Inside the University of Iowa Libraries is your look behind-the-scenes to meet the people and discover the stories making our organization unique and valuable. From cutting-edge databases to rare books, join us to explore a world of research, preservation, and discovery that fosters student success through countless touchpoints.
For many students, Andrea Anderson is the first touchpoint with the University of Iowa Libraries and becomes their personal guide to the vast resources available at its seven branches and beyond. From teaching classes to providing support at the Just Ask Desk in the Main Library, Andrea helps students develop important research skills and fosters a sense of curiosity about the information around them. She sees herself as a friendly expert who can bridge the gap between students and the research expectations of their instructors.
Andrea joined the Libraries in the fall of 2023 as an undergraduate engagement librarian, after serving seven years at California State University, Bakersfield (CSUB) as a library instruction coordinator. She graduated from CSUB with a Bachelor of Arts in history and earned a Master of Library Information Science from San Jose State University.
Now, Andrea’s work goes beyond teaching library and research skills that help students navigate their academic work. She collaborates with colleagues to engage students in a variety of resources and experiences that support holistic student success while they are on campus and in the libraries. Embracing the lasting impact of her work, Andrea approaches her time with students as an opportunity to encourage lifelong learning.
Q: When does your job feel most rewarding?
A: It’s always rewarding to hear from students that something I showed them helped make their academic life a little easier. Sometimes it’s at the Just Ask Desk. Students are surprised by the resources that are so quickly available. Sometimes it’s a faculty member mentioning that students found a workshop helpful. And sometimes it’s a student who just needed to talk their way through an assignment and hear someone tell them they were on the right track. We don’t always get feedback from the help we provide or see the impact it all eventually makes. So, it can be really rewarding to hear back from some of the people we’ve helped along the way.
Q: What is an academic library to you?
A: To me, an academic library is the heart of an academic community. It includes our resources, but, just as important, it holds our people and their differing ideas and experiences. It’s both a space to just BE and it’s also a place where curiosity leads to new knowledge and understanding of people and the world around us.
Q: What activities do you enjoy outside of work?
A: In the spare time I don’t have, I enjoy adding miles to my minivan by driving my four children around to their activities/sports, going on long walks around my neighborhood and commenting on my neighbor’s lawns, and attempting to resuscitate all the plants in my yard.
Q: What might colleagues or students find surprising about you?
A: I am currently teaching a first-year seminar on celebrity memoirs. I love memoirs in general but have recently enjoyed diving into this celebrity memoir boom. It’s been interesting sharing different excerpts and seeing themes and experiences that resonate with our students even though most tend to be leading far different lives. So far, my favorite celebrity memoir is Trevor Noah’s Born a Crime.
To find support from Andrea and other librarians, visit the Just Ask Desk in the Main Library or the Contact a Librarian webpage.