E. Gale Eaton, Director

1990, Ph.D., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Library Science. Dissertation: Effects of Spatial Cognition and Route Complexity on the Ability of Fifth Graders and High School Students to Find Known Items on Library Shelves.
1974, M.L.S., University of Rhode Island; Library Science.
1969, A. B., Smith College, magna cum laude; English.

University Experience

Director, University of Rhode Island, Graduate School of Library and Information Studies, July 1, 2006 - present
Assistant Director and Coordinator of Distance Learning, URI, GSLIS, September 1, 2003 – June 30, 2006
Professor, URI, GSLIS, July 1, 2006 –
Associate Professor, URI, GSLIS, 1994 – 2006
Assistant Professor, URI, GSLIS, 1990 – 1994
Instructor, URI, GSLIS, 1988 – 1990

Courses Taught

LSC 515 Information Ethics and Intellectual Freedom ; fall 2005, spring 2006.
LSC 521 Public Library Services ; fall 2004, fall 2005, fall 2006.
LSC 530 Reading Interests of Children ; spring 2005, spring 2006, spring 2007.

LSC 533 Digital Resources for Youth ; spring 2004.
LSC 535 Public Library Services to Children and Young Adults ; spring 2004.
LSC 557 Research and Evaluation for Library and Information Services ; fall 2004, spring 2005, summer 2006.

Work Experience

1977-1984, Supervisor, Children’s Services, Berkshire Athenaeum, Pittsfield, Massachusetts
1974-1977, Children’s Librarian I, Boston Public Library, Boston, Massachusetts
1970-1977, Pre-professional Library Assistant, Boston Public Library, Boston, Massachusetts
1970, Administrative Assistant, Columbia Investment Company, Bangor, Maine

Awards and Honors

2005, James Duffy Research Grant, URI, Center for the Humanities
2005, Outstanding Graduate Studies Award, URI, Graduate School
1993, Distinguished Graduate, URI, GSLIS
1986-87, M. E. Kalp Fellowship, UNC/CH, School of Library Science
1985-86, Limited Service Award, UNC/CH, Graduate School
1984-85, Alumni Graduate Fellowship, UNC/CH
1984, Certificate of Appreciation, Massachusetts House of Representatives
1971, Joseph H. Center Scholarship, Boston Public Library
1969, magna cum satura, Smith College, Classics Department
1969, Phi Beta Kappa

Published Research

Well Dressed Role Models: The Portrayal of Women in Biographies for Children. In press. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press, 2006.
“Alice M. Jordan,” in Pioneers and Leaders in Library Services to Youth: A Biographical Dictionary, ed. Marilyn L. Miller, pp. 119-121. Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited, 2003.
“Amelia Howard Munson,” in Pioneers and Leaders in Library Services to Youth: A Biographical Dictionary, ed. Marilyn L. Miller, pp. 170-172. Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited, 2003.
“Minerva A. Sanders,” in Pioneers and Leaders in Library Services to Youth: A Biographical Dictionary, ed. Marilyn L. Miller, pp. 209-211. Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited, 2003.
Kelly Adams, Clare Curran-Ball, Susan Flagg, David Fontaine, Christopher Sisson, and Lynn Wardle, co-authors. “Use of the Internet by Youth-Serving Librarians in Rhode Island.” Journal of Youth Services in Libraries 14 (2001): 52-58.
“A Nation at Risk and the Library Community’s Response.” In School Library Journal’s Best: A Reader for Children’s, Young Adult, and School Librarians, ed. by Lillian N. Gerhardt, Marilyn L. Miller, and Thomas W. Downen. New York: Neal-Schuman, 1997. Reprinted from School Library Journal 32 (December, 1985): 28-31.
McCarthy, Cheryl, co-author. “The Art of the Possible: Integrating Information Skills and Literature into the Curriculum.” Emergency Librarian 23, 1 (Sept./Oct. 1995): 24-30.
Vocino, Michael, and Melanie Taylor, co-authors. “Evaluating Signs in a University Library.” Collection Management 16, 3 (1992): 81-101.
“Lost in the Library: Are Spatial Skills Important in Shelf Searches?” Journal of Youth Services in Libraries 5 (Fall, 1991): 77-86.
“Wayfinding in the Library: Book Searches and Route Uncertainty.” RQ 30 (Summer, 1991): 519-527.
“What the Public Children’s Librarian Needs to Know about Locational Skills Instruction in Elementary Schools.” Journal of Youth Services in Libraries 2 (Summer, 1989): 357-366.
Burgin, Robert, co-author. “An Analysis of Research Articles Published in the Core Library and Information Science Journals of 1983.” ERIC, ED 291 378.
“Self-Help Books with Problems of Their Own,” School Library Journal 27 (Feb., 1981): 32-33.

Research in Progress

Alice M. Jordan: A Quiet Fame. Biographical study of a career spanning the missionary and consolidation phases of children’s services in public libraries; main emphasis on how ideas and innovations were caught and circulated. James Duffy Research Grant awarded to support initial travel, November, 2005; Scarecrow Press contract signed, March 2, 2006; ms. due June, 2008.

Reviews

Biographical Passages: Essays on Victorian and Modernist Biography, by Joe Law and Linda K. Hughes. Library Quarterly 71 (January, 2001): 77-78.
Managing Library Outreach Programs, by Marcia Trotta. School Library Journal 39 (August, 1993): 52.
Information Is Empowering: Developing Public Library Services for Youth at Risk, 2d ed., by Stan Weisner. Public Libraries 32 (July, 1993): 230.
Give ‘Em What They Want! Managing the Public’s Library, by The Baltimore County Public Library’s Blue Ribbon Committee. School Library Journal 38 (December, 1992): 38.
Output Measures for Public Library Service to Children, by Virginia A. Walter, and Library Service to Children: A Guide to the Research, Planning, and Policy Literature, by Phyllis Van Orden. Public Libraries 31 (November, 1992): 376.
Books, Babies, and Libraries: Serving Infants, Toddlers, Their Parents & Caregivers, by Ellin Greene. School Library Journal 38 (August, 1992): 91.
Reference Services for Children and Young Adults, by Rosemary Riechel. Public Libraries 31 (May, 1992): 185.
Library Performance, Accountability, and Responsiveness, edited by Charles C. Curran and F. William Summers. Public Libraries 31 (March, 1992): 120-121.
Children’s Library Services Handbook, by Jane Gardner Connor. Public Libraries 30 (May, 1991): 183-184.
The Culture and Control of Expertise: Toward a Sociological Understanding of Librarianship, by Michael F. Winter. Public Libraries 28 (March, 1989): 127-128.
Reviews of children’s and young adult books, for School Library Journal, 1977-1984.

Invited Formal Lectures

“Booktalking for Intellectual Freedom.” Rhode Island Educational Media Association, Cranston, RI, April 27, 2007.
“Clothing the Role Models: Well-Dressed Biographies.” URI Library, Kingston, RI, November 2, 2006. In conjunction with Special Collections exhibit.
"Alice M. Jordan and the Round Table of Children’s Librarians.” New England Library Association, Burlington, VT, October, 2006.
“Clothing the Role Models: Well-Dressed Biographies.” URI Diversity Week, Providence, RI, September 28, 2006.
“From Heroine to Role Model: Girls’ Biographies Dress Up.” Children’s Literature Association, Manhatten Beach, CA, June, 2006.
“Spice Up Storytime with Puppets.” For New England Round Table of Children’s Librarians panel, “Spice Up Storytime,” headed by Molly Hancock. New England Library Association Conference, Manchester, NH, September 28, 2004.
“Pocahontas: Four Political Fictions.” URI Diversity Week, September 30, 2003. Added: 2-week website and online discussion list.
“Multicultural Storytelling: Celebration or Cultural Larceny?” Arizona Library Association Conference, Phoenix, AZ, December 6, 2002.
“How to Do a Book Talk.” Massachusetts School Library Media Association Conference, Sturbridge, MA, October 28, 2002. <http://www.uri.edu/artsci/lsc/Faculty/geaton/MSLMAtalk/>
With panelists Aaron Coutu, Diane Hogan, Sally Nelson, and Amy Skolnik. “Inventing Tomorrow’s Libraries: Asking a New Generation.” New England Library Association Conference, Sturbridge, MA, October 20, 2002.
“Pocahontas: Four Political Fictions.” URI Diversity Week, October 9, 2002.
“Multicultural Storytelling: Celebration or Cultural Larceny?” New Hampshire Library Association Conference, Manchester, NH, May 15, 2002.
With panelists Julie Brown, Joyce May, and Joan Mouradjian. “Building Community: Low-Tech Concerns in a High-Tech Environment.” RI Dept of Higher Education conference, “Using Technology in Teaching: Ideas That Work,” January 18, 2002.
“Multicultural Storytelling: Celebration or Cultural Larceny?” URI Multicultural Center, Diversity Week, October 4, 2001. <http://www.uri.edu/artsci/lsc/cpd/01multi/index.htm> Web site led to speaking engagements at New Hampshire and Arizona Library Association Conferences.
“Asynchronous Course Delivery: From E-Mail to WebCT.” URI GSLIS, Meeting of the Full-time and Adjunct Faculty, March 3, 2001.
“The Well-Dressed Role Model: Women in Biographies for Youth.” Maine Libraries Conference, Augusta, ME, May 7, 2000.
“Get with the Program: Pulling It All Together in Your Library.” New Hampshire Library Association/New Hampshire Educational Media Association joint conference, Manchester, NH, May 10, 1999.
“The Well-Dressed Role Model: Women in Juvenile Biographies, 1946.” URI GSLIS, Continuing Education Series, March 4, 1999.
“Puppetry Workshops: Involving the Creative Child.” Rhode Island Library Association Spring Conference, Salve Regina University, Newport, RI, May 28, 1997.
“Redefining History: Good Queen Bess: Heroine, Villain, or Child of Her Time?” New England Library Association Annual Conference, Manchester, NH, October 7, 1996.
“‘Good’ Queen Bess? Changing Images in Children’s Books.” Rhode Island Library Association Spring Conference, Johnson and Wales University, June 7, 1996.
Speech for National Honor Society Induction Ceremony. Portsmouth (RI) High School, March 21, 1996.
With Cheryl McCarthy: “Reader’s Theater and Children as Storytellers: Fun with Oral Skills in Elementary and Middle School.” New Hampshire and New England Educational Media Associations, Joint Conference, April 3, 1993.
With Cheryl McCarthy: “The Telling and Teaching of Stories.” Two-day presentation at Summer Institute, Library Power/Providence, August 13-14, 1992.
“Children’s Librarians, Literary Quality, and the Rewards of Reading.” Speech to Rhode Island Children’s Librarians, RI Department of State Library Services continuing education program, October 23, 1989.
Panel discussion on Intellectual Freedom, South Kingstown High School School Library Media Center, March 16, 1989.

Online Presentations

“GSLIS Ethics Orientation.” Designed to facilitate GSLIS compliance with Graduate School requirement that incoming students be trained in ethical treatment of human subjects, and to place it in professional context. http://www.uri.edu/artsci/lsc/Faculty/geaton/Ethics/index.htm
“Children’s Library Services: A Community Approach.” Designed site for presenter Kathy Ryan, http://www.uri.edu/artsci/lsc/cpd/01 march02/index.htm. Facilitated online discussion of alliance building for support of young readers, March 2 - March 9, 2001.

Consulting

Rhode Island Special Legislative Commission to Study the Current Strengths and Weaknesses of Library Services, 2006-
J of Library and Information Science Education, Referee, 2002-
An On-Line Encyclopedia of Rhode Island: A 21 st Century “Lively Experiment,” Consulted on Planning Study, 6/1/2003, supported by NEH grant PA-23851-01
Advisory Board, Dictionary of Pioneers and Leaders in Library Services to Youth (Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited, 2003)
Manuscript review for Greenwood Press, Beta Phi Mu series, 2000
Brown University Women Writers Program and Rhode Island Office of Library and Information Services, “In Her Own Words: Elizabeth I Onstage and Online”; bibliography; June, 1997
Wheaton College Library, Special Consultant to Signage Committee, October 11, 1996
Rhode Island Coalition of Library Advocates, Board of Directors, GSLIS representative, 1995-1996, 2000
State of Rhode Island Library Board, Advocacy Task Force, 1994-1995, 1996-1997; statistical analysis of legislator survey, February, 1996; February, 1995
RQ, Referee, 1988-1997
Proposal Review Committee (Outreach expenses for 1992 Summer Reading Program), Rhode Island Department of State Library Services, 1992, 1993
RHILINET Evaluation Committee, Rhode Island Department of State Library Services, 1992
Children’s Services Advisory Council, Rhode Island Department of State Library Services, 1988-1990; recording secretary, 1988-1989

Attendance at seminars, workshops, and other continuing professional development

Library Research Seminar II: Partners and Connections, Research and Practice. University of Maryland, November 2-3, 2001
Children’s Literature Association, Annual Conference. Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, June, 2002

Memberships in Professional Organizations and Associations

Karla Harry Legislative Commission on R.I. Library Services, 2006-
Rhode Island Coalition of Library Advocates, Board of Directors, GSLIS representative, 1995-1996, 2000, 2006-
American Library Association, 1980-
- Association for Library Service to Children, 1980-
- Public Library Association, 1993-
- Library Research Round Table
Association for Library and Information Science Education, 1987- ;
- Organization and Bylaws Committee, 1991-1993
- Information Ethics SIG, founding member, 2006
- Youth Services SIG
- Library History SIG
Children’s Literature Association, 1990-
International Reading Association, 1994-
New England Library Association, 1975-1984, 1989-
- Conference Committee, 2002
- New England Roundtable of Children’s Librarians, President’s Advisor, 1999-
Rhode Island Library Association, 1988- ;
- Conference Committee, 1997-1998
- Continuing Education Committee, chair, 2000

Local Institutional Activities

University :

Global University 8 (GU8) Consortium, Subcommittee on Library Services, 2007-
Graduate Council, 2006-2009
     Nominating Committee, 2007
     Subcommittee on Online Courses, 2006-2007
     Subcommittee on Recruitment, 2006-2007
University Online Committee, 2006-
Academic Subcommittee, 2007-
Judicial Appeals Committee, 2005-2008
College of Arts and Sciences, Dean’s Advisory Committee, 2004-
Intellectual Property Committee, 2004-2005
Research Ethics Fellow, 2004
Faculty Senate, 1995-1997, 2001-2004
Phi Beta Kappa, Rhode Island Chapter B, treasurer, 2000-2004
Program Quality Review chair, Women’s Studies, 2001-2002
College of Arts and Sciences Curriculum Committee, 1996-1999, 2000-2003
Graduate Council, fall, 2000
Faculty Senate Curricular Affairs Committee, 1995, 1997-2000
College of Arts and Sciences Election Committee, 1999-2000
Faculty Senate Committee on Bylaws and University Constitution, 1994-1995
URI University Club, Treasurer, 1993-1994; Co-chair, Program Committee, 1994-1995
Faculty Senate Library Committee, 1990-1994

GSLIS :

GSLIS Advisory Committee
Outcomes Assessment Subcommittee, 2007-
Mentoring and Recruitment Subcommittee, 2007-
Planning and Evaluation Committee, Chair, 2007-
Search Committee, GSLIS assistant professor, Chair, 2006-2007
Admissions Committee, 1988-1989, 1994-1996, 2005-
External Funding Committee, 2006-
Ad Hoc Committee on Advisement, chair, 2005-2006
Ad Hoc Committee on Student Standard, 2005-2006 (Submitted assessment minigrant proposal for focus group interviews with employers)
Ad Hoc Committee on Faculty Standard, 2005-2006
Alumni Relations Committee, chair, 2003-2006 (Handles newsletter, phonathon, annual gathering)
Developer, Ethics Orientation Module, 2003
Developer, recruitment brochure and PowerPoint presentation, 2003-2004
Survey of student preferences for course scheduling, 1996, 2004, 2006
Survey of recent GSLIS alumni, 1995, 2004, 2006
Drafted GSLIS Vision Statement, 2003
Curriculum Committee, 1988-2003, 2004-2005; chair, 1992-1999, 2002-2003
Subcommittee on Professional Field Experience, chair, 2000
Continuing Professional Development Committee, 1999-2002; chair, 1999-2000 (March, 2001: organized first GSLIS online continuing professional development event)
Distance Education Committee, 1999-2002; co-chair, 1999-2001
Faculty Development Committee, chair, 2000-2001; member, 2003- (March, 2001: presentation to GSLIS faculty and adjuncts on using WebCT)
Coordinator, Program Presentation for ALA Accreditation, 1995-1996
Search Committee, GSLIS director, member, 1997
Search Committee, assistant professor, chair, 1996
Liaison to University Library, 1992-2005
Grant Proposal, HEA Title II-A, 1993; unfunded
Faculty-Student Liaison, 1991-1992
Annual Gathering Committee, 1996-1997, 1988-1990; chair, 1996-1997 and 1989-1990

University of Rhode Island

Kingston, RI 02881,

USA 1-401-874-1000