Getting to Know You: Brett Spencer

The Star Wars' franchise character Yoda holding a book for a promotional "Read" campaign posterby Jennifer Cywinski and Tracy Reilly

Brett Spencer has been a part of the social fabric at the Penn State Berks Thun Library since 2014. He is the Reference and Instruction Librarian for the Social Sciences and also the liaison to the Humanities and Art Sciences.

Brett originally worked in a public library while in graduate school and earned his degree in Library Sciences in 2000 from the University of Southern Mississippi. He was then hired at the University of Alabama and left his native home of Mississippi. However, living in the south had some drawbacks, and eventually, Brett’s family began looking for better opportunities for their son Trent, who has autism.

After doing some research, Brett and his wife discovered that Pennsylvania was supportive of families who have children with autism. Brett applied for his position at Penn State Berks Thun Library while looking forward to moving and helping his son prosper. Now Trent attends The Vista School in Hershey, which boasts wonderful staff and state-of-the-art facilities to address the special needs of children.

When Brett isn’t working he enjoys spending time with Trent and their little rat terrier dog “Nemo.” Both he and his wife, Danielle, are big Star Wars fans and Brett actually owns a homemade lightsaber!

Brett says that working for Penn State has been a great opportunity for him and his family. He says “the co-workers, faculty, staff, and students, you could not ask for a better work environment!”