We would like to wrap up Faculty Appreciation Week by shining a light on the incredible faculty members who not only inspire students every day but are also among the library's biggest supporters. From engaging deeply with our resources to promoting our library to students, our faculty make the UOPX Library come alive - and the feeling is mutual.
To add a little fun to the celebration, we sent out a survey inviting faculty to share their library stories. With questions ranging from memorable rabbit holes in the UOPX Library to favorite soundtracks for browsing, we received a mix of thoughtful, nostalgic, and downright entertaining responses. We've edited some of the responses for length and added links where appropriate.
So, take a detour with them into the stacks (virtually speaking) and get to know the library-loving side of our faculty - you might discover something that makes you say, "Well, that’s interesting!"
Do you have a favorite library memory?
I still remember the local library downtown when I was a child living in Mobile, Alabama. The library was about 100 years old, and it was a beautiful building. I would spend an hour once a month poring over the science fiction and fantasy shelves there. It was the first time in my memory that I recognized and appreciated the beauty of architecture. That branch had so many beautiful stairs and alcoves. Each visit was a gift.
---Amanda Odom, Faculty
One of my favorite library memories from the COVID/homeschooling era stars my then-five-year-old son - future herpetologist, capybara whisperer, and, as it turns out, a surprisingly independent library pro. With the world in lockdown, our public library had shifted to contactless pickup, but that didn’t stop my little bookworm from taking matters into his own hands.
One day, I noticed he’d been quietly clicking around on the library’s app on his iPad, and to my amazement, he had, all by himself, checked out 20 books, the library’s loan limit, on snakes and capybaras. That’s right, my five-year-old had mastered the art of digital borrowing faster than I could say "slither" or "rodent with webbed feet."
When the library called to schedule our contactless pickup, the librarian chuckled, "We have all your snakes and capybaras ready. You might want to bring a wheelbarrow." I could just imagine the poor librarian picturing a tiny kid single-handedly commandeering the entire reptile and rodent section.
For weeks, our living room transformed into a snake-and-capybara sanctuary, with my son proudly rattling off facts.
That day, the library didn’t just loan us books; it handed over an adventure into the outside world during dark times and a memory that still makes me grin. Even in the strangest times, libraries empower the tiniest explorers to take charge of their own journeys. To this day, capybaras and snakes are his favorite creatures!
---Jamie Buchanan, Faculty/Project Chair, Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Program
Okay, this will seem crazy, but I have a couple of library moments - both are dated:
- In the days of the physical card catalog, I used to randomly open up a drawer and flip through the cards until I found something that sounded interesting.
- Growing up, there was a small neighborhood library (a converted house) that I would walk to every Saturday morning and just sit on the floor in the corner and read all the Black Beauty books. No one kicked us kids out - we were welcome to just sit and read. 🙂
---Tahnja Wilson, Director of Faculty Training and Development
Yes, my favorite memory was meeting my wife in a library in the 1980s. She was the librarian checking out books, and I waited to check out until she was available.
---Patrick Sherman, Program Chair, College of Business & Information Technology
Have you ever fallen down a delightful rabbit hole while exploring the UOPX Library? What unexpected treasure did you stumble upon?
While exploring the UOPX library, I stumbled upon a delightful discovery: the clever "Keeping up with the Librarians" blog posts! I make it a point to visit regularly to see what new insights they offer. Their posts cover a broad array of fascinating topics that either deepen my appreciation for the library’s resources or introduce me to new subjects I hadn’t encountered before. The thoughtful content often ignites my curiosity and inspires me to explore further, turning each library visit into an adventure. Recently, I enjoyed Carrie Woodhouse’s blog on faculty appreciation. It was a pleasure to read and left me with a couple of very serious questions for her: Carrie, have you named the members of your murder of crows? And have you begun training them to fetch money or jewelry they find, in exchange for treats? Thank you for this “fun” section of the library!
---Jamie Buchanan, Faculty/Project Chair, Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Program
Sure, something I like to do, every other month or so, is just go pull up the most recent additions of the Harvard Business Review and see what the topic/focus of the moment is – it is a great way to check the pulse of what are key topics of discussion in the larger business world. In addition, sometimes I run across an article on a company and want to deep dive into its strategic practices, so the SWOT analysis option, on a specific company or industry, is always a delight to check out to get a 30K foot view of things.
---George Love, Program Chair, College of Business & Technology
What’s your go-to section or subject in a library, and what does that say about your secret alter ego?
Nowadays, in physical libraries, I love the "Friends of the Library" book sales, where there are so many unexpected treasures. I also love the history and biography sections. I love learning about the lives of others in different times, in different places, and in different contexts. My alter ego may want to be a sociologist or an anthropologist. In online libraries, I love searching for random things in databases like EBSCOhost. Comparing and contrasting modern articles with the discussion points on similar topics from 10 years ago, 20 years ago, or longer is fascinating!
---Amanda Odom, Faculty
Definitely Harvard Business Review, and it means my secret alter ego likes to come across a lot cooler than they are, as it is such an easy way to make my discussion posts pop in the discussion, and I love information presented in ways that are easy to understand (same reason I like a good SWOT analysis)!
---George Love, Program Chair, College of Business & Technology
Do you have a preferred playlist or background noise while exploring the University Library? If not, what imaginary soundtrack would you pick for your browsing adventure?
David Bowie, Lou Reed, and Patti Smith are often my background music. With that in mind, this poster seems appropriate.
---Amanda Odom, Faculty
If I had a soundtrack while browsing the university library, it would definitely include Garth Brooks and Blake Shelton. There’s just something about their music that keeps me grounded, Garth’s storytelling pulls you in, and Blake’s laid-back vibe helps me stay relaxed and focused. I especially love their slower songs when I’m reading or working through research. It creates the perfect mix of comfort and calm, which makes the whole experience feel a lot more enjoyable.
---Wendy Schmidt, Faculty
Dreamy Forest Music channel on Spotify, as it provides some ambiance as I mainline new information. Going into the library is a lot like scrolling through Instagram, but a lot more value added.
---George Love, Program Chair, College of Business & Technology
Mostly rap music - it keeps me energized while I'm on the computer searching.
---Tahnja Wilson, Director of Faculty Training and Development
What’s your favorite feature of the UOPX Library that makes it feel like magic - instant search results, 24/7 access, or something else?
There’s something truly magical about having the University Library right at your fingertips, 24/7. It’s like holding the entire world of knowledge in your hands, ready whenever inspiration strikes. Whether it’s early morning or the middle of the night, the library is always open, always welcoming, and always full of possibility. And if you ever feel lost, there’s an incredible guide at your service: the Ask Us! button, conveniently located throughout the library.
What makes it even more special is the freedom it offers. I can lean back in my chair, queue up some classic rock, or let a stream of soothing instrumental music set the tone. Then, I simply follow wherever curiosity leads me. One moment, I’m exploring criminal justice; the next, I’m deep into organizational theory or the history of public administration, especially when searching for work-related or teaching materials.
---Franzi Walsh, Associate Dean, Criminal Justice, Public Administration, and Security
My all-time favorite feature of the UOPX Library is the Ask Us tab. This human connection offers a chance to interact with a professional researcher (and I am certainly not a pro researcher myself) to gain insights and drill down to a much more productive array of literature than I have ever conjured on my own. Second to that is the Google Scholar feature that allows me to access articles/content that I would normally have to pay to read if simply using Google’s own site. "It’s a beaut, Clark!"
---Jonathan Lewis, Assistant Dean of Operations & Faculty, College of Education
Have you ever stumbled upon a book or resource in a library that completely changed your perspective, or at least made you say, "Well, that’s interesting"?
The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich by William Shirer - I read it in middle school - blew me away that people could be so easily influenced toward horrific beliefs and behavior.
---Tahnja Wilson, Director of Faculty Training and Development
Yes! Too many times to count. Most recently, perhaps, was a book I discovered by accident on Lincoln called A Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin (2005) on the cabinet that Lincoln built to help him run a fractured government during the protracted Civil War. Fantastic! What a smart man Abe was!
---Jonathan Lewis, Assistant Dean of Operations & Faculty, College of Education
A big thank you to all the faculty who shared their stories and library memories with us - your reflections truly brought the library to life! The UOPX Library staff deeply appreciates your support and is honored to celebrate you during Faculty Appreciation Week.