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Libraries are the nucleus of any university.

Humming with intellectual and social activity, libraries encourage curiosity, problem solving, and innovation.

HU Librarian David Runyon said his team misses the energy students bring to Harrisburg University’s library. But since HU’s library boasts an array of digital assets, students, professors, and staff can access many of the same resources available to them prior to the University’s campus closure in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In his post, Runyon oversees Library operations, staff, and resources. And he and his team work to ensure students, faculty, and staff have access to the information they need, whether that means helping someone learn to use a tool or mailing a book across the country.

We recently caught up with Runyon to learn a little more about him, his road to HU, and what it is like operating the library during a pandemic.

Meet David Runyon:   

Q: When did you join HU? Where did you work before arriving to the University?
A: I joined HU in September of 2010, which means I’ve been at HU for 10 years! Before HU, I worked for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Department of Community and Economic Development.

Q: Tell us about your educational background?
A: I hold master’s degrees from Shippensburg University (counseling, college student personnel concentration) and the University of Pittsburgh (library and information science). I also earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from LeTourneau University.

Q: What made you want to work at HU?
A: I loved having the opportunity to put my knowledge to work on the cutting edge.

Q: How has your job changed due to the COVID 19 pandemic?
A: We really miss the buzz of students in the Library! Because so many of our library’s resources and tools are digital, most of the work we do to keep those things up and running can be done from anywhere.

Q: What do you enjoy most about your position?
A: The thing I like most about this job is that there is always something new and different to work on! It never gets boring.

Q: Where are you from originally? Where do you live today?
A: I grew up in southern Michigan, and now I live in Hershey.

Q: Any family details you would like to share?
A: I met my wife in graduate school where she was studying to be a school librarian and we have two kids. They love playing with LEGOs and reading.

Q: What do you like to do in your spare time?
A: I enjoy tabletop games, LEGO building, video games, and reading science fiction and military history. Book recommendations welcome!

Q: What do you think makes HU special in terms of the educational experience the university provides to students?
A: HU’s greatest strength is its willingness to innovate. From the programs we offer to the courses available to our approach to library resources, we aren’t afraid to try new things to support students as they work toward achieving their goals.

About Harrisburg University

Accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, Harrisburg University is a private non-profit university offering bachelor and graduate degree programs in science, technology, and math fields to a diverse student body. For more information on the University’s affordable demand-driven undergraduate and graduate programs, call 717.901.5146 or email, Connect@HarrisburgU.edu.