Åsa is the Library's newest employee. She has been working here since August and now you can find out a little more about her.

What did you do before you came here?

 - I started out as a language advisor at Örebro University’s Academic Writing Centre, where I did pretty much the same thing as here in Borås: academic language support. However, for the past five years I worked at the Unit for Academic Language at the University of Gothenburg where I also managed the unit’s web and produced other digital resources, such as video clips about academic writing.

What are your main tasks?

 - I teach academic writing in Swedish and English, which means I give lectures, hold workshops and co-supervise the Language Lab drop-in. I also do occasional individual advisory sessions with students. Although we talk about this service as ‘language support’, I don’t see what we do as some kind of ‘language A&E’, but rather as being a part of the student’s writing process.

What made you want to apply to the Library at the University of Borås?

 - In my experience, the University of Borås has a really good reputation. Actually, I first wanted to come here five years ago when I moved from Örebro, but then there were no vacancies. As a matter of fact, a few years ago I saw my current colleague Johanna Persson give a presentation at a conference and she made a lasting impression. I really want to encourage people to find colleagues they feel they can both learn from and complement. Sometimes I get the feeling that today we’re all about marketing ourselves and pointing out our strengths. That’s all very well, but why not spend a moment thinking about what you can learn too? The library is the perfect workplace for someone who values curiosity.

What do you do when you're not at work?

 - I listen to music, for instance Marillion, Morbid Angel, Danny Elfman and Prokofiev. I’m constantly looking for new music, because I want to learn more and explore new territories. Being an anglophile through and through, I’ll gladly quote everything from Monty Python to Black Books and Doctor Who. I’ve also written a book.

Do you have any book tips you want to share?

 - Certainly! Stephen Fry, Steven Pinker, Stephen King, Stephen Donaldson ... Ah, am I allowed non-Steves? Then I would like to recommend Audible's lecture series on history, psychology, physics, astronomy, gastronomy and cultural geography. There is always room for more on my mental bookshelf. My favourite TV programme QI also has a number of accompanying books filled with unimportant but interesting knowledge.

Text: Åsa Jonsén and Lena Wadell
Photo: Lena Wadell