Eileen McElrath, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor
School of Library and Information Studies

Professional Preparation

Ph.D., 1999, Florida State University
Library and Information Studies

M.A., 2001, Murray State University
English and Literature

M.S.L.S., 1994, University of Kentucky
Library Science

B.A., 1993, Murray State University
English/Spanish

Professional Experience

• Assistant Professor, Valdosta State University
• Reference Librarian, Murray State University

Teaching

• Master’s level courses: LS 5263 Reference, LS 5813 Information Professions, LS 5383 Library Management, MLIS Leadership for Library and Information Centers, LS 5903 Information Sources and Services in the Humanities
• Nominated for Texas Woman’s University, College of Professional Education, Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award, 2006.
• Named in Who’s Who of American Teachers, 2006.

Scholarship

• Dr. McElrath has published a variety of articles including:
• McElrath, Eileen. “Free Websites of Value for Humanities Student and Faculty Scholars.” Library Philosophy and Practice. April 2008. http://libr.unl.edu:2000/LPP/mcelrath.htm
• McElrath, Eileen and Kate McDowell. “Building Community in Distance Education Courses.” MERLOT: Journal of Online Learning and Teaching. Vol. 4, No. 1, March 2008. http://jolt.merlot.org/Vol4_No1.htm
• McElrath, R. “Cognitive Dissonance Identification in the Institutional Setting of the Academic Library.” Journal of Educational Media and Library Science. 41, no. 3 (March 2004): 283-298.
• McElrath, R. “Perceptions Held by Academic Library Directors and Chief Academic Officers about Challenges Experienced by Current Academic Library Directors in Public Universities.” College and Research Libraries. 63, no. 4 (July 2002): 304-321.
• McElrath, R. “A Study of One Kentucky Regional University’s (Murray State University) Female Graduates from 1930-1959.” Ed 426 647. ERIC Clearinghouse on Higher Education. 1999.
• Dr. McElrath has given a number of peer-reviewed presentations including:
• McElrath, Eileen, Dennis Clark, and Lynda de los Santos. “Activities for Learning Styles.” Program Presentation. Texas Library Association Annual Conference, Dallas, Texas, April 2008.
• McElrath, Eileen. “Activities for Learning Styles.” Poster Presentation. Association for Library and Information Science Education (ALISE) Annual Conference, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, January 2008.
• McElrath, Eileen. “Websites of Value for Humanities Students, Faculty and Researchers.” Poster Presentation. Association for Library and Information Science Education (ALISE) Annual Conference, Seattle, Washington, January 2007.
• McElrath, Eileen, Judy Marley, and Kate McDowell. “Building Community in Distance Education Courses.” Presentation. Association for Library and Information Science Education (ALISE) Annual Conference, San Antonio, Texas, January 2006.
• McElrath, Eileen. “Challenges Experienced by Academic Library Directors as Perceived by Them and Their Supervisors.” Poster Presentation. Association for Library and Information Science Education (ALISE) Annual Conference, San Antonio, Texas, January 2006.
• McElrath, Eileen. “Free Websites of Value for Humanities Student and Faculty Researchers.” Rhetoric Symposium. Federation of North Texas Universities. Texas A&M University, Commerce, Texas, February, 2005.
• McElrath, Eileen. “Networking and Tips for New Faculty.” New Faculty Special Interest Group (SIG) facilitator. Association for Library and Information Science Education (ALISE) Annual Conference, Boston, Massachusetts, January 2005.
• McElrath, Eileen. “Portfolio Development in the Master of Library Science Program at Valdosta.” Presented at the Association for Library and Information Science Education (ALISE) Annual Conference, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, January 2003.
• McElrath, Eileen. “Mentoring New Faculty in Library and Information Science: A Retention Tool.” Presented at the Association for Library and Information Science Education (ALISE) Annual Conference, New Orleans, Louisiana, January, 2002.
• Dr. McElrath’s grant activity includes the following:
• Awarded an $1800 grant by COPE Research Development Funds for research entitled, “Challenges Experienced by Academic Library Directors Phase II.” October 2007. 
• Submitted proposal for IMLS grant. 2006. $177,000. Not funded. 

Service

• Texas Library Association Planning Committee member for the 2008 Texas Library Annual Conference in Dallas, Texas, 2006-2008.
• Invited and served as Faculty Small Group Facilitator at Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College Academic Library Leadership Institute, Nashville, Tennessee, July 2007. 
• Texas Woman’s University, College of Professional Education, Outstanding Student Sponsor of the Year Award, 2006.
• Texas Woman’s University, Academic Library Director Search Committee, member. 2004-2005
• Member, Executive Board of Directors, Georgia Library Association, 2001-2003.
• Chair, Georgia Library Association, New Members Roundtable Division, 2001-2003.