BIG IDEAS demand reliable information. The University Libraries supports scholarship, research, and learning at UT by acquiring, organizing, preserving, and facilitating access to the world’s knowledge. The wide-ranging expertise of our librarians might surprise you.

This semester we begin a series of profiles of UT Knoxville librarians. Watch for a new profile each week.

As Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources Librarian, Peter Fernandez provides instruction and research assistance to undergraduate and graduate students, and serves the research needs of faculty in the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources (CASNR). He and other staff at the Webster C. Pendergrass Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine Library are available to help at any step in the research process.

Peter works closely with CASNR departments to develop collections that meet the curricular and research needs of faculty and students. He is also the Libraries’ liaison to UT Extension agencies and UT AgResearch centers throughout the state.

Peter’s research interests include the effect of technology on patrons’ interactions with libraries, particularly the ethical implications of such technologically mediated exchanges. He publishes widely on social networking and privacy, copyright and open access publishing, and open-source technology. Peter is a vocal proponent of open-source citation management tools: he’ll teach anyone within earshot to use Zotero!

Peter holds a bachelor’s degree in religious studies from the New College of Florida and the master’s in library and information science from the University of South Florida. Peter is an active member of the United States Agricultural Information Network, currently serving a two-year term as director.