Staff Spotlight: Andrea Wittmer

If your vision of a library is a quiet, dated space from a bygone era, you probably haven’t visited the Bromfield Library and Information Commons at Ohio State Mansfield.

While the open spaces are kept quiet out of courtesy to all patrons, there are places where students can do all kinds of exciting things like hold a group study, play a board game, and of course, read.

Head Librarian Andrea Wittmer is devoted to making the library a vibrant and resourceful place. She earned her bachelor of art degree from campus in 2010 and earned a master of library and information science from Kent State University in 2016.

One of the reasons she enjoys Ohio State Mansfield is because the faculty and staff work cooperatively to provide educational opportunities that benefit all students.

At this campus, people are willing to help each other and reach out to others when in need,” she said. “We work together as a team and we share common goals.”

What drew you to Ohio State Mansfield? 
The place itself. I have a long history with this campus and graduated from here. We have a beautiful campus, but of equal importance: our campus is small in a way that creates community. We look out for each other and are friendly, which is priceless.

What do you do at Ohio State Mansfield? 
I am the librarian, which means I do everything that comes to mind when you imagine a library--except for aggressively shushing people. I also do things you don’t think, such as teaching, creating course content, helping others with research, finding stuff people swear doesn’t exist and other mysterious things. My work centers around questions and answers.  
 

What drew you to Ohio State Mansfield? 
The place itself. I have a long history with this campus and graduated from here. We have a beautiful campus, but of equal importance: our campus is small in a way that creates community. We look out for each other and are friendly, which is priceless. 
 

What are you most proud about with your time at Ohio State Mansfield? 
Making the Bromfield Library and Information Commons (BLIC) a welcoming presence on campus and in the community. I take pride in the events I have hosted and am always planning future collaborations. My focus on innovating and adapting to technological shifts has been critical. I don’t believe libraries are dated places! Quite the contrary. I consider how to meet patrons where they already are, which may mean they use the library’s electronic resources before they ever come into the space.  
 

What does it mean to be a Buckeye? 
Intellectual curiosity mixed with approachability. Especially from a regional perspective: making high-quality education available to all, including those who struggle to see themselves in college. It’s one of Ohio’s greatest gifts to its citizens.

What advice do you have for students? 
Get comfortable with not knowing an answer immediately, and with being wrong about something. Often, students expect that I will give them an answer—a single statement of fact; a yes or a no. What I actually do is help them to find what they seek, and to keep asking more questions until they get there. Learning is a lifelong commitment: it doesn’t end with your degree. Whatever sparks your interest is worth investigating.  
 

What do you do outside of work? 
I have more interests than I have time to pursue them, which is a good problem to have. If it’s under the umbrella of the arts, you can find me there. I like to participate in human uplift. Whether that’s serving on community boards or caring for loved ones, it all matters. I enjoy all of that, as well as going for walks, especially if I can look for rocks at the same time.

Name one thing about yourself that not many people know? 
I held national records in archery as a young person.