Staff Biography

Interests

learning commons; information literacy; K-12 and higher education collaboration.

Biography

Abby is currently a librarian in the Learning Commons. She joined the Syracuse University Library as Head of Instructional Programs in 2001, responsible for developing an information literacy program and managing the Library’s instructional services. Prior to arriving at Syracuse University Library, Abby was coordinator of the Virtual Reference Desk Project at the Information Institute of Syracuse. Abby holds a B.A. in English and American Literature from Brandeis University and an M.S. in Instructional Design, Development and Evaluation and an MLS from Syracuse University.

Abby has served on many Library and University committees including the Library’s web development and OPAC committees and subject guide working group, the University Senate and Senate Committee on Student Life, the Vice Chancellor and Provost’s Committee on Academic Integrity (VPCAI), and the Academic Coordinating Committee.

Abby is a member of ALA’s Instruction Section and the Eastern New York Chapter of the Association of College and Research Libraries (ENY/ACRL). She participated in the ACRL Information Literacy Immersion Program in 2002. She is past president of the Pi Lambda Sigma Chapter of Beta Phi Mu, the International Library and Information Studies Honor Society. Abby served as senior project consultant for the S.O.S. for Information Literacy Project (2005-2008) and is editor of the “College Connection” and “ACRL Focus” columns of the Educators’ Spotlight Digest, the project’s online magazine.

Selected Publications

• Selected articles from “College Connection” column in Educators’ Spotlight Digest (sosspotlight.org):

  • “Instruction and ‘the Commons’” (Spring/Summer 2009)

  • “Think Warm Thoughts: Plan Ahead for Summertime Information Literacy Programs!” (Winter 2009)

  • “Easing the High School to College Transition: Creating an Information Literacy Continuum” (Winter 2007)

  • “Shared Reading Programs and Academic Libraries” (Spring/Summer 2007)

• Kasowitz-Scheer, A. (2003). “Using the Big6™ in a University Writing Course: A Collaborative Teaching Experience.” The Big6TM e-Newsletter. Retrieved July 15, 2009

• Kasowitz-Scheer, A. S. and M. J. Pasqualoni (2001). "Information Literacy Instruction in Higher Education: Trends and Issues." ERIC Digest. Syracuse, NY: ERIC Clearinghouse on Information and Technology.

• Kasowitz, A., B. Bennett, and R. D. Lankes. (2000). “Quality Standards for Digital Reference Consortia.” Reference & User Services Quarterly, 39 (4), 355-363.

• Kasowitz, A. S. (2000). Using the Big6 to Teach and Learn with the Internet. Worthington, OH: Linworth Publishing.

• Lankes, R. D., J. W. Collins, III, and A. S. Kasowitz, Eds. (2000). Digital Reference Service in the New Millennium: Planning, Management, and Evaluation. New York: Neal-Schuman Publishers.

• Lankes, R. D. and A. S. Kasowitz. (1998). AskA Starter Kit: How to Build and Maintain Digital Reference Services. Syracuse, NY: ERIC Clearinghouse on Information & Technology.

Selected Presentations

• “S.O.S. for Information Literacy: Teaching Ideas at Your Fingertips," 2007 American Library Association Annual Conference (June 23, 2007), presented poster.

• “S.O.S. for Information Literacy: Your Destination for Motivating Teaching Ideas," ACRL 13th National Conference (March 30, 2007), co-presented poster.

• “Paving the Way: Collaborative Instructional Programs and the High School to College Transition,” Eastern New York/Association of College & Research Libraries (May 16, 2005), panel moderator.

• “Integrating Information Resources: Bringing the Library to Your Online Course,” Focus Series Workshop, Faculty Academic Computing Support Services, Syracuse University (September 24, 2004), presenter.

• “Research: One Slice at Time – An Online Information Literacy Tutorial in Progress,” Eastern New York/Association of College & Research Libraries Spring 2004 Conference (May 17, 2004), co-presented poster.

• “Introduction to Digital Reference: Getting Started,” Western New York Library Resources Council (February 25, 2002), workshop instructor.

• "Digital Reference Services and Collaborative Networks," Quebec Library Association Conference (May 12, 2001), presenter.

• "Building and Maintaining Digital Reference Services," Canadian Library Association Conference (May 25, 2000), workshop instructor.