Brian Vetruba, he/him/his European Studies Librarian

Email: bvetruba@umn.edu
Phone: 612-625-8161
ORCID iD: 0000-0001-7998-9330
Experts: Experts@UMN

Full position title(s): European Studies, Jewish Studies, and Linguistics Librarian
Libraries department: Arts, Humanities, and Area Studies
Subject Librarian for: European Studies; French & Italian; German, Dutch, Scandinavian and Slavic Studies; Holocaust and Genocide Studies; Jewish Studies; Linguistics

About

Liaison to the German, Nordic, Slavic & Dutch Department, the Institute of Linguistics, the Center for Austrian Studies, the Center for German & European Studies, the Center for Holocaust & Genocide Studies, the Center for Jewish Studies, and French & Italian Department (interim). I'm also the Libraries' liaison to the Graduate School.

As liaison to the department and programs above, I am the “go-to” person for questions related to library resources and services. I purchase print and electronic resources in European Studies to support UMN faculty and student research and learning. I am happy to visit classes to present on resources and effective search strategies as well as meet with students, faculty, and staff one-on-one. One of my favorite parts of being a librarian is helping students and faculty, so please don’t hesitate to contact me. No question is too small!

I joined the Libraries in February, 2019. Previously, I worked at Washington University in St. Louis as the Germanic Languages, Comparative Literature, and European Studies Librarian. I’ve served in leadership roles in a number of library and scholarly organizations, including the Western European Studies Section (now called the European Studies Section), German-North American Resources Partnership, and the Modern Language Association. I’m fluent in German and have reading and speaking abilities in French, Norwegian, and Swedish. I’m reinvigorating my Russian and am learning Ukranian.

As part of the University of Chicago and University of Minnesota Librarian Exchange, I serve as Bibliographer for Germanic Literature and Scandinavian Studies at the University of Chicago.

Education

Master of Information Studies; University of Toronto

M.A. in German Literature and Culture; Indiana University

M.A. in West European Studies; Indiana University

B.A. in German and International Relations; Concordia College, Moorhead, MN

Select professional service

Member, European Studies Section (ACRL) Nominations Committee, 2024-present

Member, European Studies Section (ACRL) Communications and Publications Committee, 2024-present

Subject Editor for Germanic Languages and Literatures section, Resources for College Libraries, 2024-present

Member-At-Large, German-North American Resources Partnership, Center for Research Libraries, 2023-present

Member, Editorial Board for Central Europe Yearbook, 2019-present

Field Bibliographer, Modern Language Association International Bibliography, 2009-present

Chair, European Studies Section (ACRL), 2022-2023

Chair, University Libraries Academic Professional and Administrative Committee (ULAPAC), 2022-2023

Select presentations and publications

“Cooperative Collection Development: Current Practices among ARL Libraries for Area Studies Collections.” portal: Libraries and the Academy . Co-authored with David Faust. 24.3 (July 2024): 487-517. Open access preprint available at University Digital Conservancy.

"German Studies" (2024). In Brian Vetruba (Ed.) and Heidi Madden (Associate Ed.) Handbook for European Studies Librarians. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Libraries Publishing Services.

Handbook for European Studies Librarians. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Libraries Publishing Services, 2024. Co-edited with Heidi Madden.

"Nordic Studies (Scandinavia and Finland)" (2024). Co-authored with Hope Reilly, Karen Hill, and Ashley Dickerson. In Brian Vetruba (Ed.) and Heidi Madden (Associate Ed.) Handbook for European Studies Librarians. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Libraries Publishing Services.

"Digital Scholarship Programs in Practice." College & Research Libraries. Co-authored with Benjamin Wiggins, Cody Hennesy, Alexis Logsdon, and Emily Janisch. 83.4 (July 2022): 568-592.

"Library Programming for a Summer Institute for New Graduate Students from Underrepresented Groups," at the Current Topics Discussion Group of the University Libraries Section of the Association of Research & College Libraries held May 25, 2022. Co-presented with Kate Peterson.

"Cooperative Collection Development: Current Practices for Area Studies," New Shape of Sharing: Networks, Expertise, Information: An online forum on European librarianship Collaborative Initiative for French Language Collections (CIFNAL) and the German-North American Resources Partnership (GNARP), Center for Research Libraries held April 12, 2021.

"Collecting for European Studies: Trends, Challenges, and Opportunities," Charleston Conference held November 6, 2019 in Charleston, South Carolina.

“Collaborating with Faculty and Students: A Yearlong Program on the Holocaust” at New Directions for Libraries, Scholars, and Partnerships: an International Symposium,” held October 13, 2017 in Frankfurt am Main, Germany.

“Max Kade Center and Olin Library’s Distinctive Contemporary German Literature Collection” and “Special Collection Treasures from the Gert von Gontard and the Manuscripts & Modern Literature Collections.” Two exhibits to accompany “Transatlantic German Studies: Personal Experiences” symposium at Washington University in St. Louis, September 14-16, 2017.

“Deep Dive into the Study of the Holocaust: Reflections on a yearlong journey” YouTube video. Managed video project. Camera and editing, Sean Garcia. February 2, 2017.

"Alles deutsch, oder nicht? Übersicht über deutsche Bibliotheksbestände in den Vereinigten Staaten." BuB : Forum Bibliothek und Information. Co-authored with Richard Hacken and Heidi Madden. 68.2-3 (2016): 96-99.