Get to know Katie DeRuyter, Library Systems Assistant

Meet Katie DeRuyter, our new Library Systems Assistant at UWSP! Katie brings a fresh perspective and strong commitment to support our library services. She is helping with course reserves, assisting with our library system and e-resources (including videos and ebooks), and she contributes to our collection maintenance. 

Here are some fun facts we discovered in our interview with Katie. 

Can you tell us a little about your background and your current position? I have been working in libraries since 2021 when I decided to go back to school to get my master’s degree. I have worked for Brown County Library, Appleton Public Library, and the Seeley G. Mudd Library at Lawrence University. I have been with UWSP since August and am looking forward to all I will learn from my wonderful colleagues. For nearly 20 years, I have been working with various community theater groups in my spare time and have either been the sound designer for or the stage manager for 50 productions. I’m excited to be working where there is such a strong theater program!

Where is your hometown? I’ve moved around a bit, but I’d say my hometown is Fond du Lac, WI.

How do you continue to contribute to our library’s mission and campus community? I provide connection to resources for professors for their classes by ensuring that course reserves are available in a timely manner. I’m relatively new, so there’s a lot more I’ll be able to contribute once I get a better feel for campus, the community, and their needs.

What’s a fun fact about the library or its collection that you’ve discovered since starting? I’ve been helping to clean up our Government Document Repository Collection and it’s interesting to see what information is available!

What’s one interesting fact about you that might surprise people? When I was a kid, my dad would take us “hot air balloon chasing.” Often times if you found where a hot air balloon landed, they’d let kids help pack the balloon back into the basket. Going to see the hot air balloons lit up at night was one of my favorite summer night activities.

How do you like to spend your free time outside of work? I like to read (mostly sci-fi and fantasy), craft (crochet mostly but I sew as well), and when I finish my MILS this spring and no longer have to do homework, I’ll be able to get back to playing video games (sometimes streamed). When not reading, crafting, or doing homework, I’m either spending time with my two kitties or with my husband hiking or escaping from a room!

What’s a skill or hobby you have that you think people might not expect? I’m a ballroom dancer that has competed at state and international levels.

If you were a book, what genre would you be and why? I’d be a how-to guide because I like helping people people accomplish their goals.

If you had a superpower that could be useful in the library, what would it be? I found an interesting discussion with an author about different superpowers and this particular one was mentioned: “understanding”: The ability to essentially understand anything someone say and what they mean – including in other languages. This includes the ability to respond so the other person understand. This could be really useful for assisting with research since sometimes those coming in with questions aren’t sure how to form their actual questions or fully understand what they’re looking for to get started.

Do you have any favorite local restaurants or hidden gems that you’d recommend? I don’t yet. I just moved here so I’d gladly take any suggestions you have for me!