Hello! My name is Amanda Gordon, and I am a Serials Management Associate in the Electronic Resources and Serials Acquisitions (ERSA) Department. While relatively new to Duke University Libraries – my first day was December 2nd, 2024 – I’d love to tell you a bit more about myself, how I got to Duke, and what my position entails…or at least what I know of it so far!
I was born and raised in central Wisconsin and graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a BA in Art History, Classics, and Classical Humanities in 2015. It wasn’t long after that I met my husband, and we moved to Florida together where I got my first library job. I had always had a fondness for libraries, and it proved to be a good fit – whether it was in public services positions, as I started out in, or in a collections services position. Before I came to Duke, I had spent the last six years in downtown Raleigh working as the Library Technical Assistant I for Campbell University’s Law School Library. It was in this role that my eyes were opened to all the behind-the-scenes work and moving pieces that go into keeping a library running, and what it takes to keep it running well. I loved the task- and detail-oriented nature of it and knew then that collections work (particularly in higher education) was where I wanted to stay!
In my new position here at DUL, I put to work many of the same skills and knowledge I’ve spent the past ten years developing – organization, record keeping, and customer services – to facilitate the work of the Serials Management Team. My day largely centers around what comes through my e-mail and as the initial “filter” on the dul-serials inbox, I could be replying to vendor communications (such as renewals or pricing updates), reviewing title notifications (such as format changes or cessations), claiming missing materials, or collecting and saving invoices. I also help to process many of those invoices for payment, along with any credit memos or rate adjustments, and help to create or close orders as needed. Thankfully, I spent the last six years of my career working in Alma, easing my transition in accomplishing some of these tasks! Beyond that, I’m happily at the disposal of my team, helping with projects or record clean-up, and continue to take on responsibilities as I learn the ins and outs of the job.
Outside of work and in my spare time, I like to game (PC) and read (my husband works for Barnes & Noble – our apartment is near bursting with books!) and enjoy a good true crime show. I also love food – a typical evening is spent at least in part in the kitchen, cooking and chatting over a glass of wine. If I’m going out, go-to spots are often centered around tapas or sushi! My husband and I also make a point to travel at least twice a year, once to Wisconsin to visit family and the other to a new destination of our choosing. We went on a cruise to the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas for our honeymoon in 2023 and really enjoyed ourselves – so much so that we went on a second last year and have another planned for this fall!
As I continue to settle into this role, I hope you’ll stop by my cube sometime to chat – whether it’s about trips you’ve taken, restaurant recommendations, or what your own position entails! I’m excited to get to know everyone better and am so happy to be here and working amongst such a friendly, knowledgeable group of people. I look forward to what I hope will be a long and fruitful career within DUL’s Collections Services!