UTA Libraries Staff Spotlight: Andy Herzog

Storytelling can be done in several different ways. Andy Herzog, Director of Assessment, uses data and information to tell how UTA Libraries serves students daily. 

"I started here at UTA as a reference and instruction librarian for public services, but I have always been interested in understanding our users here at the library," Andy said. "I have been interested in data, what we can learn from it to make decisions, thinking about our path and how to express that. When the opportunity arose to move into assessment, I took it." 

In his role as director of assessment, Andy not only looks at just numbers alone but seeks out and talks to people to get a complete picture of what is happening within the library walls. These assessments and interviews have shown how UTA Libraries is meeting goals and what it can do to serve the university community better. 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Andy did interviews with students as the university was shifting to online learning. Those interviews helped Andy better understand that shift, how the move was impacting students' educational experience, and how the library could adapt to the change to continue serving the university community. 

Andy works with departments throughout the library. This analysis can help a department find out if students are satisfied with a particular service or if they have some questions they seek an answer to through data analysis. It could also be a survey asking students about their connection to the library, department, resource, or service. 

Andy stated that his role at UTA Libraries provides him with a unique set of daily challenges. 

"I enjoy a number of things in my job. I like the challenge. I like how there is always an opportunity to explore new things," he said. "I like that we're an institution that helps a lot of first-generation students, and there is an opportunity to support their education." 

Andy shared that if any department needs help with a project that involves data or has a question that needs to be answered, to reach out to him by email at amherzog@uta.edu.