Megan Oakleaf, Associate Professor and Director of Instructional Quality at the School of Information Studies (iSchool) has been selected as the winner of the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) Instruction Section’s (IS) Miriam Dudley Instruction Librarian Award.
The award, which will be formally presented to Oakleaf at the American Library Association’s annual conference in June, is named for Miriam Dudley, whose efforts in the field of information literacy led to the formation of ACRL’s IS. The honor recognizes a librarian who has made a significant contribution to the advancement of instruction in a college or research library environment.
“Megan’s career has been dedicated to shining a light on student learning, assessment strategies, and program development in libraries for two decades,” award chair Merinda Kaye Hensley said. “Her efforts to connect the praxis of library instruction to higher educational student learning goals is demonstrated through the classroom tools, pedagogies, and creative thinking she has so generously shared through her many workshops, keynote presentations and consultation work.”
“From 2007-2016, Megan made a lifetime impact on those who attended the assessment track of the ACRL Information Literacy Immersion Program where she developed curriculum and led conversations that initiated librarians into the complexities of what needs to be assessed and why,” continued Hensley. “Her robust body of scholarship has informed and helped to lead instructors down the path of gathering evidence of student learning at their own institutions including the ACRL publication, ‘The Value of Academic Libraries: A Comprehensive Research Review and Report’ (2010). Indeed, Megan’s contributions to librarianship are vast and colorful, and as one of her nominators stated, she is ‘an inspiration, a role model, and a boundary breaker.’”
“I am thrilled that the ACRL has recognized Megan’s long history of contribution to the field,” said iSchool Dean Elizabeth D. Liddy. “She has dedicated her career to improving the rigor of library instruction, and has always been willing to share her research, findings, and best practices with the higher education and library communities. The iSchool is extremely proud of Megan for receiving this well-deserved award.”
At the iSchool, Oakleaf is the professor of record for core courses in the Library and Information Science program entitled “Planning, Marketing, and Assessing Library Services,” and “Reference and Information Literacy Services.” She also teaches electives such as “Academic Library Value” and “Advanced Library Management.” Her research interests include library value and impact, outcomes assessment, evidence-based decision making, information literacy instruction, information services, and digital librarianship.
Oakleaf earned her Ph.D. in Library and Information Science from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, her M.L.S. from Kent State University, and also holds a B.A. in English and Spanish and a B.S. in English Education and Spanish Education from Miami University. Prior to a career in librarianship, Megan taught language arts and advanced composition in Ohio public schools. She currently serves on the Board of Trustees at the Manlius Public Library in Manlius, NY.
For more information regarding the Miriam Dudley Instruction Librarian Award, and a complete list of past recipients, visit the ACRL’s award website.