BiblioBios: Spencer Administrative Associate inspired to share library collections
What do a moon rock, vintage match books, a list of children’s superstitions, and a 200-year-old pudding recipe have in common? They’re all items from the Spencer Research Library that caught Tiffany McIntosh’s eye, inspiring her to learn more. As Administrative Associate at Spencer Library, McIntosh is often at the center of activity in the vast library, supervising student workers, coordinating across departments and resolving day-to-day challenges to keep operations running smoothly for staff and visitors. The job has also made her one of the library’s biggest fans.
With previous work experience at a retirement home, as a bartender, and in big box retail, McIntosh brings a rich background in customer service to her role at Spencer. She also brings a natural curiosity and foundational understanding of archeology and anthropology via a bachelor’s degree in general studies from KU.
Shortly after starting her Administrative Associate role in the fall of 2022, McIntosh began posting about Spencer materials on her social media.
“I started posting on Facebook so my friends and family could see what I was doing and the cool things I got to see at work,” McIntosh said. “I’d text my mom pictures of one of the tiny miniature books from Special Collections sitting in the palm of my hand and say, ‘Look how small this is!’”
The personal posts and messages turned into the inspiration for the library’s public-facing “That’s Distinctive” blog, with weekly posts by McIntosh to provide a “lighthearted glimpse into the diverse and unique materials at Spencer,” and fueled by her belief that there is something for everyone in the library’s collections. [Take a look behind the scenes in this week's blog post]
McIntosh’s family and friends have been so intrigued by the materials she shares and writes about that she invited a group of them to campus for an in-person visit last spring. The group has been back twice since and has grown to include more curious minds.
“They think the library is the coolest thing ever,” McIntosh said. “I gave my brother and my mom some of my cards because they were like, we want to tell people about this. And my brother gave his teacher one of my cards and their class ended up coming on a field trip.”
McIntosh, who grew up in Lawrence and has a long family history in the town, was a first-generation college student at KU.
“Growing up I didn’t really have a career plan,” McIntosh said. “My family have all been super supportive and so proud of how far I’ve come.”
She credits KU’s TRIO program, which provides a wide range of opportunities including personalized support services to first-generation students, in helping her achieve academic success and complete her undergraduate degree. The program also supplied McIntosh with her first connection to Spencer Library when she was paired with Caitlin Donnelly Klepper, head of the library’s Public Services, as a mentor.
“Coming to KU was a great experience but it was also a very overwhelming experience,” McIntosh said. “Without TRIO I probably wouldn’t have made it through college.”
McIntosh is currently working on a master’s degree in museum studies at the University of Oklahoma via their online program, with a focus on outreach and education.
Writing Spencer’s “That’s Distinctive” blog has not only become a highlight of McIntosh’s position, it is also a natural expression of some of the ideas and approaches she’s learning about in her graduate studies. Beginning in January of 2023, she has generated more than 35 “That’s Distinctive” blog posts focused on Spencer materials, spanning from local and campus history, artwork, rare books and manuscripts and more.
“I try to not use jargon, not make it super academic. I want your average everyday person to be able to understand,” McIntosh said. “In my heart I want more people to know about the library and to get more people in the door.”
BiblioBios shine a light on the people behind the collections, programs and services in KU Libraries. Find your link to important information and resources by connecting with our faculty and staff through the KU Libraries Directory.