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Today we’re highlighting Andy Todd, a seasoned reference librarian at UCF. Andy is the UCF Connect Librarian at the EFSC/UCF Joint-Use Library on the Cocoa Campus. He’s also the go-to Subject Librarian for the UCF College of Nursing, where he collaborates closely with faculty to support scholarly research and teach students the ins and outs of research resources.

With a Master’s in Library Science from the University of South Florida and a Bachelor’s in Nursing from UCF, Andy’s expertise is well-respected among librarians and nurses alike! He’s passionate about providing top-notch instruction and reference support to both main campus and distance learners. We sat down with Andy to learn more about him, his core philosophies, and his connection to nursing!

Tell us a little bit about your background and how long you’ve been with us at the UCF Libraries.

Absolutely! I graduated with my Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from UCF (class of ’96) back when it was the School of Nursing. After I graduated, I worked for about 5 years in public health. One of the initiatives I worked with involved auditing local primary care providers and providing them with the latest guidelines and other literature with the goal of increasing county immunization levels. The internet had just started, and I loved it! I decided to pursue a Master’s degree in library and Information Science and graduated in 2003 from the University of Central Florida. I started working for UCF in 2004 as a librarian for the South Lake Campus in Clermont. I currently serve as the Subject Librarian for the UCF College of Nursing and interim subject librarian for Physical Therapy and Kinesiology. I also work as a UCF Connect Librarian at the EFSC/UCF Joint-Use Library on the Cocoa Campus. 

What drives your passion for librarianship? 

I am passionate about promoting the relevancy of UCF Libraries resources. The library I truly enjoy working with many different groups of students. I aim to continue developing innovative ways to reach online students, serve faculty with grant and research related projects, and collaborate with my librarian peers. 

What are some of your core philosophies in terms of the services you provide?

As a Librarian, I try to understand what the student and faculty information needs are and teach them how to retrieve the most appropriate information to support their projects. One of the reasons why I enjoy librarianship is that our mission is to provide equitable access to quality resources for our constituents.

What about the College of Nursing inspires you?

The students, faculty and staff inspire me. They are hardworking, dedicated professionals who have a passion for helping people and advancing their profession. 

What is it like being a Connect librarian? What sorts of challenges and advantages do you face?

Being a Connect librarian offers the opportunity for me to work with students, faculty and staff from different locations. It involves a lot of traveling, but the ability to help students at remote locations is rewarding.

Tell us a little about you outside of the Library. What sort of interests and hobbies do you have?

I like to spend time with my family, mountain bike, and play frisbee golf. I have two daughters; one in high school and the other is in college.

Is there something you want to pursue professionally in the future?

At present, I am involved in several systematic review projects. My service goal is to become involved in national organizations such as the Medical Library Association and pursue Academy of Health Information Professionals (AHIP) certification.