Mary Ellen Spencer
721 Accipiter Street, Norman, Oklahoma 73072 | mespencer@ou.edu | 865.973.7474
maryellenspencer.weebly.com
Education
Master of Library Science
Indiana University, Bloomington 1993
Bachelor of Arts with High Honors in English Literature
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville 1987
Academic Appointments and Positions
University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma
Bizzell Memorial Library
Head, Undergraduate Services and Learning Initiatives
2015 -
Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
James Branch Cabell Library
Collection Librarian for the Behavioral and Social Sciences
2012 – 2013
Head, Research and Instructional Services
2002 – 2012
Interim Assignments:
Government Documents Librarian, 2009 – 2013
Assistant Head for Instructional Services, 2007 – 2012
Deputy Assistant University Librarian for Public Services, 2006
North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina
D.H. Hill Library
Public Documents Coordinator
1998 – 2002
Social Sciences and Government Documents Librarian
1995 – 1998
Interim Assignments:
Collection Manager, Social Sciences and Humanities, 2001-2002
Assistant Head, Research and Information Services, 1998-1999
Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana
School of Library and Information Science
Assistant Director for Information Technology
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee
John C. Hodges Library
Library Specialist, Reference and Information Services
1994-1995
1987-1992
Mary Ellen Spencer
Selected Accomplishments
Management and Leadership, VCU Libraries
 Assumed administrative responsibility for Cabell Library’s education and outreach programs in 2007 as
part of a larger reorganization of the Public Services division.
 Increased staffing in Research and Instructional Services from 9 FTE to as many as 20 FTE, creating the
following new full-time positions:
Faculty
Undergraduate Research Librarian
First Year Student Programs Librarian
Assistant Head for Instructional Services
Assistant Head for Research Services
Research Librarian for the Arts
Research Librarian for the Humanities
Research Librarian for the Sciences & Engineering
Research Librarian for the Social Sciences
Research Librarian for Film & Music
Research Librarian for Business
Research Librarian for Government & Public Affairs
Classified Staff
Learning Technologies Specialist
Evenings and Weekends Services Coordinator
Evenings and Weekends Services Specialist
 Established the VCU Libraries as an ASERL Center of Excellence for the U.S. Department of Homeland
Security.
 Initiated a system-wide graduate assistantship program for the Libraries and hired a doctoral student from
the School of Education to develop an assessment program for information literacy instruction.
 Increased service desk hours from 63 to 96 hours per week.
 Initiated development of core competencies for information literacy with faculty in The University College
that align with a revised University core curriculum.
 Established the VCU Libraries’ first student advisory board, The Cabell Library Undergraduate Advisory
Committee.
 Chaired the Discovery Tools Task Force and made formal recommendation of a discovery service. Served
on the Primo Implementation Task Force.
 Participated in the hands on implementation and development of the VCU Libraries’ ALEPH 500 catalog
and chaired the Work Group responsible for both functionality and display of the public interface.
Facilities and Construction Projects, VCU Libraries
 Coordinated a $304,000 furniture replacement project with special funds allocated by the Office of the
Provost.
 Initiated a plan to increase user space on the first floor of Cabell Library. Included the relocation of
microforms, CD-ROM and DVD cabinets, surplus of microforms equipment, and the purchase of $30,000 in
new furnishings.
 Supervised a noise abatement project for Java901, Cabell Library’s coffee bar, with VCU Facilities
Management, Dining Services, and Creative Office Environments.
 Planned for space, computing, collections, and services during a 2003-2004 asbestos abatement on the first
floor of Cabell Library. Relocation of service desk, staff offices; creation of a temporary reference collection
and plan for access to materials during abatement; relocation of public workstations from the first floor;
oversaw delivery of furniture, carpet installation, and furnishings for Java901.
 Oversaw a $10,500 project to construct and furnish two new faculty offices.
 Led a $5,800 redesign of the Group Study Area in Cabell Library.
Mary Ellen Spencer
Supervision and Recruitment
Virginia Commonwealth University, 2002-2012
Led a department of 14 faculty, 6 classified staff, and 4-6 part time employees.
Screening Committees
Chair, Assistant Head for Instructional Services 2011-2012
Chair, Research Librarian for the Sciences and Engineering 2011-2012
Chair, Assistant Head for Instructional Services 2008-2009
Chair, Reference Librarian for the Sciences and Engineering 2008
Chair, Undergraduate Student Programs Librarian 2008-2009
Chair, Coordinator of Instructional Services 2007-2008
Chair, Instruction Coordinator 2007
Chair, Reference Librarian for the Behavioral and Social Sciences 2006
Chair, Reference Librarian for the Arts 2006
Chair, Reference Librarian for the Humanities 2006
Member, Associate University Librarian for Public Services 2005-2006
Member, Head of Library Information Systems 2004
Chair, Undergraduate Services Librarian 2004
Chair, Government Information Librarian 2004
Chair, Reference Librarian for the Sciences and Engineering 2004
Chair, Reference Librarian for Business and the Social Sciences 2004
North Carolina State University, 1995-2002
Supervised 3 faculty, 7 classified staff and 9 part-time employees.
Search Committees
Member, Systems Librarian for Digital Projects 1998
Member, Librarian for University Archives 1997
Member, Assistant Curator, Special Collections 1997
Member, Associate Director, Collection Management, Organization and
Advancement 1995
Indiana University, 1994-1995
Supervised 1 half-time employee and 3 student technology consultants.
University of Tennessee, Knoxville, 1987-1992
Supervised practicum students from the Graduate School of Library and Information
Science as well as 2-4 student workers.
Mary Ellen Spencer
Committee Service and Leadership
Virginia Commonwealth University Libraries
Management Council 2002-2012
Chair 2011-2012
Chair and Administrative Council Liaison Fall 2008
Work Groups and Committees:
Establishing a Graduate Assistantship Program 2010
Working with Abusive Patrons 2010
Strategic Planning Process 2009-2010
Retreat Summary & Survey Data Management Spring 2009
Computer Security 2005-2006
Strategic Planning Committee 2005-2007
Offensive Materials 2005-2006
Services to Persons with Disabilities 2005
Inclement Weather Contingency Planning 2004-2005
VCU Libraries Faculty Organization 2002-2013
Peer Review Committee 2011-2013; Chair 2013
Faculty Buddy Program 2010-2011
Chair 2006-2007
Vice-Chair 2005-2006
Nominating Committee 2003-2005
Collection Analysis and Investment Team 2002-2013
Primo Implementation Task Force 2011-2012
Discovery Tools Task Force, Chair 2011
Cabell Library Undergraduate Advisory Committee, Co-Advisor, 2008-2009
Grievance Board, Alternate 2008-2011
ALEPH Coordination Task Force 2002-2003
ILS Procurement Steering Committee 2002-2003
Online Catalog Work Group, Chair 2002-2005
Mission, Vision, Values Committee 2003
Emergency Preparedness Committee 2003-2004
Virginia Commonwealth University
Center for Teaching Excellence
Instructional Technology Advisory Group 2010-2012
Faculty Advisory Board 2009-2013
University Honor Council 2008-2013
The Honors College
Boren Scholarship Review Panelist 2011
Fulbright Scholarship Review Panelist 2010-2011
The University College
Information Literacy Committee 2008-2009
VCU Starbucks Art Commission Selection Committee 2007
Summer Activities Task Force 2004
Summer School Task Force 2003
University Grievance Panel 2002-2005
Mary Ellen Spencer
Association of Southeastern Research Libraries
Collaborative Virtual Reference Program, Software Selection Committee 2002
North Carolina State University Libraries
DRA Web2 Design Team 2000-2001
Triangle Research Libraries Network Social Sciences & Government Documents Work
Group 1999-2001
Faculty Publications Database Task Force 1997-2001
Humanities and Social Sciences Subject Team 1995-2001
Geographic Information Systems Team 1995-2001
Federal Documents Planning & Implementation Task Force 1998-1999
NCSU Libraries Travel Committee 1996-1998
Service Design Team for the Reference/Documents Merger 1996-1997
Electronic Resources Team 1995-1997
World Wide Web Public Services Team 1995-1996
Faculty Library Award Committee 1995
Information System Publicity Task Force 1995
State Library of North Carolina, Raleigh, NC
North Carolina State Depository System Advisory Board 1999-2001
NCLIVE State Government Information Resources Task Force 1999
North Carolina Library Association
Reference and Adult Services Section
Executive Committee, Director-at-Large 1997-2001
Documents Section
Program Planning Committee 1996-1997
Ad Hoc Web Page Development Committee 1996-1997
Indiana University, School of Library and Information Science
SLIS Library Steering Committee 1992-1995
Serials Committee 1994-1995
Technology, Equipment, Management and Planning Committee 1992-1995
Strategic Planning Subcommittee 1994-1995
University of Tennessee, Knoxville, John C. Hodges Library
Library Staff Association
Executive Board Member 1991-1992
Communication and Education Committee, Chair 1991-1992
Ad Hoc Committee for the Revision of Bylaws 1991-1992
Microcomputer Advisory Group 1988-1989
Reference Department Users Group 1987-1992
Search Services Advisory Group 1987-1992
Mary Ellen Spencer
Honors, Awards and Professional Development
Emerald Literati Network Award for Excellence, Outstanding Reviewer 2011
Graduate, Virginia Commonwealth University Leadership Development Program
Run by the Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute, this 10-month program is designed
to enhance the knowledge, skills, and experience of current and emerging leaders at
VCU. Participants learn about VCU’s structure and leadership, address both local and
national issues in higher education, examine their own leadership strengths and
challenges, meet with a mentor from senior administration, and immerse
themselves in team projects for the benefit of the university. Mentor: Provost
Beverly J. Warren. 2011.
Participant, ARL Library Management Skills Institute I: The Manager.
Focuses on the individual manager’s role in providing leadership within a complex
and changing library organization. Includes: facilitative leadership, performance
coaching, problem solving, and influencing skills. 1998.
Library Representative, “Connecting in North Carolina.” North Carolina State University,
First Annual Faculty Development Tour. The program promotes the University’s
land-grant mission by connecting educators with North Carolina and its citizens.
The week-long tour introduced new faculty to State industries, institutions,
geography, culture and history; and, it allowed participants to examine first-hand
the impact of the University on the State of North Carolina. Stops included tours of
plants and facilities, meetings with business, industry and community leaders, visits
to historic sites and a meeting with The Honorable James B. Hunt, Governor of the
State of North Carolina. May 15-19, 1995.
Beta Phi Mu, International Library and Information Studies Honor Society 1994
Clayton A. Shepherd Scholarship, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 1993
Graduate Assistantship, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 1992
Dean’s Award, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville Libraries 1992
The Phi Beta Kappa Society 1987
The University of Tennessee Alumni Scholarship 1983
Memberships
American Library Association
Association of College and Research Libraries
University Libraries Section
Instruction Section
Library Leadership and Management Association
Building and Equipment
Library Organization and Management
Reference and User Services Association
Collection Development and Evaluation
Reference Services Section
Government Documents Round Table
Mary Ellen Spencer
Publications and Scholarship
Reference Services Review, Editorial Advisory Board 2008Reference Services Review is a quarterly, refereed journal dedicated to the
enrichment of reference knowledge and the advancement of reference services.
Spencer, Mary Ellen and Watstein, Sarah Barbara. “Library Buildings and Spaces.” In
Wilkinson, F. & Lubas, R. (Eds.) Practical strategies for academic library managers:
leading from all levels with vision. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO/Libraries Unlimited,
2015.
Co-Editor for a special theme issue of Reference Services Review about entrepreneurship and
libraries. Vol.43, No.1. 2015.
Spencer, Mary Ellen. “The State of the Art: NCSU Libraries Learning Commons.”
Reference Services Review.Vol.35, No. 2. 2007. Guest Editor for selected titles in this
issue.
Spencer, Mary Ellen. “Evolving a New Model: The Information Commons.”
Reference Services Review. Vol. 34, No. 2, 2006. Guest Editor for selected titles in this
issue.
Spencer, Mary Ellen and Dils, Susan. “Internet Tools: An Introduction for K-12
Educators.” Indiana Media Journal, Spring 1995, pp. 36-58.
Leach, Sandra and Spencer, Mary Ellen. “The Perfectly Organized Search Service.”
Online, January 1993, pp. 14-28.
Selected Presentations
Presenter, “Creating an Undergraduate Library Advisory Committee at Virginia
Commonwealth University” Studying Students: Inviting a Fresh Perspective on Your
Library, hosted by the College and Research Libraries Section, Virginia Library
Association. Amherst, Virginia, May 2008.
Guest Lecturer, “The Job Search: Getting It Right” Information Science 590: The
Professional Issues, School of Information Sciences, The University of Tennessee,
Knoxville. Taught via Live Classroom from Richmond, Virginia. March 16, 2006.
Panelist, “Do you Trust Your IT Staff? Do They Trust You? Whose Computers Are These
Anyway?” MARS User Access to Services Program. American Library Association
Annual Conference. Chicago, Illinois. June 25, 2005.
Panelist, “How Do the Helping Professions Know Which Questions to Ask?” Quest
Seminar, The University of Richmond. Richmond, Virginia. February 16, 2005.
Presenter, “Government Documents in the Catalog.” Taking the Pulse: A Day of Updates,
North Carolina Library Association, Documents Section Spring Meeting, Raleigh,
North Carolina. May 9, 2003.
Presenter, “Government Statistics on the Web: Where to Start?” Imagine the Future: North
Carolina Library Association 1999 Biennial Conference, Winston-Salem, NC.
September 22, 1999.