University of Washington Research Team

Michael Crandall is a Senior Lecturer in the iSchool, and current chair of the Masters of Science in Information Management program. Prior to coming to the University of Washington, he was technology manager for the US Library program of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Prior to the foundation, Mike worked on search technology and knowledge organization for the intranet at Microsoft (MSWeb) and on information architecture and online library services at Boeing. He has served on the Dublin Core Metadata Board of Trustees since its inception in 2001, and is active in ASIS&T. He is interested in public access computing, ICT in developing countries, metadata and knowledge organization, social dimensions of knowledge transfer and large scale information systems.

Dr. Karen E. Fisher is a Professor in the University of Washington Information School and Chair of The Information & Society Center (ISC).  She teaches and conducts research on how people experience information as part of everyday life, with emphasis on the interpersonal aspects of information behavior, the role of informal social settings in information flow, as well as the broad impacts of information and communication technologies.  Her past funders include the National Science Foundation, Microsoft Research, the United Way of America, and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.  Recipient of the 2005 and 2008 Jesse H. Shera Award for Distinguished Published Research from the American Library Association, Dr. Fisher has also been recognized for her research by the American Society for Information Science & Technology, and the Association for Library and Information Science Education.  A new member of ASIST’s Board of Directors, Prof. Fisher is being inducted to the ASIST SIG USE Academy of Fellows in 2009.  To learn more, visit http://ibec.ischool.washington.edu.

Samantha Becker is the Research Project Manager for the U.S. IMPACT Study. She has a background in public policy and was a librarian in Central Vermont. She has significant experience facilitating productive dialogue between diverse stakeholders and project management. Her current work focuses on how people use public library computers and other technology. She is particularly interested in how new adult users gain the skills to use information and communication technology. She holds master’s degrees in Library and Information Science and Public Administration from the University of Washington.

Expert Committee

Rick Ashton: Chief Operating Officer, Urban Libraries Council
Michael Barndt: Data Center Analyst, Nonprofit Center of Milwaukee
Susan Benton: Strategic Partners Executive, International City/County Management Association (ICMA)
John Carlo Bertot: Professor and Associate Director, Information Use Management & Policy Institute
Cathy Burroughs: National Network of Libraries of Medicine, Pacific Northwest Region
Sarah Earl: Acting Director, IDRC Evaluation Unit
Carla Hayden: Executive Director, Enoch Pratt Free Library
Peggy Rudd/Chris Jowaisas: Director and Librarian & designee, Texas State Library and Archives Commission
Ross Todd: Associate Professor and Director, Center for International Scholarship in School Libraries
Bernard Vavrek: Director, Center for the Study of Rural Librarianship, Department of Library Science

Research Consultants

Dr. Glen Holt, Dr. Leslie Edmonds Holt

Student Research Team Members

Spencer Thomas
Yan Fang
Jennie Abrahamson
Ellie Bair
David Lee Bassett
Jack Baur
Rebecca Blakewood
Wei-Chih (Vicki) Chen
Melody Clark
Ke (Claire) Ding
Amber Duginske
Sherry Edwards
Audrey Kentor
Bo Kinney
Carol Landry
Cortney Leach
Melissa Mather
Jordan McOwen
Elizabeth Mitchell
Liz Moffat
Chic Naumer
Cadi Russell-Sauve
Agueda Sanchez
Paul Simons
Alice Tsoi
Shawn Walker
Lella Yallsetty
Kathy Weigert
Seung-yon Yu