Curriculum Vita | Suellen Adams, Ph.D.

Suellen S. Adams

Education

Doctor of Philosophy, 2006, School of Information, University of Texas, Austin, TX

General Areas of Interest: Information Behavior, Information Seeking in Context
Current and recent research conducted using ethnographic methods
Dissertation Title: Information Behavior and Meaning-Making in Virtual Play Spaces: A Case Study of City of Heroes
Dissertation defended and approved July 2006
Dissertation Chair: Dr. Mary Lynn Rice-Lively

Master of Arts, 1988, University of Wisconsin—Madison, School of Library and Information Studies, Madison, WI

Areas of Emphasis: Academic Libraries and Special Libraries

Further Study 1994-95 University of Wisconsin—Madison, School of Continuing, Adult and Vocational Education, Madison, WI

3 hours of graduate credit in Adult Education

Bachelor of Arts, 1977, Upper Iowa University, Fayette, Iowa

Major: Theatre Arts
Minor: Sociology
Additional 12 hours in Math including courses in Calculus, Statistics and Probability

Further Study, 1975 and 1984, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, Iowa

Various courses toward 2nd Bachelor of Arts in Social Work

Teaching and Professional Experience

January 2013-present Adjunct Professor

School of Library and Information Science

University of Southern Mississippi

Teaching graduate students in an online program

Courses taught

Management of Libraries and Information Agencies

Presents management theory and the exploration of personal management style
Emphasizes strategic planning for information agencies, including budgeting, staffing, technology, collections and other elements
Includes a group project in which students create and present the budget documents for a library or agency type of their choice

Collection Management

Provides an introduction to processes, practices and problems of collection development and management
Provides an understanding of community analysis
Includes both theoretical and practical aspects of creating collection development policies and collections

Encourages critical thinking about issues such as intellectual freedom, selection, funding and retention
Includes a group project in which students create a collection development policy

Special Problems: Social Media

Consider the principles, concepts and ideas of social networking and participatory library service, as well as the social and cultural backdrop from which Web 2.0 and Library 2.0 thinking emerge
Emphasis on the role of social software tools and online communities in libraries
Use and analyze a variety of tools
Design and implement a prototype of a social media library program

Produce a report in an alternative format

Summers 2013-2014 Adjunct Professor

School of Library and Information Science

University of Alabama

Teaching graduate students in an online program

Courses taught

Research Methods

Provides a survey of methods used in LIS research both quantitative and qualitative
Provides a framework to evaluate research
Explores the application of public studies and in-house action research to services and resources in different types of libraries and information agencies
Provides an understanding of research ethics
Students are required to write a research proposal and conference application

September 2011- May 2012 Adjunct Professor

School of Library and Information Science

San Jose State University

Teaching graduate students in an online program

Courses taught

Research Methods

Provides a survey of methods used in LIS research both quantitative and qualitative
Provides a framework to evaluate research
Explores the application of public studies and in-house action research to services and resources in different types of libraries and information agencies
Provides an understanding of research ethics
Students are required to write a research proposal

June 2011- present Adjunct Professor

Department of Library Science, School of Education

Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, TX

Teaching graduate students in a School Library program
Online teaching

Courses taught

Internet for School Library Media Specialists

Discuss the basics of web searching and web site evaluation
Investigate Web 2.0 tools and applications
Discuss information ethics in the age of the Internet
Create an Internet based lesson

Instructional Design and Library Media Production

Presents the concepts of instructional design and the use of multimedia in a teaching experience.

• Offers the opportunity for students to use a variety of media tools to systematically create learning experiences

Computer Science Applications in Librarianship

Explore library automation systems
Create a mock library catalog web page
Work in small groups to give an online presentation

January 2011-May 2012 Adjunct Professor

Graduate School of Library and Information Studies

University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI

Teaching graduate students

Primarily online teaching

Courses taught

Research and Evaluation in Library and Information Studies

Provides a survey of methods used in LIS research both quantitative and qualitative
Provides a framework to evaluate research
Explores the application of public studies and in-house action research to services and resources in different types of libraries and information agencies
Provides an understanding of research ethics

Students are required to write a research proposal

Community Relations in Libraries

Presents concepts of marketing, public relations, publicity and advocacy
Emphasis on various types of library including school library media center, public library, academic library and special library
Students were asked to read and share a book related to any of the course topics
Practical hands-on experience in designing a possible library program including identifying stakeholders, writing guiding documentation, writing publicity, evaluation of programs and advocacy for the program and the institution culminating in a group project

Students required to use a wiki to work together in the design of their assigned library programs

Special Topics: Library 2.0 and Social Networking

Consider the principles, concepts and ideas of social networking and participatory library service, as well as the social and cultural backdrop from which Web 2.0 and Library 2.0 thinking emerge
Emphasis on the role of social software tools and online communities in libraries
Use and analyze a variety of tools
Design and implement a prototype of a Web 2.0 library program
Produce a report in an alternative format

January 2011-presentAdjunct Professor

School of Information

University of Texas, Austin, TX

Teaching graduate students

Courses taught

Collection Management

Provides an introduction to processes, practices and problems of collection development and management
Provides an understanding of community analysis
Includes both theoretical and practical aspects of creating collection development policies and collections

Encourages critical thinking about issues such as intellectual freedom, selection, funding and retention

Community Relations in Libraries

Presents concepts of marketing, public relations, publicity and advocacy
Emphasis on various types of library including school library media center, public library, academic library and special library
Students were asked to read and share a book related to any of the course topics

Practical hands-on experience in designing a possible library program including identifying stakeholders, writing guiding documentation, writing publicity, evaluation of programs and advocacy for the program and the institution culminating in a group project

Information Services for Special Needs Populations

Emphasis on populations with disabilities such as mobility restriction, sensory disability, learning disability and mental disability
Background on the history and philosophy of disability and disability services
Practical information on serving and creating programs for special populations
Students read and share additional information with the class
Course taught to students from UT and 3 other universities through the WISE consortium

Information and Recreation

Taught a graduate class for students from multiple discipline
Examines the importance of Leisure and Recreation in Society through the Serious Leisure perspective
Reviews research on information seeking, needs and behavior particularly as they intersect with recreational pursuits
Students read and share additional information from their disciplinary background and personal interest
Individual final projects were negotiated to take advantage of disciplinary background and personal interest
Course offered to students from UT and other universities through the WISE consortium

June 2007-December 2010 Assistant Professor

University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI

Teaching graduate students
Adept at face-to-face, hybrid and fully online formats
Perform research and writing
Serve on departmental and university committees
Perform professional service outside the university

Courses taught

Research and Evaluation in Library and Information Studies

Provides a survey of methods used in LIS research both quantitative and qualitative
Provides a framework to evaluate research
Explores the application of public studies and in-house action research to services and resources in different types of libraries and information agencies
Provides an understanding of research ethics

Students are required to submit a research proposal

Community Relations in Libraries

Presents concepts of marketing, public relations, publicity and advocacy
Emphasis on various types of library including school library media center, public library, academic library and special library
Students were asked to read and share a book related to any of the course topic
Practical hands-on experience in designing a possible library program including identifying stakeholders, writing guiding documentation, writing publicity, evaluation of programs and advocacy for the program and the institution culminating in a group project
Students required to use a wiki to work together in the design of their assigned library programs

Information Design

Presents the concepts and characteristics of information design
Considers digital convergence and its effects on library and information services
Provides framework for discussing and understanding the characteristic of text, graphics, photographs, audio and video
Students plan, produce and evaluate information using text, graphics, photographs, audio and video
Students design effective, efficient and appealing information using information design principles

Instructional Technology in Library Media

Presents the concepts of instructional design and the use of multimedia in a teaching experience.
Encourages reflective practice
Students individually to create a hypermedia lesson
Students work collaboratively to create and present a lesson on a topic of their choice

Collection Management

Provides an introduction to processes, practices and problems of collection development
Provides an understanding of community analysis
Includes both theoretical and practical aspects of creating collection development policies and collections
Encourages critical thinking about issues such as copyright, intellectual freedom, etc.

Management of Libraries and Information Agencies

Presents management theory and the exploration of personal management style
Emphasizes strategic planning for information agencies, including budgeting, staffing, technology, collections and other elements
Includes a group project in which students create and present the planning documents for a library or agency type of their choice

Independent Study and Professional Field Experience

Supervised the following Independent Study and Professional Field Experience projects
In depth overview of viral marketing and alternate reality games and how they might be used for library use and promotion
Human Subjects research about Archiving Video Games and Associated material
Researching Manga Literacy and Collection Development: Using Manga Format to Bridge the Gap, a full human subjects research project performed by two students
An annotated bibliography and review of the state of the art in Interlibrary Loan
Organization of and website for the archives of the Rhode Island Panthers Women’s Ice Hockey Team
Field Experience in the Archives of Smith College
Working with the Providence Public Library Board regarding Co-location of libraries
Formulation of a program plan for underserved populations
Field experience in a Community College Library
Hands on study of cataloging errors as barriers to access
State of the art paper on video games in libraries
Creation and distribution of oral histories
Book reviewing for law specific journals

January 2007-May 2007 Lecturer

University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI

Teaching graduate student
Using face-to-face and hybrid formats

Courses taught

Research and Evaluation in Library and Information Studies

Provides a survey of methods used in LIS research both quantitative and qualitative
Provides a framework to evaluate research
Explores the application of public studies and in-house action research to services and resources in different types of libraries and information agencies
Provides an understanding of research ethics
Provides the techniques necessary to design an information needs assessment

Information Design

Presents the concepts and characteristics of information design
Considers digital convergence and its effects on library and information services
Provides framework for discussing and understanding the characteristic of text, graphics, photographs, audio and video
Students plan, produce and evaluate information using text, graphics, photographs, audio and video
Students design effective, efficient and appealing information using information design principles

Instructional Technology Library Media

Presents the concepts of instructional design and the use of multimedia in a teaching experience.
Encourages reflective practice
Students individually to create a hypermedia lesson
Students work collaboratively to create and present a lesson on a topic of their choice

Collection Development

Provides an introduction to processes, practices and problems of collection development
Provides an understanding of community analysis
Includes both theoretical and practical aspects of creating collection development policies and collections
Encourages critical thinking about issues such as copyright, intellectual freedom, etc.

September-December 2006 Adjunct Faculty

University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI

Teaching graduate students
Course being taught entirely on-line using WebCT

Course taught

Instructional Technology in Library and Information Services

Provides an introduction to instructional media
Provides an introduction to lesson development and motivational theories
Includes experience applying the theories using emerging technologies
Provide experiences in both individual and collaborative environments

January-May 1999Assistant Instructor

University of Texas at Austin

Taught upper division undergraduate students from a variety of disciplines
Class size approximately 40
Students were ethnically diverse

Course taught

Information in Cyberspace

Internet basics including e-mail, newsgroups, web pages and related topics
Basic Unix commands
Design and production of simple web pages using a text editor
Team design and production of simple web pages using a standard web editor

1985-1997 Instructor

Madison Junior College of Business, Madison, WI

Taught both traditional and non-traditional undergraduates, many of them first generation college students
Population included both American and International students
Developed class syllabi based on standardized texts
Class sizes ranged from 6 to 50 students

Courses taught

Introduction to Data Processing

Practical office software applications including MS Word, MS Excel, Lotus Spreadsheets
Brief introduction to MS Access and Lotus Notes

Business Mathematics

Basic math including refresher on topics such as making reasonable estimations and working with fractions and decimals
Business Applications ranging from as simple as keeping a checkbook to as complex as interest and finance

Business Statistics

Fundamentals of statistics and probability

American Government

Principles of American Government, with a small amount of American History for context

Introduction to Psychology

General principles of psychology and various psychological theories.
Research paper requirement in some aspect of abnormal psychology

Introduction to Sociology

General principles of sociology and important sociological theories
Emphasis on topics such as ethnocentrism, social norms and mores of various groups, etc. which were of particular importance to those entering the business world

Speech

Basic principles of public speaking.
The students each had to deliver 4 or 5 speeches depending on class size, including informational, persuasive and impromptu speaking
Situational speaking element in which students were presented with typical difficult workplace scenarios and asked after a few moments consultation to role-play a solution

Additional Instructional Development

Developed and helped teach a unit in the English II class that familiarized students with important library resources

1990-1994Instructor

Upper Iowa University—Madison Campus, Madison, WI

Taught night classes to non-traditional students
Classes met twice a week for 8-12 weeks
Developed syllabi based on standardized texts
Class sizes varied from 15 to 40

Courses taught

Introduction to the Theater

A brief overview of theater history beginning with ancient Greece.
Elements of theatrical performance
Required attendance at and critique of one live theater performance of the particular student’s choosing during the course of the semester

Oral Communication

Intermediate level public speaking course including informational, persuasive, impromptu and situational speaking
Included evaluation of communication styles and the effective use of communication in various situations

1998 to 2006 Teaching Assistant

University of Texas at Austin

Courses Included

Tech Skills for Academic Success

Assisted in teaching a small class of undergraduate women from a variety of backgrounds
Subject matter included topics ranging across the spectrum of tech-related subjects such as e-mail, netiquette, copyright, security and so forth
The largest class requirement was to build original websites, first with html coding and then with a simple Mozilla web editor.

Introduction to Information Studies

Answered students’ questions about assignments and content both by e-mail and in person
Performed occasional website updates
Tracked students assignments and participation and reminded them of various due dates
Made use of numerous functions of the Blackboard system

Management

Tracked student assignments and participation
Answered student questions about assignments and content both by e-mail and in person
Created a document for students to use in evaluating the teams they participated in
Made use of numerous functions of the Blackboard system

Children’s Literature

Wrote some of the test items
Updated test grades online under the instructor’s supervision
Assisted students with questions when they came during office hours

Introductory Research Methods

Participated in teaching a class taught in two locations via distance education
Developed and delivered the lecture on qualitative research
Worked one on one with students requiring assistance with course content such as statistical methods
Assisted in grading and evaluation

Online Information Sources

Designed and delivered exercise and brief lesson on inverted files and simple Boolean searches
Assisted in grading and evaluation

Artificial Intelligence

Provided administrative support to the instructor

1997-2003 Founding partner and Business Coordinator

Westlake Interactive, Austin TX

The company was a small non-traditional computer game development company, specializing in Macintosh products with employees working out of their homes in three different states.

Wrote a column called Adams’ Apple for the web version of MacCentral magazine, which has over one million unique visitors per month
Communicated with end users of our products as often as possible both to determine the level of satisfaction with our products and as a public relations function
Served as corporate Secretary/Treasurer and Chief Operations Officer; duties included legal paperwork, payables and receivables, payroll, employee health insurance, administration of the 401K, working with the accountant on tax matters, filing paperwork directly with income tax authorities in Arizona and Tennessee
Maintained relationships and assisted in negotiations with publishers and other corporate partners through meetings at various trade shows, phone calls and e-mail
Managed as many as 100 volunteer beta testers around the world, including recruiting, legal issues, providing testers with software and channels for reporting software issues and negotiating any issues between employees and volunteer testers
Attended trade shows at which I interacted both formally and informally with publishers, representatives of other corporations, members of the press and end users.
Networked and maintained positive relationships with the press by providing press releases, general information, interviews etc.

1985-1997 Librarian

Madison Junior College of Business, Madison, WI

Worked as the solo librarian in a small two year college
Provided reference services using print and limited online business and general resources
Performed copy cataloging using MARC records, when those records were unavailable or did not reflect our collection well, performed original cataloging
Provided collection development to support the learning objectives of the college
Created and maintained extensive files on topics of interest for use by students and faculty of the institution, ranging from controversial material for term paper topics to materials to provide curriculum support for the faculty. Files contained clippings, government and industry publications and so forth.
Obtained free publications from the government, industry and other sources for both the collection and the files
Initiated the college’s first library automation, including a basic OPAC and an Internet station
Provided instruction to students and faculty on the use of the World Wide Web
Provided library instruction to students on such topics as finding and evaluating sources of information found in the library
Developed a wider range of resources for the students by initiating and maintaining a relationship with the local public library
Managed up to two volunteers who provided library support services
Wrote a paper depicting the small college library as a special library, including practical ideas on such topics as creating and maintaining files, creative ways to get materials and initial library automation based on 4 years of experience, which was submitted to and received favorably by Association of Independent Colleges and Schools (the accrediting agency.

Research History

Deus Ex: Creating and Experiencing Transformative Information Space in a Non-Linear Video Game

Studied how the interface and game space, particularly in a non-linear design, were created in order to give appropriate feedback to the players, and how the players reacted to that feedback, including consequences unintended by the creators
Conducted face-to-face interviews with the Executive Producer and Lead Designer of the video game Deus Ex
Conducted a focus group with some of the developers
Had follow-up e-mail correspondence with the Producer of the Playstation version of the product
Conducted online interviews with several game users around the world using a chat client, followed up by e-mail in some cases
Faculty Supervisor: Dr. Hsin-Liang Chen

Social aspects of online role-playing games: A pilot study

Examined social and creative reasons for players’ interest in multiplayer online role-playing games
Conducted in-depth, semi-structured online interviews using a chat client with four players of online role-playing games
In analysis I found many similarities and also enough unique behavior to classify each of the players as a separate mini-case study
Faculty supervisor: Dr. Stuart Reifel

Talking about thinking in Video Games: Information Behaviors of Self-Identified Gamers

Considered how, in their own words, respondents described their information activities regarding and during game play
Used semi-structured interview techniques
Video recorded respondents playing a game in their own homes and used the think-aloud protocol
Faculty supervisor: Dr. Laura Lein

Information Seeking and Use in the Transgender Community

Part of a larger study examining gender and gender attitudes among those in the transgender community
Using focus group techniques
Working as a co-researcher with Dr. Kate Peirce of Texas State University, School of Journalism, specialist in media and gender

Representations of Homosexuality in Videogames

Examines the overt and covert representations of homosexuals in single player and online multiplayer videogames
Ongoing with new games
Involves Graduate Assistants in the process of qualitative research and analysis
Originally funded by a multicultural minigrant
Working with Damien Huffner, Ph.D. student in archeology, Australian National University, Canberra Australia

Why We Do What We Do: The Role of Personality in the Selection of Questions and Methodologies

An examination of whether there is a correlation between personality, as measured by a standard instrument, and a researcher’s preferred methodology
Study of scholars in LIS and education using a combination of standardized testing and interview/survey techniques
Initial stage published in peer-reviewed journal
Research partner Dr. Mary Lynn Rice-Lively of the University of Texas at Austin, School of Information

Gatekeepers: The Information Behavior of Leaders in Serious Recreational Athletes in Austin, TX

Earlier research reveals the existence of 8-10 people who were often consulted for information (gatekeeper)
Uses depth interviews and qualitative analysis
Examines the collection and dissemination of information by gatekeepers

Information Seeking Behavior of Serious Recreational Athletes

Examines the information needs, information seeking and information use of serious recreational runners, duathletes and triathletes
Examines the types of information sought, sources for finding the information and how the information is put into practice
Mixed methodology, using anonymous surveys as well as interviews and focus groups

Changing How We See the Ourselves: Meaning-making and the Adult Serious Recreational Athlete

Examines recreational pursuits as a form of play
Makes use of theories of symbolic interactionism, social dramaturgy and self-efficacy to examine the meanings that adult recreational athletes make about these activities and how they often become a defining part of participants’ lives

The Many Uses of “Useless” Digital Toys: There’s an App for That

Uses content analysis of correspondence and reviews of the digital food apps created by Maverick Software to determine both the standard and non-standard uses of these apps
Examines these digital applications in light of previous theories of the culture and history of toys
Research in conjunction with Glenda Adams, President of Maverick Software, LLC

Publications

Adams, S. (2013). Crash Course in Gaming. Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited.

Adams, S. (2011) “Marketing the Homework Center Digitally” in Teen Read Week™ and Teen Tech Week™: Tips and Resources for YALSA’s Initiatives.

Reyes, I and S. Adams (2010) “Screening Play: Rules, Wares, and Representations in ‘realistic’ Video Games” in Eludamos 4.2

Adams, S. (2010), “Digital Marketing of a Young Adult Homework Center” in Young Adult Library Service.

Adams, S and D. Huffer (2009) “The Representation of Homosexuality in Video Games” IPA/USA Quarterly.

Adams, S. (2009)“What games have to offer: Information Behavior and Meaning-Making in Virtual Play Spaces” Library Trends 57(4).

Adams, S. (2009), “Athletics, Amateur.” Sage Encyclopedia of Play in Today’s Society, Sage Publications

Adams, S. & M. Burke (2009) “New Literacies: What Can Popular Culture Teach Us About Information and Media Literacy?” (book chapter) In Issues in Information and Media Literacy: Education, Practice and Pedagogy. Information Science Press, p. 191-208.

Adams, S. (2009). “Making the Case for Video Games in Libraries.” Library Review 58 (3), p. 196-202.

Adams, S. & M.L. Rice-Lively (2009). “Personality and Research Styles: Why We Do the Things We Do?” Journal of Education for Library and Information Science 50(1).

Adams. S. & K. Peirce (2006). “Is there a transgender canon? : Information seeking and use in the transgender community” Proceedings of the Annual Conference of the Canadian Association of Information Science 2006, Toronto, June 1-3.

Adams, S. (2005). “Information Behavior and the Formation and Maintenance of Peer Cultures in Massive Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games: A Case Study of City of Heroes.” DVD Proceedings of the Digital Games Research Association Conference 2005, Vancouver, June 16-20.

Adams, S. (2005) “O, what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to research: Participant observation research in Massive Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games.” (abstract). Canadian Journal of Information and Library Science.

Adams, S. (2004)“Researching the Role of Information Behavior in Creating Community in the Virtual World of the Video Game.” (abstract). Canadian Journal of Information and Library Science 28(3).

Adams, S. (2003) “Information Patterns in the World of Online Role-Playing Games: Proposed Research” (abstract). Canadian Journal of Information and Library Science, (27)4.

Book Reviews

Adams, S. (2006). “Play Culture in a Changing World” (Book Reviews). Play Review, Winter 2006, v. 30, no. 4.

Adams, S. (1999). “Librarianship and the Information Paradigm” (Book Reviews). Libraries & Culture, Summer 1999 v34, i13.

Briggs, S. (1990). “Gospel Plays for Students” (Book Reviews). Church and Synagogue Libraries, September/October 1990, v. XIV, no. 2.

Briggs, S. (1990). “Kids Who Have Too Much” (Book Reviews). Church and Synagogue Libraries, September/October 1990, v. XIV, no. 2.

Briggs, S. (1990) “Greek Apologists of the 2nd Century” (Book Reviews). Church and Synagogue Libraries, July/August 1990. v. XIV, no. 1

Presentations

Adams, S. (2014). Running on the Screen: The Gamification of Fitness. To be presented that the SW/TX Popular Culture Association. February 2014. Albuquerque, NM.

Adams, S. (2012). A Model of the Information World of Serious Recreational Athletes. Poster presented at Canadian Association of Information Science Conference, May 2012, Waterloo, ONT, CANADA.

Adams, S. (2012). Adding Dramaturgy to Our Toolbox: Moving from Information Behavior to Meaning-Making. Paper presented at the Quantitative and Qualitative Methods in Libraries 2012 Conference, May 2012, Limerick, IRELAND.

Adams, S. (2011). Information Gatekeepers: Their Influence on Serious Recreational Athletes. Paper presented at the Information: Interaction and Impact Conference, June 2011, Aberdeen, Scotland, UK.

Adams, S. and G. Adams (2011) The Many Uses of “Useless” Digital Toys: There’s an App for That. Paper presented at the SW/TX Popular Culture Association, April 2011, San Antonio, TX

Adams, S. and G. Adams (2011) The Creation and Uses of Mobile Applications. Keynote Speech to given for the Rhode Island Chapter of the Special Libraries Association Spring Banquet, April 2011, Providence, RI.

Adams, S. (2011) Changing How We See the Ourselves: Meaning-making and the Adult Serious Recreational Athlete. Paper presented at the Conference on the Value of Play, February 2011, Clemson, SC.

Adams, S. (2010) Adults at Play: The Information Habits of Serious Recreational Athletes. Paper presented at The Association for the Study of Play Conference, March 2010, Atlanta, GA.

Adams, S. & Reyes, I. (2010) “Screen Play”: Moving Toward New Media Theory. Paper presented at the SW/TX Popular Culture Association Conference, February 2010, Albuquerque, NM

Adams, S. (2010) Not Just Child’s Play: An essay in Support of Video Games in Libraries. Paper presented at the SW/TX Popular Culture Association Conference, February 2010, Albuquerque, NM

Adams, S. (2010) The Information Behavior of Serious Recreational Athletes. Poster presented at the Association for Library and Information Science Educators, January 2010, Boston, MA.

Adams, S. (2009) “Google is not a 4-letter Word and Wikipedia is not an Obscenity” Paper presented at Georgia Conference on Information Literacy, September 2009, Savannah, GA.

Adams, S. (2009) “The Case for Video Games in Public Libraries” Invited keynote presentation at the combined RILA and SLA Student Chapter Coffee Hour, East Greenwich Free Library, East Greenwich, RI. March 6, 2009.

Adams, S. & Huffer, D. (2009) “The Representation of Homosexuality in Video Games.” Paper presented at The SW/TX Popular Culture Association Conference, Feb. 2009, Albuquerque, NM

Adams, S. (2008) “Reading & Creating Stories: Making the book connection.” Paper presented at ALA TechSource Conference, November 2008, Oak Brook, IL

Adams, S. (2008) “Archiving the Real World for Play: How Much is Enough?” paper presented at the Southwest/Texas Popular Culture Association/American Culture Association, February 2008, Albuquerque, NM

Adams, S. & Rice-Lively, M.L. (2008) “Why We Do What We Do” presented at the Association of Library and Information Science Education Conference, January 2008, Philadelphia, PA

Adams, S. & Burke, M. (2007) “The Effect of New Literacies on Information Literacy” paper presented at the Georgia Conference on Information Literacy, October 2007, Savannah, GA

Adams, S. (2007) “Information Behavior and Meaning-Making in Virtual Play Spaces: A Case Study of City of Heroes” paper presented at the Interaction with Immersive Worlds Conference, June 2007, St Catharines, ONT, CANADA.

Adams, S. (2007) “Communing with Man and the Gods: The Nature of Play in Virtual Play Spaces” paper presented at The Association for the Study of Play Conference, Rochester, NY April 2007.

Adams. S. (2006 written with Peirce, K.) “Is There a Transgender Canon? : Information Seeking and Use in the Transgender Community” paper presented June 2006 at the Canadian Association for Information Science, Toronto, ONT, CANADA.

Adams, S. (2006) “Elements of Information Behavior in Virtual Play Spaces” paper presented at the Popular Culture/American Culture Conference, April 2006, Atlanta, GA

Adams, S. (2006) “Information in an Alternate Universe: The Simultaneous Study of the

‘Real’ and the ‘Artificial’ in Virtual Play Spaces” presented at SW/TX Popular Culture Association Conference, Feb. 2006, Albuquerque, NM

Adams, S. (2006) “An everything all-at-once shout” Work-in-Progress poster presented at Association for Library and Information Science Education, January 2006, San Antonio, TX

Adams, S. (2005). “Information Behavior and the Formation and Maintenance of Peer Cultures in Massive Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games: A Case Study of City of Heroes.” Paper presented at the Digital Games Research Association Conference 2005, Vancouver, BC, CANADA

Adams, S. (2005). “O, what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to research: Participant observation research in Massive Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games.” Paper presented at Connections 2005, The 10th Great Lakes Information Studies Conference, Montreal, PQ, CANADA

Adams, S. (2005). “Information behavior theory and play theory: Do they influence group formation and maintenance in MMORPGs?” Paper presented at the Popular Culture Association/American Culture Association Conference, San Diego, CA

Adams, S. (2005). “Meaning-making, play theory and peer culture in Massive Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games : Playing with identity, creating community…life in the MMORPGs.” Paper presented at The Association for the Study of Play Conference, Santa Fe, NM

Adams, S. (2005). “Meaning-making, play theory and peer culture in Massive Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games (MMORPGs).” Paper presented at the SW/TX Popular Culture Association Convention, Albuquerque, NM

Adams, S. (2005). “Information behavior theory and play theory: Do they influence group formation and maintenance in MMORPGs?” Poster presented at the Association of Library and Information Science Education, Boston, MA

Adams, S. (2004). “The Role of Information Behavior in Group Formation and Maintenance in the Context of Massive Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games.” Poster presented at the Information Seeking in Context Conference, Dublin, IRELAND

Letalien, B. & Adams, S. (2004) “Interactivity and Democracy: Towards an Understanding of Political Participation in Digital and Virtual Space.” International Association for Media and Communication Research conference, Porto Alegre, BRAZIL

Adams, S. (2004) “Self, Community and Information in Multiplayer Online Games : A pilot study and proposal for further research.” Paper Presented at the Popular Culture Association/American Culture Association Joint Conference, San Antonio, TX

Adams, S. (2004) “Researching the Role of Information Behavior in Creating and Maintaining Community in the Virtual World of the Video Game: A Proposal.” Paper presented at Connections 2004, The 9th Great Lakes Information Studies Conference, Toronto, ONT, CANADA

Adams, S. & Letalien, B. (2004) “Interactivity, Interaction and Interpretation in Video Games and Television: A Discourse Analysis.” Paper presented at the Transparencies Conference, Austin, TX

Adams, S. (2004) “Information Behavior in Video Game Worlds: Evolving Research.” Poster session presented at the Association of Library and Information Science Education, San Diego, CA

Adams, S. (2003) “Information Patterns in the World of Online Role-Playing Games: Proposed Research.” Paper presented at the Connections 8 Conference, Long Island, NY

Adams, S. (2003) “Talking about thinking in video games: Information behaviors of self-identified gamers.” Poster session presented at the Association of Library and Information Science Education, Philadelphia, PA

Briggs, S. (1995). “What is this thing called the World Wide Web?” Presentation to the Madison Chapter of the National Secretaries Association, Madison, WI

Briggs, S. (1994). “Discovering your communication style, and dealing with others’.” Presentation at the Wisconsin Association of Academic Librarians, Brookfield, WI

Service to the Department

GSLIS Committee on Evaluation 2007-2010

GSLIS Facilities Committee, 2007-present, chair since 2009

Faculty Sponsor to the University of Rhode Island Student Chapter of the Special Libraries Association, Feb 2008-

Acting faculty sponsor to the University of Rhode Island Chapter of the American Library Association, July-Dec 2008

Coordinated Student Research and Portfolio Showcase, April 2008

Coordinated GSLIS Participation in Higher Education Fair, April 2008 and April 2009

Service to the University of Rhode Island

Member of Provost’s Task Force on Graduate Education 2010

GSLIS representative to the Harrington School Task Force 2009-2010

Participant in interdisciplinary working group to explore and develop a Gaming minor 2009-2010

Faculty Senate, 2008-2010 (with exception of Fall 2009)

Service to the Profession

Facilitator “Birds of a Feather” Roundtable on Web 2.0 and Social Networking, Association of Library and Information Science Educators, Philadelphia, PA 2014.

Judge for the Jean Tague Sutcliff Doctoral Poster Session, Association of Library and Information Science Educators, Philadelphia, PA 2014.

Convener ALISE Distance Education SIG for 2014-15.

Conference Review for the Canadian Association of Information and Library Science Conference 2013-2014

Facilitator “Birds of a Feather” Roundtable on Web 2.0 and Social Networking, Association of Library and Information Science Educators, Seattle, WA 2013.

Judge for the Jean Tague Sutcliff Doctoral Poster Session, Association of Library and Information Science Educators, Seattle, WA 2013.

Co-convener ALISE Distance Education SIG for 2013-14.

Executive Board, Rhode Island Special Library Association, 2008-2010

Facilitator “Birds of a Feather” Roundtable on Web 2.0 and Social Networking, Association of Library and Information Science Educators, San Diego, CA 2011.

Judge for the Jean Tague Sutcliff Doctoral Poster Session, Association of Library and Information Science Educators, San Diego, CA 2011.

Facilitator “Birds of a Feather” Roundtable on Web 2.0 and Social Networking, Association of Library and Information Science Educators, Boston, MA 2010.

Judge for the Jean Tague Sutcliff Doctoral Poster Session, Association of Library and Information Science Educators, Boston, MA 2010

Reviewer for ALISE Distance Education SIG 2012.

Previous Committee Work

Student member of the Doctoral Studies committee, School of Information, University of Texas at Austin, 2002-2003.

Committee member and publicity chair for the Wisconsin Association of Academic Librarians Annual Conference, 1994.

Committee member and co-chair for exhibits for the Wisconsin Library Association Conference, 1994.

Professional Affiliations

American Educational Research Association

American Library Association

American Society of Information Science and Technology

Association of Library and Information Science Education

Digital Games Research Association

International Game Developers Association

Learning Games Initiative

SW/TX Popular Culture Association

The Association for the Study of Play

Other Community Service

Member of the Board, Narragansett Running Association, Narragansett, RI, 2008-2010