Meet our Team – Hannah Cole

Hi, my name is Hannah Cole and I am the Research and Instruction Librarian for Music, Theater & New Dance, Philosophy, Communication, and English & Modern Languages. I have an MA in English Language and Literature from the University of Missouri-Kansas City and a Master of Library and Information Science from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Describe yourself in three words:

Cozy, Intelligent, Witchy

What is your role in the University Library?

I help students and faculty in my departments (mostly) find sources and use them well. This looks totally different depending on the type of person I’m helping and what kind of help they need. I try to make information and the library as easy to use as possible because I truly believe everyone deserves access to any information they want or need. I became a librarian to demystify the library.

What is the one thing you want students and faculty to know about the library?

I love research consultations. You are not bugging me. It’s my favorite part of the job. I’m a people-person and get energy and enjoyment from hearing about diverse and unique interests. Please use my brain! It’s just waiting to help you find all sorts of cool things.

What do you like best about working at Cal Poly Pomona?

The library staff and faculty. They are welcoming and have an incredible understanding of how to serve their community. I was so impressed with the community spaces in the library when I first interviewed, like the Bronco Family Space, the reflection room, the white boards on the 2nd floor, and the Grand Reading Room.

What is your favorite location on campus? Why?

I mean, the library, but I feel like I was probably supposed to say somewhere else. Other than the library, I love the theatre building. It is small but mighty. I have a minor in theatre and performed in theatre all through high school. Walking around their scene shop and tiny department library is weirdly comforting and familiar. Once a theatre kid always a theatre kid I guess.

What are you reading? Or listening to?

Ug, so much. I link to my Goodreads in my profile which is always circulating books in and out. Typically, I read somewhere between 75-100 books a year. A few from my list recently: Book Lovers by Emily Henry, The Spiral Dance by Starahawk, A Thousand Beginnings and Endings edited by Ellen Oh and Elsie Chapman, and Book Banning in 21st Century America by Emily J.M. Knox. As far as listening, I tend to get very into individual songs more than artists. A few songs on repeat right now: Imperfect/Kate Nash, W.I.T.C.H./Devon Cole, Ireland/Liza Anne, Curious/Hayley Kiyoko, and Lavender Haze/Taylor Swift.

Do you have any hobbies or interests you would like to share?

Reading which I’m sure is obvious from my above answer (shout out to OHG Book Club). I also love cozy video games (Stardew Valley, Sims, Breath of the Wild, Animal Crossing), baking, tarot reading, crochet, and all that is hygge.