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ACADEMIC BACKGROUNDPenny attended eight schools while she was growing up - Coomb Bank Preparatory, Treherne Elementary, Swan Lake School, St Ann's Academy, Haney Central, Maple Ridge High School, St Paul's Academy, and Little Flower Academy. She graduated from LFA in 1959. Penny attended Seattle University and graduated from the University of British Columbia with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Honours (1964) and a Bachelor of Library Science degree (1965). In mid-career, she entered a PhD program at James Cook University (JCU) in Australia - balancing her work as a library administrator with her academic work. She completed her PhD degree and graduated in 2004. 
Here she is at her graduation ceremony in Townsville, Queensland wearing the JCU regalia. Her formal title is "Dr. Penelope Anne Grant, PhD." Click Writing to see some of the things she has written. |
CAREEREarly in her career, Penny worked as a librarian at the Vancouver Public Library, and at the University of British Columbia Library. She was also the Rural Schools Librarian for B.C.'s Cariboo Chilcotin School District (District 27). After many years as a fulltime mom, Penny started to working for the Vancouver Island Regional Library. VIRL is the ninth largest public library in Canada and serves more 400,000 people out of 38 branch libraries on the West Coast of British Columbia. She worked there for more than 25 years. Penny began in a temporary position as a Bookmobile Clerk in 1981. She became a Children's Librarian looking after children's service in nine VIRL branches. Later she was appointed Assistant Director - Public Service. Penny was VIRL's Executive Director for ten years - from 1997 to her retirement in 2007. 
Penny has also taught online courss for the San Jose State University School of Library and Information Science in California. She is planning to write a book based on the ideas she shared with her MLIS students. |