Barbara MacAdam

About

As the Associate University Librarian for Public Services, Barbara MacAdam leads and manages the Library’s public services division. This area of the Library includes reference and information services, instructional services and programs, academic liaison and research support services, access services such as circulation and course reserves, media services, and the various Library facilities that provide services, programs and collections to the campus and wider public. Among these are the Harlan Hatcher Graduate Library, the Shapiro Science and Undergraduate Libraries, the Health Sciences Libraries, Special Collections Library, Asia Library, the Art, Architecture and Engineering Library, and many other specialized units and services.

Background

MacAdam completed both her undergraduate and graduate degrees at UM, with a B.A. in English from the College of Literature, Science and Arts, and an M.L.S. from the School of Information and Library Studies (School of Information). She previously served as the head of the Undergraduate Library, and as the head of Reference and Instruction for the Harlan Hatcher Graduate Library. As an adjunct faculty member in the School of Information and the College of Literature, Science and Arts at U-M, she has taught both undergraduate and graduate courses in communication, instructional strategies, reference, management, and an honors seminar on knowledge and society in the information age. Her publications and presentations span a wide range of issues including user instruction, critical thinking, information literacy, information technology, creating new learning space, services to a diverse community, and virtual reference services. Active in several professional associations, her awards include the Association of College and Research Library's Miriam Dudley Instructional Librarian Award (1996), and the University of Michigan's Librarian Achievement Award in 2004 for innovative service development and professional contributions to the field of librarianship. MacAdam's faculty governance involvement includes election to the Senate Assembly, and to the Senate Advisory Committee on University Affairs (SACUA) for two terms, serving as Vice Chair of SACUA, as Secretary to SACUA and the Senate Assembly, and in leadership roles on the Student Relations Advisory Committee, the Advisory Board on Intercollegiate Athletics, and the Board for Student Publications.

Other Responsibilities

A major part of the AUL for Public Services' role is to collaborate with all other divisions and departments of University Library and with other units throughout the University. As a member of the Library’s senior leadership team, MacAdam also advises and assists the University Librarian in overall library management and administration, and regularly represents the Library and the University as appropriate in national organizations and forums.