In Memory of Tanja Harrison
by Donna Bourne-Tyson, Jacqueline Gahagan and Bernadette V. Russo
Tanja Harrison, the beloved University Librarian at MSVU for eleven years, was a graduate of the Dalhousie School of Information Management. She was a dear friend and colleague, and a highly respected member of the library community in Atlantic Canada and beyond. One can open any number of professional sites associated with the Maritimes and likely come across her numerous accolades and contributions to community within local, regional, and academic settings and sectors.
Tanja was an active member and leader of various key committees and organizations including the Dalhousie University School of Information Alumni Association, the Atlantic Provinces Library Association, the International Association of Library Associations, the Canadian Library Association, Novanet, the Council of Atlantic University Libraries, the Canadian Research Knowledge Network, the Ex Libris Association, and the Nova Scotia Library Association. As noted on Acadia University’s memorial page for Tanja, among her numerous contributions was her central role in the development of the “You Quote It, You Note It tutorial, a tool that revolutionized how students approached citation and academic integrity” (https://www2.acadiau.ca/about-acadia/newsroom/news-reader-page/acadia-mournstanja-harrison.html). Further exemplifying the magnitude of her contributions, in 2021, Tanja was awarded the Atlantic Provinces Library Association (APLA) Merit Award.
Tanja’s dedication to and passion for Atlantis: Critical Studies in Gender, Culture &amp; Social Justice, which is a Diamond Open Access, peer-reviewed, scholarly journal in publication since 1975, and her commitment to open access in general, were exemplified by her continued efforts to support Atlantis. Even through her most challenging moments, Tanja consistently worked hard to navigate Atlantis through the difficult processes of funding an open access journal, including stepping up to assist wherever needed to support the journal. While she was transitioning out of her role as University Librarian before her passing away, Tanja made it clear that she was very much looking forward to having more time to devote to her work with Atlantis. She was passionate about open science, institutional support for open access journals, and historical research focusing on the Maritimes; her strong contributions to the success of Atlantis demonstrated this commitment.
Donna Bourne-Tyson, retired Dalhousie University Dean of Libraries, writes of Tanja that “Tanja always went that extra mile, not only organizing interesting events but also adding a creative spark to them—her energy and innovat ive ideas were always welcome. Meetings were always a little more fun and productive when Tanja was in the room. Whether working on a silent auction together, or a governance, copyright, or 2SLGBTQIA+ digital archives commit tee, the experience was that much more rewarding when Tanja was a partner in crime.”
Jacqueline Gahagan, MSVU Associate Vice-President Research reflects on the many interactions with Tanja: “I first met Tanja in September, 2021, shortly after joining the Mount in my role as Associate Vice President Research (AVPR). Through that connection, we explored a partnership between the MSVU Research Office and the Library to share the cost of our membership in The Conversation with Communications to increase the visibility of the worldclass research being conducted at the Mount. We also looked at other partnerships to augment research awareness through Research In View, various training events, and webinars.”
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Bernadette V. Russo (mixed Indigenous ancestry), Assistant Professor at MSVU recalls, “I met Tanja on June 22, 2021 on a tour of MSVU as a newly hired faculty, just as the Mount was preparing to reopen. Tanja was where she always was: the library. Meeting her felt like reuniting with an old friend, and that feeling never waned. Her positive, kind, and generous spirit touched everyone she met. Equally true, Tanja was a strong, steadfast, and staunch supporter of social justice and EDIA as well as an activist-advocate-ally for Indigenous initiatives, always appreciating and respecting the land and its people.” A rock hound, ceramicist, photographer, traveller, lover of whales and all other animals, and avid Manchester United fan, Tanja will be forever missed. To know Tanja was to love her—her zest for life, her easy laughter, her love for her family, and the joy she found in people, art, music, research, writing, and sharing ideas. Donations to Atlantis: Critical Studies in Gender, Culture &amp; Social Justice may be made in her memory.
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