Following an internal search, Research and Instruction Librarian Karen Evans was selected as Chair of Public Services within the Cunningham Memorial Library. She began in her new role Feb. 1. The position is a member of the Dean’s Leadership team with the goal of focusing on the vital and essential role of librarians supporting learning on the ISU campus.
She joined the Library faculty in 2000 as a member of the then Library Instruction and Orientation Department, moving to Public Services during an administrative reorganization that combined Reference and Circulation with the library’s information literacy focus. She has two degrees from Indiana University, a bachelor’s degree in Classical Studies and a master’s degree in Library Science. She also completed a Master of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice after coming to ISU. She serves as librarian liaison to the School of Criminology and Security Studies, and the Psychology department. She also functions as the Government Documents librarian, an important assignment in a library because it is a Government Depository. She has developed numerous online library research guides, and served as Reference collection development coordinator.
Her campus-wide connections come from teaching several University College courses, and most recently, creating a semester-long course, “International Studies: Information Literacy,” to be offered in Spring 2022 through the Multidisciplinary Studies Department. Additional interest in teaching drew her to join — and complete — the course work for the Master Teacher Program of the Faculty Center for Teaching Excellence. She will present her research from the program when it is safe for groups to gather at the FCTE.
She has published several book chapters and authored or co-authored numerous journal articles, and has had a long association with contributing book reviews for “Choice,” a premier book review journal. She was invited to contribute as editor for “Resources for College Libraries,” writing the Criminal justice section.
Evans told Dean Robin Crumrin upon accepting the position, “I look forward to the opportunities and challenges of serving the library, university, and Terre Haute community as Chair of Public Services at Cunningham Memorial Library.”