Rate My Professor Paula Whitelock

Paula Whitelock is the Robertson Librarian at the University of Otago's Robertson Library, located at 135 Union Street East, Dunedin 9016. In this capacity, she serves as a key contact for library services, reachable at +64 3 479 3806. As a Subject Librarian, she provides specialized support for Education and Teaching, as well as Human and Physical Geography. She authors and maintains detailed LibGuides for these disciplines, covering essential resources such as databases, books, APA referencing for Geography, and strategies for staying current with research literature. Her guides include dedicated sections for Education, Human Geography, Physical Geography, and general research update tools like Keeping up-to-date with research. Additionally, Whitelock acts as the liaison librarian for Otago Polytechnic programs, supporting subjects including Building and Engineering, Midwifery, Natural Resources, and Nursing. She also contributes to broader initiatives such as the Pathway Te Huarahi guide on using the library and participates in library events and workshops, such as search skills sessions and distance learning presentations.

Concurrent with her library role, Paula Whitelock is a PhD candidate in the Department of Primary Health Care and General Practice at the University of Otago in Dunedin. Her doctoral project, titled An exploratory study of companion pet owner perceptions of euthanasia, is supervised by Associate Professor Chrystal Jaye from the Department of Primary Health Care and Professor Ruth Fitzgerald from the Department of Anthropology. This research delves into perceptions surrounding euthanasia in companion animals, intersecting health practices, ethics, and human-animal relationships. Whitelock presented preliminary findings at the Social Anthropology Postgraduate Symposium 2024, delivering papers on Pets, People and Assisted Dying and Geographic Happiness: Navigating Identity, Belonging, and Wellbeing via Migrants' Eco-Creative Practices in Aotearoa New Zealand. Through her combined professional responsibilities, she enhances information literacy, research support, and scholarly inquiry across humanities, social sciences, and health domains at the University of Otago.