As a librarian, I am able to nourish my curiosity every day and give back to the research community at large.
A. P. Anderson
- Alum
Anderson didn’t initially see themself as a librarian. It wasn’t until they were already attending East Texas A&M University as an undergraduate theatre major that they became interested in studying the intricate art of library sciences. After graduating from East Texas A&M in 2017, Anderson later earned a master’s degree in Library Science from Texas Woman’s University in 2020.
A Conversation with Anderson
What do you like most about your career?
My favorite part of being a librarian is that I get to help students and professors find the resources they need for their research. It's a wonderful feeling because it allows me to contribute to the growing body of scholarly literature that improves our understanding of the world daily. I also find it rewarding to be able to teach people how to evaluate the resources they use and learn how to recognize high-quality, accurate sources of information in an online world that is littered with misinformation.
Tell us a little about yourself
I didn't consider becoming a librarian until I was right in the middle of writing my undergraduate honors thesis. There was just so much information out there that I became overwhelmed, but once I figured out how to navigate the complex ecosystem of academia, I became sort of enchanted with the idea of being able to find anything and everything I ever wanted to study. As a librarian, I am able to nourish my curiosity every day and give back to the research community at large. Sometimes people ask me if I'm afraid that technological advances like Google, Amazon and e-books are going to make libraries “go away,” and I tell them no. A library is so much more than a book warehouse—it's a way of connecting to knowledge, and it's a way to carry our knowledge with us into the future. Technology helps us to meet those needs. Libraries will evolve over time, but as long as people have questions and want to learn, libraries will exist.
Educational Background
- M.L.S., Library Science, Texas Woman’s University(now East Texas A&M University), 2020
- B.S., Theatre, Texas A&M University-Commerce(now East Texas A&M University), 2017
Academic Positions
- Research and Learning Librarian, East Texas A&M University, 2023-2025
- Library Reference Graduate Assistant, Texas Woman’s University, 2018-2020
Research Interests
- Information Literacy
- Intellectual and Academic Freedom
- Online Privacy and Data Security