About Michael Stephens

Dr. Michael Stephens is currently Assistant Professor in the Graduate School of Library and Information Science at Dominican University in River Forest, Illinois.

Recent News: Michael Stephens, Assistant Professor, Graduate School of Library & Information Science, presented the Dr Laurel Anne Clyde Memorial Keynote Address: “Engage, Explore, Celebrate: The Hyperlinked School Library” at the Australian School Library Association Biennial Conference, Perth, Western Australia and keynoted the Queensland Public Library Association Conference in Townsville, Queensland, Australia in October. He spent five weeks in Australia as the 2009 CAVAL Visiting Scholar researching the impact of Learning 2.0 programs in libraries and working with librarians in various cities. He also presented a plenary session at the 2009 Charleston Conference and gave the Rutgers University School of Communication & Information Fall 2009 Lecture for the school’s Beta Phi Mu, International Library and Information Studies Honor Society.

Michael’s Philosophy of Teaching:

Libraries and librarians are faced with a technological  and societal wave of change that is ever increasing as we move farther into the 21^st century. Preparing new graduates to deal with constant change, use current and emerging technology tools to further the mission of their institutions, and meet the needs of communities of library users while never losing sight of our foundational values and principles is of utmost importance to me as an LIS educator.

Bio:

Originally from Mishawaka, Indiana, Michael received BA and MLIS degrees from Indiana University. He spent over fifteen years working in public libraries at the Saint Joseph County Public Library in South Bend, Indiana. While engaged in staff training, long-term planning, and management initiatives at SJCPL, Michael developed a passion for the practical application of technology in libraries and the connections technology affords.

He published The Library Internet Trainer’s Toolkit in 2001 in the United States and a in the UK in 2002. In 2003 he launched his weblog, Tame the Web. Tame the Web (TTW) deals with libraries, technology and people – and the fascinating intersection between all three. TTW focuses on these questions: How do we use technology to further the library’s mission? How do we use technology to learn? What are innovative libraries and librarians doing to explore this realm? (Read more about Michael’s Blogging Journey here.)

In 2004, Michael was awarded an IMLS fellowship to begin an interdisciplinary information science doctoral program at the University of North Texas, where he conducted research on social software and blogging, including his dissertation “Modeling the Role of Blogging in Librarianship.” Named a “Mover and Shaker” by Library Journal in 2005, he also served as a 2005 Scholar in Residence at Chicago Public Library and as an adjunct instructor at IUPUI and Dominican University.

Michael joined Dominican’s full-time faculty in 2006 and completed his Ph.D. in 2007 while continuing to blog and publish. Recently, he has produced two ALA Library Technology Reports on Web 2.0 and also created a graduate seminar on Library 2.0 theory and practice.

Michael’s professional writing has appeared in Public Libraries, Library Journal, American Libraries, Computers in Libraries, Library Media Connection, OCLC’s NextSpace, Serials Review, Internet Reference Services Quarterly, and ALA’s TechSource blog. He serves on the editorial board of both Reference and Users Services Quarterly and Internet Reference Services Quarterly.

For over two years, he wrote a monthly Library Journal column with Michael Casey: The Transparent Library, exploring how trends and technologies can enhance libraries and make them participatory and open to change: “By structuring the transparent library for constant and purposeful change we reduce the negative impact that change has on both the staff and user. Incorporating change into the organization through creative teams and open lines of communication allows the transparent library to add new tools, respond to changing community needs, and move ahead with new initiatives without shaking up the foundation.”

He currently co-authors a column in Digitale Bibliotheek, a Dutch professional journal for librarians and information specialists, with Jan Klerk called “Open Conversation.”

Michael has spoken about technology, innovation, and libraries to audiences in over 25 states and in four countries, including a 2008 speaking tour of Australia. In addition to facilitating workshops, panel presentations and program sessions, he has keynoted conferences such as the Illinois Library Association, the Hawaii Library Association, the Iowa Library Association, Nevada Library Association, Polaris User Group, MOBIUS Conference,  Ohio Tech Connections 8, Queensland Public Library Association Conference and the Australian School Library Association annual conference.. He’s presented plenary sessions at the British Columbia Library Conference, Charleston Conference and Reaching Forward Conference.  With Jenny Levine, he’s keynoted Rural Libraries 2.0 in Michigan and endnoted Internet Librarian International 2006.

He is the 2009 CAVAL Visiting Scholar, researching the effect of Learning 2.0 programs in Australian libraries. Spending five weeks researching and working with libraries all around Australia, the research will be presented at the 2010 VALA conference and in various journal articles.

An active participant in discussions about the evolving library and Library 2.0, Michael recently shared part of his philosophy with Degree Tutor: “I believe libraries need to encourage the heart and in the physical realm this is very important.  What do your spaces say to users?  What signage do you use?  What rules do you impose?  All of these things tell the story of your library and how the library views its customers.  I agree with the folks that say create zones in the library for different user groups and make it ok to have fun at the library – gaming, DDR, etc – as well as make it comfortable and useful for others.  We can learn from the “retail expectations” of our users and potential users.  I was amazed to see a high end grocery store chain in Minneapolis offer a meeting room for groups.  The Book Club could be meeting at the store - not

at the library in the near future!  One goal for the L2 library might be to restablish the idea of the commons – that shared space that can be many things to many people and everyone feels ownership.  I’m sorry, but a sign stating the rules of the building on the front door is not encouraging.  Find ways to make policies and guidlelines friendly…and welcoming.”

When not traveling or teaching, Michael resides in Mishawaka, Indiana, and enjoys escaping to Traverse City, Michigan.

Download Michael’s CV:stephenscv.pdf

Contact Michael at mstephens7 (at) mac.com

Other Web Sites:

Up North! The Traverse City Blog

Dreaming On: There’s Always Music in the Air

Dr. Michael Stephens is Assistant Professor in the Graduate School of Library and Information Science at Dominican University in Illinois. He spent over fifteen years working in public libraries while developing a passion for technology and the human connections it affords. His recent publications include two ALA Library Technology Reports on Web 2.0, the monthly column “The Transparent Library” with Michael Casey in Library Journal, and other articles about emerging trends and tech. Michael also maintains the popular blog Tame the Web. He received an IMLS doctoral fellowship at the University of North Texas, was named a Library Journal Mover and Shaker, and received the 2009 Association of Library & Information Science Educators Faculty Innovation Award as well as a 2009 University of North Texas Rising Star Alumni Award. He is the 2009 CAVAL Visiting Scholar, researching the effect of Learning 2.0 programs in Australian libraries. Michael speaks nationally and internationally on libraries, technology, and innovation. He is fascinated by library buildings and virtual spaces that center around users, content, digital creation and encouraging the heart.