I am a Reference Librarian and Associate Professor whose subject areas include: Counseling & Special Education, Educational Leadership, Human Development & Family Studies, Recreation, Parks & Leisure, and Teacher Education & Professional Development. I am also the Non-Print Media Selector (i.e., I buy and license films for the Libraries' collections). During Fall Semester 2021, I am also serving as subject librarian for the School of Broadcast & Cinematic Arts. My other duties include serving as Coordinator of the Library Research & Instruction Services Department and teaching sections of LIB 197.
Education:
- MLIS, Wayne State University
- MA, English Language and Literature, Central Michigan University
- BA (Anthropology) and BA (English), Michigan State University
Here are highlights of my university and professional service:
- Representative for Coaches, Counselors, and Librarians, Faculty Association Board of Directors (2016 - present)
- Member, the Charter Schools Resource Journal editorial board (2016 - present)
- President of the Michigan Academic Library Association (MiALA) (2015-18)
- Chair of MiALA's Association of College & Research Libraries (ACRL) Chapter (2016-17)
- Chair of the inaugural 2016 MiALA Annual Conference
- Co-Chair of the 2014 LOEX Annual Conference
Selected presentations:
- “Merging Two Information Services Departments: Impacts and Outcomes” (May 18, 2017) – Presentation at MiALA Annual Conference in Grand Rapids, MI
- “Publish, Perish, Languish, Thrive? Perspectives on a Range of Faculty Models” (May 15, 2017) – Panel presentation at MSU Libraries for the ARL’s Initiative to Recruit a Diverse Workforce scholars
- “Merging Two Information Services Departments: Challenges and Opportunities” (December 9, 2016) – Presentation at MiALA Mini-Conference in Dearborn, MI
- “PPR: Promoting and Programming in Academic Libraries” (June 28, 2015) – Panel presentation at ALA Annual Conference in San Francisco, CA
Selected publications:
- Mathson, S. M. (2011, Aug.). Engaging readers, engaging texts: An exploration of how librarians can use reader response theory to better serve our patrons. Library Philosophy & Practice. Retrieved October 21, 2014, from http://unllib.unl.edu/LPP/mathson.htm
- Mathson, S. M. & Salisbury, J. (2011). Utilizing student employees as an alternative means of providing library instruction. Blazing Trails: On the Path to Information Literacy: Thirty-Seventh National LOEX Library Instruction Conference. Ypsilanti, MI: LOEX Press.
- Mathson, S. M. & Lorenzen, M. G. (2008). We won't be fooled again: Teaching critical thinking via evaluation of hoax and historical revisionist websites in a library credit course. College & Undergraduate Libraries, 15(1/2), 211-230. [Reprinted in Critical Thinking within the Library Program, eds. John Spencer & Christopher Millson-Martula. New York, NY: Routledge, 2009.]
- Mathson, S. M. & Hancks, J. W. (2007). Privacy, please?: A comparison between self-checkout and book checkout desk circulation rates for LGBT and other books. Journal of Access Services, 4(3/4), 27-37. 10.1300/J204v04n03_02
