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Education

Master of Library and Information Science, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, School of Information Studies, Milwaukee, WI

Master of Theological Studies, Vanderbilt University, Divinity School, Nashville, TN

Bachelor of Arts, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, IA

Biography

Michelle joined ������ý��Ƶ in 2021. Previously she was the Director of Library Services at Methodist College (2017-2021) and the Outreach and Reference Librarian at Illinois Central College (2009-2017).

She is a senior member of the Academy of Health Information Professionals (AHIP), a peer-reviewed, accomplishment-based certification from the Medical Library Association. Additionally, she has earned the Consumer Health Information Specialization (Level 2) and Data Services Specialization (Level 1) from the Medical Library Association.

Her library subject liaison areas are biology, chemistry, family and consumer science, health science, nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy, & physics.

She was selected as Research Training Institute Fellow (Medical Library Association) for 2022-23.

Memberships

• American Library Association
• Association of College and Research Libraries
• Illinois Library Association
• Illinois Association of College and Research Libraries
• Health Science Librarians of Illinois
• Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi
• Midwest Chapter-Medical Library Association
• Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society
• Medical Library Association

Awards

• Francis C. Mergen Award for Public Service, ������ý��Ƶ, 2023
• Women of the Year Award, Women in Leadership of Central Illinois, 2023
• Career Leader Award, Women in Leadership of Central Illinois, 2022
• Academic Librarian of the Year, Illinois Library Association/Illinois Association of College and Research Libraries Forum, 2022
• ATHENA Young Professionals Award, Peoria Chamber of Commerce, 2021
• 40 Leaders Under Forty, Peoria Magazines, 2021
• 25 Women in Leadership Award, WEEK-TV, 2021
• Community Leader Award, Women in Leadership of Central Illinois, 2021
• Golden Gem Award, American Association for Women in Community Colleges, Illinois Central College Chapter, 2017
• Excellence in Academic Libraries Award, Illinois Central College, 2014

Scholarship

Areas of Research Interest

• Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
• Health Science Librarianship
• Library outreach and engagement
• Universal Design for Learning

Publications

• Norton, C., Bloodworth, E., & Nielsen Ott, M. (2024). Change what you can, teach what you can’t: A usability study of Primo VE at an academic library. Journal of Web Librarianship.
• Nielsen Ott, M. (2024). Using stories in the health sciences for promoting dialogue, reflection, and empathy. In L.P. Cantwell-Jurkovic (Ed.), Intersections in Healing: Academic Libraries and the Health Humanities. Rowan & Littlefield.
• Smith, K., Grugan, A., Nielsen Ott, M., Borton, R., & Reed, S. (2023). Strategies to promote academic integrity for graduate nursing students in an online learning environment. Distance Learning 20(1).
• Nielsen Ott, M. (2023). A graphic medicine reading experience for undergraduate nursing students: A brief report. Hypothesis: Research Journal for Health Information Professionals, 35(2).
• Roth, E., Campbell, J., Nielsen Ott, M., & Turner, L. (2019, July). Libraries support STEM education. Peoria Magazine, 42-43.

Presentations

• Medical Library Association Conference, Pittsburgh, PA, 2025
  • “Exploring the Experiences of Librarians working with Physician Associate Programs: A Mixed Methods Study” [Lightning Talk]
• Medical Library Association Conference, Portland, OR, 2024
  • “Experiences of Librarians Working with Physician Associate (Assistant) Programs: Preliminary Interview Results” [Lightning Talk]
• Medical Library Association Conference, Detroit, MI, 2023
  • “Experiences of Librarians Working with Physician Associate (Assistant) Programs: A Mixed Methods Study”
• Medical Library Association Conference, Detroit, MI, 2023
  • “A Graphic Medicine Reading Experience for Undergraduate Nursing Students”
• Illinois Library Association, Noon Network, 2023
  • “Academic Library Space for Promoting Wellness: Space Changes at Cullom-Davis Library, ������ý��Ƶ”
• Illinois Library Association Annual Conference, Rosemont, IL, 2022
  • “Academic Library Space for Promoting Wellness: Space Changes at Cullom-Davis Library, ������ý��Ƶ”
• Delta Kappa Gamma Society, Nu Chapter Program, Peoria, IL, 2022
  • “‘There is work to be done’–The Call for Diverse Books: Trends in Publishing Diverse Books in the US”
• One State Together in the Arts, Online, 2020
  • “The Power of Public Art: Changing the Face of Peoria”
• Peoria Reads, 2020
  • “We Need Diverse Books”
• Spark Conference, 2020
  • “Working Hard or Hardly Working?: Project Management for the Busy Librarian”
• Illinois Library Association Annual Conference, Tinley Park, IL, 2019
  • “Speed Mentoring and Networking for Library Staff”
• Illinois Library Association Annual Conference, Peoria, IL, 2015
  • “Creating Connections with Community Reading”
• ForwardFocus Conference, Peoria, IL,  2015
  • “Reaching Under-Prepared Students”
• Indiana Library Federation Conference, Indianapolis, IN, 2014
  • “The Academic Library and the Unprepared Student”
  • “Creating and Telling the Library’s Story”
• Between the Lines, Illinois Central College, Peoria. IL, 2014
  • “Forever Young Adult”

Service

• Association of College and Research Libraries, Science and Technology Section Professional Development Committee
• Illinois Library Association, Annual Conference Planning Committee, 2023-2024
• Association of College and Research Libraries, Professional Development Committee
• Illinois Library Association/Illinois Association of College and Research Libraries, IACRL Awards Committee
• Health Science Librarians of Illinois, Conference Planning Committee