Living Library

How to Cite a Speaker from a Live Event

APA Style

In APA style, cite a Speaker as a personal communication (like letters, emails, personal interviews, and phone conversations).

Do not include personal communication, such as letters, memos, emails, personal interviews and telephone conversations, in the reference list. Cite the personal communication in the text, and include the author's initials in addition to the author's last name and provide a date that is as specific as possible.

   Example:

C. Boucher (personal communication, March 26, 2015) explains that... 

         OR

The activity associated with LGBT culture we see today has roots in a struggle against discrimination that has lasted more than a century (C. Boucher, personal communication, March 26, 2015).

MLA Style

In MLA style, cite a Speaker as an interview.

For the Works Cited reference include: Last Name, First Name of Interviewee. Personal interview. Date of interview.

   Example:

Boucher, Cindy. Personal interview. 26 Mar. 2015.

To cite in-text, use the author's last name.

   Example:

The activity associated with LGBT culture we see today has roots in a struggle against discrimination that has lasted more than a century (Boucher).

How to Cite a Speaker from a Recorded Event

APA Style

In APA style, cite a recording as a streaming video

Author, A. (Year, Month Day). Title of video in italics [Format]. Event Name. URL

with the name of the speaker as the author and the date of the recording.

Example:

Wadden-Lynk, A. (2025, January 28). Lost at sea [Video]. NorQuest College Living Library. https://media.norquest.ca/library/Living-Library-Videos/2025/Lost%20at%20Sea%20Storyline%20Files/story.html 

MLA Style

In MLA style, cite as Video Recording of Live Presentation. 

Last Name, First Name. "Title of Session". Event Name in Italics, Month. Year, URL

Example:

Wadden-Lynk, Aiden. "Lost at Sea". NorQuest College Living Library, Jan. 2025. https://media.norquest.ca/library/Living-Library-Videos/2025/Lost%20at%20Sea%20Storyline%20Files/story.html

How to Cite a Transcript

APA Style

Wadden-Lynk, A. (2025). Lost at sea [Speech transcript]. NorQuest College Living Library. https://libguides.norquest.ca/ld.php?content_id=37653575 

MLA Style

Wadden-Lynk, Aiden. "Lost at Sea". NorQuest College Living Library, Jan. 2025. https://libguides.norquest.ca/ld.php?content_id=37653575. Transcript.