Belinda Boon, Ph.D.

Belinda Boon, Ph.D., joined the iSchool faculty in 2006 at the Columbus location. She teaches in the areas of public libraries, collection development and management, and information services, and has extensive work experience in library and information science. Prior to joining the Kent State iSchool faculty, she was an adjunct instructor at the University of Texas at Austin iSchool. She also managed the Continuing Education and Consulting department at the Texas State Library & Archives Commission, and served as the Director of the Bastrop (TX) Public Library and as the Assistant Branch Manager/Children’s Librarian in the Harris County (TX) Public Libraries. Her professional activities include chairing numerous LSTA grant review committees for the State Library of Ohio, overseeing the development of a statewide library staff certification program as the Chair of the Ohio Library Council’s Library Education Committee, and establishing the “Floyd’s Pick” award as a member of the State Library of Ohio’s Choose to Read Ohio planning committee. She continues to provide professional development and consulting services to public, academic and school libraries nationwide in the areas of collection development and management, youth services, and information sources and services. She earned her master’s and doctorate degrees in Library and Information Science at the University of Texas at Austin, as well as a bachelor’s degree in English Literature.

*The School of Information faculty are superstars in the field. Therefore, it is impossible to list all of the great work they do on one page. Listed below is a small selection of Belinda Boon’s work. Further information can be viewed in her CV (found below).

Teaching/Advising

Academic Programs
Library & Information Science

Information Access and Discovery

Courses

LIS 30010     Information Fluency in the Workplace & Beyond (Developed)

LIS 60280    Master’s Portfolio (Co-developed)
LIS 60601     Information Sources & Reference Services
LIS 60608    The Public Library
LIS 60614     Selection & Acquisition of Library Materials (Developed)
LIS 60669    Information Services for Diverse Populations (Developed)

Professional Specialties

Reference TransactionsCollections DevelopmentInformation BehaviorCensorshipIntellectual Freedom

Selected Publications

Boon, B. (1995). The CREW method: Expanded guidelines for collection evaluation and weeding for small and medium-sized public libraries. Texas State Library & Archives Commission. Updated version (2012) https://www.tsl.texas.gov/ld/pubs/crew/index.html

Awards/Achievements

• Faculty Recognition Award 2016, 2015, 2013
• Faculty Fellows Program (competitive) 2018-2019
  • Developed an onboarding guide for adjunct faculty that was distributed for use across the University and eight regional campuses.
• Teaching Scholars Program (competitive) 2013-2014

Professional Service

• Kent State University Press Advisory Board (2019 - Present), Chair (2022 - 2023)
• Kent State University Great Place Initiative Faculty Subcommittee (2018 - Present)
• College of Communication and Information (CCI) Diversity Team (2016 - Present)
• University Teaching Council (2014 - 2018), Chair (2017 - 2018)
• State Library of Ohio Choose to Read Ohio Advisory Board (2009 - Present)
• Virginia Hamilton Conference Planning Committee (2007 - 2017)
• Ohio Library Council Library Education Committee (2010-2015), Chair (2013), and Chair-elect (2012)
• State Library of Ohio Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) Review Board (2009 - 2015)

Affiliations

• American Library Association (ALA)
• Association of Library and Information Science Educators (ALISE)
• Association of Library Services To Children (ALSC)
• Public Library Association (PLA)