David Drexler seems almost fated to have become a librarian.

"I was looking for a change from information technology, but I wanted to stay involved with higher education," he said. "Librarianship seems to run in my family. My mother served on our local library board and I have two brothers who work in public libraries."

David started as a librarian in the Henry Madden Library in July 2013. He has a bachelor of music degree from the University of Wisconsin, where he studied music composition. David worked for a music publisher for several years before moving into information technology. Then, he went back to school for a master's degree in library and information studies, completed in 2008, again at the University of Wisconsin.

His first job as a librarian was at Eastern Oregon University, where he was the systems librarian for just over four years before coming to Fresno State.

"I have a few different roles in the library," he said. "I'm the subject librarian for music and a member of the Faculty Water Cohort. Last May, I took on a new role as scholarly communications librarian, which involves coordinating library services related to our faculty's roles as scholars and researchers."

David said he is grateful that his roles provide opportunities to work with people from around campus and allow space to innovate. But like many librarians at Fresno State, he finds the most rewarding part of the job is working with students and contributing to their success.

David served as co-chair of the team that brought the Fresno State Digital Repository online.

"The Repository preserves and provides access to the scholarly, creative and instructional work of campus faculty, along with student work such as theses and dissertations," he said. "It serves as a showcase for the work being done at Fresno State as well as providing access so that others can use and build on that work, hopefully increasing its impact."

Another of David's contributions is working with the Faculty Water Cohort and the California Water Institute to build the Reading About Water program, an annual common reading program with a shared book each year on a water-related topic. Faculty in many different disciplines include the book in their courses, and as of last year there is also a book club for staff, faculty and students who want to read and discuss the book.

"The goal is to spark discussion of water issues from a variety of perspectives," he said. "This year's book is ‘Chasing water: a guide for moving from scarcity to sustainability’ by Brian D. Richter, and the author will visit campus and give a talk on May 2."

David is a member of the library's MALT team. The Map and Aerial Locator Tool is an innovative tool created by the Madden Library that allows searching for maps and aerial photos by location, using a web-based map.

He serves on the executive boards of California Academic and Research Libraries Association and the Society of Composers, Inc. David's expertise in music lives on; he still composes concert music.

One of David's hobbies is photography, and he has captured some of the library's most iconic images.

"I got my first digital camera in 2002, and after years of practice I get a good photo now and then," he said.

The best place to take a look at David's work is on Instagram @daviddrexler.

"Photography is several hobbies in one for me," he said. "I like to photograph popular subjects like sunsets, waterfalls and cityscapes, but I also like subjects such as street art and graffiti or quirky roadside attractions. And, of course, I don't pass up the chance to visit and photograph a beautiful library, including our own Henry Madden Library."

David is married to wife Ann, a singer and choral conductor who works as an editor of scholarly journals on agricultural and environmental topics. They have two cats: Hildegard, a tuxedo cat named after Hildegard of Bingen (a visionary German Benedictine abbess), and a tabby named Leonin after the 12th century French composer.

Photo of Henry Madden Library by David Drexler