Brian Mathews joins University Libraries as associate dean for learning and outreach
Brian Mathews has joined the University Libraries at Virginia Tech as associate dean for learning and outreach.
Mathews comes to Virginia Tech from the University of California at Santa Barbara where he was assistant university librarian for outreach and academic services.
In his new position, Mathews will work with faculty to link pedagogy to the library; explore curriculum mapping and threshold concepts; expand the library’s approach to data, digital, visual and media literacies; and build campus-wide and community-wide partnerships.
Mathews will also spearhead transformations of library space and services to better meet user needs and expectations. “The shape and nature of academic libraries is rapid and evolving, so ascertaining Virginia Tech’s needs and implementing these changes will be a big part of my job,” Mathews said.
“Our objective isn’t to just provide access to information, but to enable people to use, create, and share new information,” Mathews said.
“Brian Mathews is one of the most creative library professionals out there,” Tyler Walters, dean of University Libraries, said. “He views libraries in very new and refreshing ways. We at Virginia Tech are fortunate to have him join our team.”
Since 2006, Mathews has written the blog The Ubiquitous Librarian, which is now hosted by The Chronicle of Higher Education. He also wrote the book “Marketing Today’s Academic Library,” published in 2009, and is working on a second book, “Library DNA: Twenty essential qualities of today’s academic library.”
Mathews holds a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Central Florida and a master’s degree in library and information science from the University of South Florida. Previously, he worked at the Georgia Tech Libraries, where he was the first user-experience librarian in the United States, and at the George Washington University Libraries as a reference and instruction librarian. He is a member of the American Library Association and the Association of College and Research Libraries.
