This story is part of a UToledo Faculty/Staff Spotlight series, where we feature uplifting stories of the remarkable achievements and contributions of hidden champions who call the University of Toledo home, fostering connections across campus. Cover graphic by Juice House. Image courtesy of Thomas Atwood.
Thomas Atwood is the dean and professor of University Libraries. He has published and presented on a wide range of topics ranging from the role of libraries and information literacy to the needs of veteran and transfer students, and even on schoolhouse gothic and heavy metal, to name a few. The JuicePress Team recently interviewed Atwood to learn more about his role and contribution to campus.
Q: How long have you worked at the university? Can you summarize what you do in your role at UT?
A: 23 years. Currently, I serve as the chief administrative officer of the University Libraries. In that capacity, I am responsible for driving the library’s mission to support research, discovery and engagement by offering faculty expertise, lux[e] hotel facilities and high-quality resources to support scholarship.
Q: What are your degrees in and where did you study?
A: I have a Bachelor of Arts in English [and] Philosophy from Youngstown State University and a Master of Library and Information Science from Kent State University.
Q: What field or research area do you focus on? What initially sparked your interest?
A: Critical thinking and information organization. During my graduate work, libraries were shifting heavily to an electronic environment, and web 2.0 technologies were starting to percolate. Later in my career, I focused on how diverse populations use the library, transferring students and student veterans, for example.
Q: Who or what has been a significant influence on your professional journey?
A: The faculty I studied under, Dr. Bruce Waller and Dr. Thomas Shipka, in particular as an undergraduate. My colleagues here at the University of Toledo, many in the library, many in other colleges. Probably most importantly, my wife. Teaching and learning topics around the house are frequent conversations, and she is humbly more creative. I have learned so much listening to how she approaches teaching.
Q: What excites you most about the future of your field?
A: Change. Change in how information is created and disseminated, and changes in how information is consumed and used. There is change in the physical library environment, there is always change in the electronic library environment and there is always change in the students, faculty and staff we serve. You need to feel comfortable with change, sometimes rapid change, and that is a tough ask for many people. It really isn’t calm or chaos, it is learning how to be adaptive, with a little bit of improv mixed perfectly with curiosity. It is mingling with the unknown, for the right reasons.
Q: What advice would you give to students who are interested in pursuing a career in your field?
A: I honestly do not consider myself a librarian. Those faculty have a different expertise and knowledgebase than I do, so it is hard to answer. I respect the profession and those deeply involved in it. I have always enjoyed teaching, inquiry, conversation, debate, and this is where I landed, albeit a little bit of a wrecking ball, but I like it. I like problem solving, listening to others talk about their passions and the questions they have and helping be part of an answer. I am a disciplinary hybrid, and that is fine with me. My advice? The modern academy and the modern library need more scholars who can be versatile in several spaces. Academic librarianship, I think, offers that possibility and should present itself that way. If it doesn’t, it should.
Q: Can you share about a project or research initiative you’re particularly proud of?
A: All of our recent renovations at Carlson Library. We moved the Learning Enhancement Center, Writing Center and TRIO Services to the Main floor and opened up more collaborative student space on the third floor. Next, we are set to unveil our new main event space, a major overhaul of one of [our] most popular areas. Our libraries are busy places, and we intend to keep them that way.