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Web Services & Teaching Librarian

Romel Espinel


Romel Espinel coordinates the Library’s website and instructional technologies and serves as liaison to the School of Business and School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences. He is also an adjunct professor for the first-year writing program. He holds an MLIS from Pratt Institute and studied at the Rutgers Master of Arts program in creative writing and critical theory. His research interests include critical pedagogy, education technology, and user experience. He is the author of a chapter in Critical Library Pedagogy: Lesson Plans published by the Association of College and Research Libraries. He is also co-author of a forthcoming article in the academic journal, Communications in Information Literacy, “Working Conditions Are Learning Conditions: Understanding Information Literacy Instruction through Neoliberal Capitalism”. 

Education

  • Pratt Institute, MS, Library & Information Science, 2009, • Beta Phi Mu Theta
  • Rutgers University, MA American Literature & Creative Writing (in progress)
  • New Jersey City University, BA English: Creative Writing. Minor: Photography. 1990-1994

Publications and Presentations

  • Espinel, R., & Tewell, E. (2023). Working conditions are learning conditions: Understanding information literacy instruction through neoliberal capitalism. Communications in Information Literacy, 17(2), 573–590.
  • Espinel, R., DeWitt, M., McCaffrey, E., Vela Bisbee, K., Evans, G., Hinchliffe, L., (2021)."Gone Phishing: Service Continuity after a Cyber Attack". Sponsored by Scholarly Networks Security Initiative. Posted in Future of Libraries and Education. CHOICE. Association of Colleges and Research Libraries. Recorded May 20, 2021.
  • Espinel, R., Almeida, N., Tewell, E. & Hinchliffe, L. (2018). "From Value to Values: Information Literacy, Capitalism, & Resistance". Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) National Conference. April 12, 2019. Cleveland, Ohio.
  • Espinel, R. Costello, L., & Valenti, A. (2019). "Working the Problem and Proving our Value with Chat References". VALE New Jersey Annual Users' Conference 2019. Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey. Breakout session.
  • Espinel, R., Almeida, N., Tewell, E. & Hinchliffe, L. (2018). "Reproducing and Resisting Capitalism through Information Literacy." Libraries in the Context of Capitalism Symposium. February 2, 2018. Metro NYC.
  • Espinel, R. (2018). "Transforming Our Roles Through Diversity Programming." VALE New Jersey Annual Users' Conference 2018. Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey. Breakout session.
  • Espinel, R (2017). Training Agents of Change: Critical Pedagogy in the Library Instruction Classroom. VALE New Jersey Annual Users' Conference 2017. Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey. Breakout session
  • Espinel, R. (2016). "Question Authority and Be an Authority: The Future Belongs to Us". Critical Library Pedagogy Handbook: Lesson Plans. Volume 2. Association of College & Research Libraries Press.
  • Espinel, R. (2016). "Subverting Power: Let the Students Teach” Association of College & Research Libraries Delaware Valley Chapter Symposium: CritLib: Theory and Action. Swarthmore College. Pennsylvania. Panel Session.
  • Espinel, R., Valenti, A. (2015, January). "Roads? Where We're Going, We Don't Need Roads: Paving Your Own Path with Open Source Library Guides." VALE New Jersey Annual Users' Conference 2015. Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey. Breakout session.
  • Espinel, R., Beninghove, L., Orlofsky, V.L., Horowitz, E. (2014, January). Flipping the Script: Using Videos as Instructional Tools to Flip the Information Literacy Class. VALE New Jersey Annual Users' Conference 2014. Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey. Breakout session.
  • Espinel, R. & Beninghove, L. (2013) Getting Dirty: Students Dig Though Archives to Discover a City and Their University and Create Web-Based Library Media. Poster Presentation at the New Jersey Library Association 2013 Conference.
  • Espinel, R., Deptula, M., & Wilkins. (2013) Presence and Value of Mobile Apps in the New Jersey Academic Environment. Virtual Academic Library Association Annual User's Conference. January 4, 2013.
  • Espinel, R. & Stoler, D. (2012). Search & Destroy: Students as Agents of Knowledge Sharing through Library Displays. A paper was given at the First Annual Berkeley College Conference on Reading, Writing and Critical Thinking. October 20, 2012.
  • Espinel, R. (2012) Mobility Now! Or the Importance of Developing a Mobile Library Website Poster Presentation. 2012 New Jersey Librarian Association Annual Conference
  • Espinel, R. (2010) Non-Linear Learning for A New Generation of Students Poster presentation. Virtual Academic Library Association (VALE) Winter 2010 Conference.

Institutional Service

  • Web and Digital Governance Committee (2021 - Present)
  • Social Media Working Group (2021 - Present)
  • First-Year Reading Facilitator (2020 - Present)
  • Men of Color Luncheon Facilitator and Member 
  • Teaching and Learning Knowledge (TALK) Committee 2014-2016

Leadership

  • Member - Research Committee- New Jersey Library Association-College & University Section/ACRL-NJ (Present)
  • Executive Board Member- New Jersey Library Association-College & University Section/ACRL-NJ (Web Liaison 2018-2021)
  • Co-Chair Technology Committee - New Jersey Library Association-College & University Section/ACRL-NJ
  • Member - Association of Colleges & Research Libraries Innovations Committee (2009-2011)
  • Member - VALE NJ Users’ Conference Organizing Committee (Fall 2009, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2023)
  • President - School of Information and Library Science Student Association - 2008 – 2009

Editorial and/or Peer Review

  • Peer-reviewer for College and Research Libraries. Vol 82, No 3 (2021)
  • Peer-reviewer for In the Library With a Lead Pipe: An open access, open peer-reviewed journal

Professional Societies

  • ACRL (Association of College and Research Libraries)
  • ALA (American Library Association)
  • NJLA (New Jersey Library Association)
  • American Society for Information Science and Technology (ASIS&T)