SCI Teaching Assistant Professor Marcia Rapchak was recently selected as the 2021 recipient of the American Library Association's Beta Phi Mu Award, which is given annually to a library school faculty member or another individual for distinguished service to education for librarianship. The award consists of $1,000 and a citation of achievement. Rapchak's work in library science education includes a redesign of a 1-credit course taught at the Gumberg Library of Duquesne University and contributions to the redesign of the Masters of Library and Information Science program at SCI. Her colleagues and students have been impressed with her ability to translate pedagogy into practice, her commitment to creating equity and justice in the library field, and her engagement of students outside the classroom through active learning experiences.
Rapchak teaches in the Department of Information Culture and Data Stewardship. Her research interests include information literacy, academic libraries, and computer-supported collaborative learning. Her scholarship focuses on critical application of library science from both pedagogical and practical experience, as well as information literacy as a tool and skill. Her research has appeared in such publications as the Journal of Library & Information Services in Distance Learning, the Journal of Academic Librarianship, and Literacy in Composition Studies.
Please join in congratulating Marcia on this exciting achievement!