National Women's History Month: Brooke Troutman

The University of Texas at Arlington Libraries is celebrating National Women's History Month by highlighting some of the inspiring women who make this organization a model 21st century urban academic library.

Today's interviewee is Brooke Troutman, Scholarly Impact & Social Sciences Librarian. Troutman has worked for UTA for four years and in libraries generally for ten years.

Alexandra Pirkle (AP): What was your first library-related job? How did you come to that job?

Brooke Troutman (BT): I was a graduate research assistant for the Illinois Regional Archives Depository. It was an internship with the state of Illinois sponsored by my master's program in the history department at Illinois State University.  

AP: What role have women played in your career and life?

BT: When I worked in the archives at Illinois State University the new University Archivist, April Anderson-Zorn became close friend and mentor. I knew I would continue to work in archives and libraries from then on.  

AP: What is one of your favorite things about working at UTA Libraries?

BT: The wonderful faculty and students that I work with every day. 

AP: Who is your favorite woman historical figure? Why?

BT: There is no way I could choose just one. There are so many women that broke glass ceilings to be the first. There are so many women that fought for women's rights. There are so many women that endured being second class citizens and did what they could to persevere. I admire any woman, famous or not, that has done any of these things. So, I would have to say I admire all women.  

AP: What is something about you that others would be surprised to know?

BT: I was an archivist before I became a librarian. I worked as a project archivist at Illinois State University and then a digital archivist at the University of West Florida.

Thank you, Brooke, for all of your hard work and dedication to UTA Libraries!