Where Curiosity Led Me

The Work of Discovery is a reflection of my work as a librarian, educator, and scholar. Across these pages, you'll discover the research, projects, teaching, and partnerships that have shaped my work in libraries, higher education, and scholarship. My work is guided by the belief that libraries and archives connect people with the voices, ideas, and histories that shape our understanding of the world.

Nicole Songstad, Ph.D., M.L.S.

Welcome

I am an early-career librarian, educator, and scholar whose research explores how archives, manuscripts, and cultural heritage collections preserve knowledge and make it discoverable for future generations.

My professional practice combines archival and special collections stewardship, teaching, outreach, assessment, and interdisciplinary scholarship. Whether designing library instruction, developing exhibitions, or researching medieval manuscripts, I seek to make historical knowledge more accessible, inclusive, and meaningful for diverse communities of learners.

Archivist • Librarian • Educator • Scholar

I believe archives and libraries preserve more than documents—they preserve human experience. My professional philosophy focuses on ensuring historical materials remain discoverable, interpretable, and accessible for future generations.

Image of a woman with dark hair wearing a sleeveless shirt standing in front of a blurred background of a tree and white fence.
Image of Old English poetry.

Research Interests

Cultural Heritage

Exploring how libraries, archives, and special collections preserve, interpret, and share cultural memory.

  • Preservation, interpretation, and responsible stewardship of archival and special collections.

  • Exhibitions, community engagement, and connecting diverse audiences with cultural heritage.

  • Reducing barriers that help researchers and communities engage with historical collections.

Medieval England

Investigating women’s lives, relationships, and agency through documentary and literary evidence.

  • Friendship, kinship, and community in early medieval England.

  • Charters, wills, legal documents, letters, and hagiographical texts as historical evidence.

  • Using interdisciplinary approaches to reconstruct lived experiences from fragmented sources.

Research Practices

Examining how curiosity, inquiry, and thoughtful research practices lead to the discovery of primary sources, new perspectives, and previously overlooked evidence.

  • How researchers locate and navigate archival and historical sources.

  • Developing research skills, critical inquiry, and confidence in working with information.

  • Designing instruction, outreach, and services that improve access to information and collections.

Library Assessment

Using evidence to strengthen libraries, partnerships, and student learning.

  • Evaluating how library instruction and outreach contribute to learning and belonging.

  • Assessment, strategic planning, and continuous improvement within academic libraries.

  • Measuring the impact of collaborations between libraries and campus communities.