Brian Vetruba, he/him/his European Studies Librarian

photo of Brian Vetruba
Email
bvetruba@umn.edu
Phone
612-625-8161
ORCID iD
ORCID logo 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

Book an appointment with Brian

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

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

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

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

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

Co-chair, European Studies Section Communications and Publications Committee, 2021-2022

Member, Digital Scholarship Section Professional Development Committee, 2019-2021

Chair, European Studies Section Communications and Publications Committee, 2018-2021

Select presentations and publications

"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.