You might say he is the face of the Alkek Library. Many students recognize him as the guy from the new student orientation video or the one they often see behind the Ask Alkek desk, but there are many layers to Jason Crouch that go beyond the friendly face and DJ voice.
Crouch is a Library Assistant in the Information and Undergraduate Services (IUS) department of University Libraries. He and the rest of the IUS team man the main floor service desk, answer the library information phone line, plan various library activities, and prepare information to help library users find the help and resources they need. He is also a graduate student working on a master’s in library science to go with his undergraduate degree in history and his master’s in public history.
But some people just know him as the t-shirt guy.
“I’ve never done a complete count, but I have about 100 Rolling Stones t-shirts and probably 100 from other bands. Some are just funny and weird, a lot of superhero t-shirts. I go thrifting a lot. I very rarely buy the expensive t-shirts at shows [nearly 30 Stones concerts and counting]. It’s something I’ve been doing for about 20 years. I’d say I have around 500.” Crouch said.
Crouch’s interests and collections are not limited to t-shirts.
“I’ve been collecting records for longer, since about 1982. I probably have about 40,000 compact disks and vinyl records, maybe more. I sing in a band, so I don’t know if you could call me a musician, but I have toured and done shows. I’m just a fan of music that’s had some luck and fun entertaining. As a history nerd, I am into music of all genres and decades. I house my collections in our 800 square foot garage. I don’t think I could even get a bicycle in there—not even a unicycle. It’s well organized. If someone wants to hear Sheena Easton or Ray Wylie Hubbard, I can find it, but we’d have to stand outside to listen because there’s no room for dancing. Some would call it hoarding, but usually people are impressed, it’s a fun place with cool stuff to look at.”
Crouch was recognized as the Texas State University employee of the month in August of 2019 for his outstanding customer service with students at the library. He loves engaging with students and takes a genuine interest in helping them.
“Working here, my education and my interests have intersected. I think [the collections] are a worthwhile endeavor because future historians may learn from them. I’ll understand better when I finish my library degree, but perhaps someday they could become part of a university collection. I think it’s a healthy interest. It would be hard for me to stop now.”
Visit Jason and the rest of the team at the Ask Alkek desk any time you have questions about library services or need help finding what you need in the Alkek Library.
This article was contributed by Debbie Pitts, University Libraries Marketing & Promotions.