Jennifer Zhao

Liaison librarian

Providing library and information services and collections to support teaching, learning, research, and outreach activities at McGill University, particularly to the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Department of Geography (Physical), and School of Computer Science

Education

• Master of Library and Information Studies, Dalhousie University, 2007

Areas of interest

• Science and engineering librarianship
• Information literacy
• Library services for international students
• Collection management

Professional affiliations

• American Library Association
• Association of College & Research Libraries
• Engineering Libraries Division (ELD), American Society for Engineering Education
• Chinese American Librarians Association
• L'Association des bibliothécaires du Québec - Quebec Library Association

Selected publications

Zhao, J. C., & Mawhinney, T. (2020). Effectiveness of vernacular library orientation videos in comparison with the English language equivalent. College & Research Libraries, 81(7), 1107-1122. DOI: 10.5860/crl.81.7.1107 

Goodchild, M., & Zhao, J. C. (2017). Sustainability engineering collection assessment: A mixed-method analysis. Science & Technology Libraries, 36(2), 153-169, DOI: 10.1080/0194262X.2017.1298493

Mawhinney, T., & Zhao, J. C. (2017). Implementing a peer support program for international students: A case study at McGill University Library. In S. Arnold-Garza & C. Tomlinson (Eds.), Students lead the library: The importance of student contributions to the academic library.  Chicago: Association of College & Research Libraries.

Zhao, J. C., Smith S., & Torabi, N. (2016). Meeting campus linguistic diversity: A multilingual library orientation approach. The International Journal of Information, Diversity, & Inclusion, 1-13. DOI: 10.33137/ijidi.v1i1.32183

Zhao, J. C., & Mawhinney, T. (2015). Comparison of native Chinese-speaking and native English-speaking engineering students' information literacy challenges. The Journal of Academic Librarianship, 41(6), 712-724, DOI: 10.1016/j.acalib.2015.09.010

Zhao, J. C. (2015). Making information literacy instruction relevant: A needs assessment approach at McGill University. Science & Technology Libraries, 34(3), 241-256, DOI: 10.1080/0194262X.2015.1089815

Zhao, J. C. (2015). Identifying user needs: A case study on geospatial data requests at McGill University. Journal of Map & Geography Libraries: Advances in Geospatial Information, Collections & Archives, 11(1), 37-59, DOI: 10.1080/15420353.2015.1010057

Zhao, J. C., & Mawhinney, T. (2014). Identifying challenges faced by Chinese undergraduate engineering students in acquiring information literacy skills – A report on survey findings. https://peer.asee.org/20578. Paper presented at the 120th American Society for Engineering Education Conference, Indianapolis, US, June 16-18, 2014.

Zhao, J. C., & Rabaat, M. (2013). Teaching information literacy skills to senior undergraduate engineering students.  http://library.queensu.ca/ojs/index.php/PCEEA/article/view/4891. Paper presented at the Canadian Engineering Education Association Annual Conference, Montreal, Canada, June 17-20, 2013.

Selected presentations

Zhao, J., & Mawhinney, T. Assessment of multilingual library orientation videos. Presentation at the 10th International Evidence Based Library and Information Practice Conference, Glasgow, Scotland, June 17-19, 2019.

Zhao, J. Understanding and developing services for international students. Workshop delivered at the Libraries in the Digital Age Conference, Zadar, Croatia, June 13-15, 2018. 

Zhao, J. Revealing the mask of scholarly publishing for junior researchers: A collaborative webinar training model. Flash talk at the FORCE2017 Conference, Berlin, Germany, October 25-27, 2017.

Zhao, J., & Roulet, N. Précis plus: A collaborative approach to teaching information literacy. Paper presented at the 38th Annual International Association of University Libraries (IATUL) Conference, Bolzano-Bozen, Italy, June 18-22, 2017.

Goodchild, M., & Zhao, J. Sustainability engineering collection assessment: A citation analysis of faculty publications at McGill University. Poster presented at Concordia University Libraries’ Annual Research Forum, Montreal, Quebec, April 29, 2016.

Zhao, J.  Organizing peer learning research skill seminars to enhance students’ information literacy competencies.  Presentation at Congrès des Milieux Documentaires du Québec, Montreal, Quebec, November 18-20, 2015.

Zhao, J. C., Miller, M. D., Smith, S., & Torabi, N. Meeting diversity on campus: A multilingual library orientation approach. Presentation at the Conference on Inclusion and Diversity in Library & Information Science, College Park, Maryland, October 15-16, 2015.

Zhao, J., & Mawhinney, T. Information literacy challenges faced by Chinese students. Presentation at Concordia University Libraries’ Annual Research Forum, Montreal, Quebec, April 10, 2015.

Badia, G., Colosimo, A. L., Mawhinney, T., & Zhao, J. Enhancing librarians’ roles in an undergraduate communications course: An evolutionary timeline. Poster presented at the Congrès des Milieux Documentaires du Québec, Montreal, Quebec, December 1-3, 2014.

Mawhinney, T., & Zhao, J. Needs assessment: Identify what your students need to learn before the library workshop. Lightning talk at the 120th American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference, Indianapolis, US, June 16-18, 2014.

Zhao, J. Learner-centered teaching: A reflection of an explorative practice of teaching new Chinese students library orientation in their native language. Presentation at the Workshop for Instruction in Library Use Annual Conference, Fredericton, New Brunswick, May 8-10, 2013. 

Zhao, J. Use online forms in library activities. Poster presented at the Ontario Library Association Super Conference, Toronto, Ontario, January 30 - February 1, 2013.