas inside. Many students even signed up for their own library cards on the spot. Seeing their excitement for reading and learning grow was truly one of the most heartwarming moments of the semester
What struck me most was the library’s unique design. The Seattle Central Library, opened in 2004, is an 11-story glass and steel structure designed by Ram Koolhaas and Joshua Price-Ramus. Its distinctive, angular form and innovative “Books Spiral” layout make it a landmark of modern architecture.
As I walked through its expansive spaces, I couldn’t help but notice how the library’s structure reminded me of the public library in my hometown of Shenzhen, China. Coincidentally, both buildings were completed around 2005, perhaps reflecting the architectural trends of that era. This parallel made the visit even more special, bridging my past experiences with my current journey at Northeastern.
A memorable chapter of my Northeastern experience
Throughout this journey, I received constant support and guidance from Anaya, and also had the chance to exchange ideas and experiences with Library Ambassadors from different campuses.
As the very first Library Ambassador for the Seattle campus, I’m incredibly proud to have helped more students discover and connect with the library’s amazing resources.
Building on that experience, in my second year as Library Ambassador I’ve been sharing updates about online library activities and Reading Challenges on Viva Engage. Exciting events such as the Public Library Tour and Love Data Week are also on the horizon. You can also catch me at Fall Fest, Spring Fest, orientation sessions, or my weekly drop-in hours — don’t forget to stop by, ask questions, and pick up some library stickers!
This experience has been a truly unforgettable chapter in my Northeastern story — and I’m so grateful I had the chance to be a part of it.