Carson Hartzog has been working at the Art Library for three years, since she first arrived in Iowa City from Oswego, Illinois.
When she enrolled as a first-year student, Carson Hartzog was already a few years out of high school. She’d tried her hand at college before and ended up withdrawing, an experience that left her feeling somewhat rattled. She wasn’t sure what to expect from her college experience, especially given her status as a nontraditional student.
“There was a lot of fear for me in coming back to school,” says Hartzog. “I was a bit older than the average student and wasn’t sure how well I’d fit into the student culture. The Art Library was one of the first places I connected to on campus.”
Patricia Gimenez, director of the Art Library, and Jim Hall, library assistant, immediately welcomed her into the library’s light-filled floor in the Art Building West.
Hartzog’s return to college has been a resounding success. Now in her final semester, the journalism and social work major is an enthusiastic participant in campus life, including serving as opinions editor for the Daily Iowan. Her interests have also taken her into the wider world, from an internship with the Coralville Community Food Pantry to a summer stint with BlueGAP, a National Science Foundation project that uses storytelling to take action against nitrogen pollution. According to Hartzog, the confidence to pursue these opportunities began behind the Art Library gates.
“I think that’s one of the most crucial moments for any college student—finding a space where you can be yourself while also moving beyond what you sometimes think is possible for yourself,” says Hartzog.
Hartzog’s experience as Hall’s supervisee has been so positive that in 2023 she joined her fellow student library employees in nominating him for a campus-wide award, UI Student Supervisor of the Year. Out of 106 nominees, the Pomerantz Career Center selected Hall for the honor.
The appreciation is mutual. Hall praises Hartzog’s “knowledge, experience, reliability, and diligence,” which he says have made her “an integral and vital” member of the Art Library staff.
“Her intelligence, humor, and personality make her a joy to work with and a genuine pleasure to have around,” says Hall.
Though Hartzog is not an artist herself, she says she’s learned a great deal about visual art by osmosis, thanks to friendly library users. She’s also familiarized herself with the Library of Congress classification system, which organizes millions of Libraries resources by subject. One of the things she loves most about the Art Library is its openness to students from all backgrounds and all areas of study.
“Because of the architecture and design that went into Art Building West, students are drawn to it,” says Hartzog. “And I know I’m biased in saying this, but I do think the Art Library is one of the most inclusive spaces on campus. Patricia does an amazing job of curating book displays that represent all of our readers.”
Like many undergraduates, Hartzog is enjoying exploring potential careers. She hasn’t yet pinpointed what comes after graduation, but she knows which values will guide her in the future—and they’re the same ones she’s witnessed in action with her supervisors at the Art Library.
“My end goal in terms of a career is ensuring information is as accessible as possible while also making sure that information reflects as many voices as possible, not just the voices of folks that look like me or share similar experiences,” says Hartzog.
She’s also developed a new litmus test for use in her future career.
“I’m always asking myself: Would I want to work for me? If the answer is no, I know I need to adjust and start asking myself: What would Jim and Patricia do?”