Faculty: Ruth Connell

Associate Professor of Library Services
Electronic Services Librarian
E-mail: Ruth.Connell (at) valpo.edu

Professor Connell joined the Valpo faculty in the fall of 2000. For six years, she ran the Reference Department, but in the summer of 2006 switched to Electronic Services, where she oversees the library's website, coordinates digitization projects, database maintenance and trials, and maintains the library’s catalog interface. She continues to oversee the Interlibrary Loan Department. In addition, she is the library liaison to the College of Business, and Departments of Economics and Mathematics/CS. She also teaches Library Instruction sessions.

Prof. Connell’s library experience began in graduate school, where she worked at the University of Illinois’ Grainger Engineering Library.

Publications and Presentations

"The Consolidation of Two Campus Interlibrary Loan Units into One: A Partnership between Law and Main Campus." Journal of Interlibrary Loan, Document Delivery & Electronic Reserve, vol. 20, number 1. (2010) (peer-reviewed) (forthcoming)

“Academic Libraries, Facebook and MySpace, and Student Outreach: A Survey of Student Opinion.” portal, vol. 9, number 1. (2009) (peer-reviewed).

“Survey of Web Developers in Academic Libraries.” Journal of Academic Librarianship, vol. 34, number 2. (2008) (peer-reviewed).

“Librarians Attitudes toward Conferences: a study.” Co-author with Rob Vega. College & Research Libraries, vol. 68, number 6. (2007) (peer-reviewed)

“Conference Circuit: Embracing change.” College & Research Libraries News, vol. 68, number 8. (2007)

“Turnaround Time Between ILLiad’s Odyssey and Ariel Delivery Methods: A Comparison.” Co-author with Karen Janke (IUPUI). Journal of Interlibrary Loan, Document Delivery & Electronic Reserve, vol. 16, number 3. (2006) (peer-reviewed)

“Student Assistant Training in a Small Academic Library.” Co-author with Trisha Mileham. Public Services Quarterly, vol. 2, numbers 2/3. (2006) (peer-reviewed)

Poster Presentation: Training Students for Reference Service, American Library Association Conference, June 2005.

“Enhanced Staff Development Programs: Strengthening the Personal through Collegial Reflection.” Proceedings co-author with Trisha Mileham. LOEX National Conference, May 2003. (peer-reviewed)

Presentation: Enhanced Staff Development Programs: Strengthening the Personal through Collegial Reflection, (with Trisha Mileham) LOEX National Conference, May 2003.

Presentation: Give Your Users the Globe (QuestionPoint), (with Judy Tribble and Carolyn Strickland). Indiana Library Federation Annual Conference, April 2003.

Presentation: Learning Together: the Synergy of Faculty-Student-Librarian Collaboration in the Creation of Web-Based Tutorials, (with Cheryl Malone and Sue Searing). Association of College and Research Libraries National Conference, Denver. March 2001.

Professional Memberships and Activities:

American Library Association
-- ACRL Division, College Libraries and University Libraries Sections

Co-chair of College Libraries Section's 2009 Program Planning committee

VU Campus Involvement (selected list):

Provost search committee member
Committee on Media (faculty representative)
Faculty Concerns committee member
Faculty adviser to the Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity, Indiana Epsilon chapter

Education:

M.S. (LIS), University of Illinois
B.A. Muskingum College (Math & English)

Areas of Specialization:

Interlibrary Loan and Delivery methods
Web design
Student Instruction
Reference