VCU Libraries Faculty Vita
Mary Ellen Spencer
Head, Research and Instructional Services (Assistant Professor)
Research and Instructional Services,
James Branch Cabell Library, 111-C
Email: mespencer@vcu.edu |
(804) 828-2729
Education
B.A. English. University of Tennessee, Knoxville, 1987.
Previous Professional Experience
Collection Manager for the Social Sciences
North Carolina State University, 2001-2002
Public Documents Coordinator
North Carolina State University, 1998-2002
Interim Assistant Department Head
North Carolina State University, 1998-1999
Government Documents/Social Sciences Librarian
North Carolina State University, 1995-1998
Assistant Director for Information Technology
Indiana University School of Library and Information Science, 1994-1995
Publications
Spencer. "The State of the Art: NCSU Libraries Learning Commons." Reference Services Review 35/2 (2007).
Spencer. "Evolving a New Model: The Information Commons." Reference Services Review 34/2 (2006).
Spencer. "Federal Government Statistics on the Web: Where to Start?." The Docket: Newsletter of the Documents Section of the North Carolina Library Association Spring (2000).
Spencer and Susan Dils. "Internet Tools: An Introduction for K-12 Educators." Indiana Media Journal (1995).
Spencer and Sandra Leach. "The Perfectly Organized Search Service." Online (1993).
Presentations
"Creating an Undergraduate Advisory Committee at Virginia Commonwealth University". Studying Students: Inviting a Fresh Perspective on Your Library. Virginia Library Association, College and Research Libraries Section Spring Program. 2008
"The Job Search: Getting It Right". Guest Lecturer, Information Science 590: The Professional Issues, School of Information Sciences. Taught via Live Classroom from Richmond, VA.. 2006
"Do you Trust your IT Staff? Do They Trust You? Whose Computers Are These Anyway?". MARS User Access to Services Program. ALA Annual Conference. Chicago, IL.. 2005
"How Do the Helping Professions Know Which Questions to Ask?". Quest Seminar, University of Richmond. 2005
"Government Documents in the Catalog". North Carolina Library Association, Documents Section, Spring Workshop. 2003
"The Academic Job Search -- Or, What They Don't Tell You in Library School". ALA Student Chapter Meeting, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. 2001
"Government Statistics on the Web: Where to Start?". Imagine the Future : North Carolina Library Association Biennial Conference. 1999
Teaching Experience
Electronic Information Literacy for Teachers: A Hands-On Introduction to Finding Educational Resources on the Internet, Indiana University Summer Reading Conference. 1994
University Committee Work
Information Retrieval Committee; University College. 2008 -.
University Honor Council; Judicial Affairs and Academic Integrity. 2008 -.
VCU Starbucks Art Commission. 2007.
Summer Activities Task Force. 2004.
Summer School Task Force. 2003.
University Grievance Panel. 2002-2005.
VCU Libraries Committee Work
Faculty Organization; Chair. 2006-2007.
Strategic Planning Committee. 2005-2007.
Faculty Organization; Vice-Chair, Chair-Elect. 2005-2006.
Emergency Preparedness Committee. 2003-2004.
Mission, Vision, Values Work Group. 2003.
ALEPH Coordination Task Force. 2001-2005.
Online Catalog Work Group; Chair. 2001-2005.
Management Council. 2001 -.
Professional Organizations
American Library Association. 1992 -.
Association of College and Research Libraries. 1995 -.
Reference Services Review (Editorial Advisory Board). 2008 -.
Collection Management Subject Areas
Research Interests
Information Commons; technology and learning; personnel management; facilities planning.