
Felicia A. Smith
Librarian 3, Learning and Outreach
Web page: http://library.stanford.edu/people/felicias
Bio
Felicia A. Smith, MLIS., is the Head of Learning & Outreach at Stanford Libraries. Since arriving at Stanford University in 2011, she has coordinated the Libraries’ information literacy program and general reference services at the Information Center in Green Library. Felicia’s primary focus is on research support for Stanford students, faculty and staff. She received a Master of Library Science degree, from Dominican University and a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Her past positions include serving as the Latino Studies Subject Specialist as an Assistant Librarian, at the University of Notre Dame.
In addition to her numerous national and international presentations, Felicia has published several peer-reviewed articles as well as a book, Cybrarian Extraordinaire, detailing her highly successful and unique approach to library instruction. Felicia created a program that taught Information Literacy using Kindles for inmates in a Juvenile Jail. Previously, Felicia was as a Criminal Defense Private Investigator in Chicago, Illinois, specializing in homicide and narcotics. My motto is, "I make the unknown, known."
In solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement, I am creating a Systemic Racism Tracker database. This will enable users to discover factual data about interconnected systems that pose threats to people of African descent in the United States that have been shaped by racist policies and practices of institutions across decades. It will also help people take action against these threats by knowing their rights and finding, evaluating, and connecting with government agencies and community groups that address systemic racism.
I was also the visionary for an exhibit titled, Say Their Names – No More Names. This forget-me-not exhibit highlights 65 names of recognizable victims who represent larger groups of lesser-known victims. This exhibit includes the names of 330 victims and 3 admitted cases of governmental systemic racism. This exhibit aspires to make the unknown victims known.
As Librarians, we are charged with the awesome responsibility of being keepers of the light and protectors of our shared memories. However, before we as a society can “Know Justice” we must interrogate the injustices and right the wrongs of society, and only then will we “Know Peace.”
Articles about Stanford Libraries' Say Their Names – No More Names exhibit were published by Stanford Report and The Stanford Daily.
Please visit our exhibit at https://exhibits.stanford.edu/saytheirnames
Current Role at Stanford
Head of the Learning & Outreach department for Stanford Libraries.
Education & Certifications
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Bachelor of Arts, University of Illinois at Chicago, Public Relations/ Communications (1994)
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MLIS, Dominican University, Master of Library Science (2004)
Service, Volunteer and Community Work
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People of Color in Technology Advisory Group, Stanford University (8/30/2019 - Present)
IDEAL IT is a CIO Council-sponsored program that promotes and advances the Stanford Presidential IDEAL initiative within the IT Community at Stanford. IDEAL stands for Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access in a Learning Community, and is a cornerstone of Stanford’s diversity initiatives. The sub-programs that make up IDEAL IT reflect our commitment to providing opportunities where individuals with diverse backgrounds can collaborate, grow, and excel across different functions and disciplines. POC-IT is one of those sub-programs or Affinity Groups. Stanford POC-IT is a university-wide program that advances representation, engagement, and support for people of color in technology roles.
Location
stanford, ca
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‘Say Their Names — No More Names’ Black Lives Matter Exhibit, Stanford University (September 4, 2020 - Present)
https://exhibits.stanford.edu/saytheirnames
Location
stanford, california
All Publications
- Information Literacy Instruction using Virtual Reality Beyond Reality: Augmented, Virtual, and Mixed Reality in the Library ALA Editions. 2019: 87–98
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Linguistic Diversity in Libraries
LIBRARY JOURNAL
2018; 143 (11): 17
View details for Web of Science ID 000446647800007
- Evaluating the Options for Virtual Reality in Literacy Instruction Computers in Libraries 2018
- Artificial Intelligence & Malicious Steganography Computers in Libraries, 2018
- Should Libraries Even Consider Hacking Back If Attacked? Computers in Libraries 2017; 37 (1): 14-16
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The Amazing Library Titles Race
LIBRARY JOURNAL
2015; 140 (15): 20
View details for Web of Science ID 000361422700016
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In Praise of Helicopter Librarians
LIBRARY JOURNAL
2012; 137 (18): 42
View details for Web of Science ID 000310865800012
- Cybrarian Extraordinaire : Compelling Information Literacy Instruction Libraries Unlimited. 2011
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Perspectives on . . . The pirate-teacher
JOURNAL OF ACADEMIC LIBRARIANSHIP
2007; 33 (2): 276–88
View details for DOI 10.1016/j.acalib.2007.02.002
View details for Web of Science ID 000245847600012
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J.A.W.S. -- A Historical Perspective
The Journal of Electronic Publishing
2007; 10 (2)
View details for DOI 10.3998/3336451.0010.209
- Games for Teaching Information Literacy Skills. Library Philosophy and Practice 2007; 9 (2)