Education

B.B.A., Human Resource Management, University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras
M.B.A., Human Resource Management, Inter American University of Puerto Rico, Recinto Metropolitano
M.S., Information Science, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Ph.D., Communication and Information, University of Tennessee, Knoxville 

Background

Dr. Mónica Colón-Aguirre is an experienced library and information science educator. Her focus areas are information behaviors of Spanish-speakers and information science education. She has experience working in academic libraries, both in her native Puerto Rico and in the United States. 

Research

Dr. Colón-Aguirre's area of interest is engagement, especially in relation to promoting strategies that motivate and encourage users to go beyond use of libraries and information and becoming active co- creators and designers of information services. The main focus of her work is on information science, academic libraries and LIS education, with applications to various LIS environments and populations from a social justice perspective. Some of the topics she explores in her research include information behaviors of Spanish-speaking Latinx, academic library administration, and services for diverse users. 

Teaching

Colón-Aguirre's teaching incorporates aspects of management, communication, and social justice to the study of information science. Her teaching integrates practical experience and theoretical principles that help enhance professional approaches to information. Her main areas of teaching related to user services, research methodologies, management, and engagement with information. 

Recent Publications

Colón-Aguirre, M. (2022). A refocusing of the study of gatekeepers among linguistic minorities, the case of Spanish speakers in the United States: Implications for the study of information behaviors. The International Journal of Information, Diversity, & Inclusion (IJIDI), 6(4), 14pp. DOI: 10.33137/ijidi.v6i4.38249  

Colón-Aguirre, M., Cooke, N. A. & Hussey, L. (2022). The civilized war within American librarianship: Teaching strategies for battling colorblindness in the LIS classroom. The International Journal of Information, Diversity, & Inclusion (IJIDI). 6 (4), 16pp. DOI: https://doi.org/10.33137/ijidi.v6i4.38315

Colón-Aguirre, M. & Ceja Alcalá, J. (2022). Latinx use of libraries, museums, and archives in Boston. Public Library Quarterly, DOI: 10.1080/01616846.2022.2077619    

Colón-Aguirre, M. & Bright, K. M. (2022). Incorporating diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) into Research. Journal of Education for Library and Information Science (JELIS), 63 (3), 237-244.

Colón-Aguirre, M. & Webb, K. (2020). An exploratory survey measuring burnout among academic librarians in the Southeast of the United States. Library Management, 41 (8/9) 703-715.

Oh, K. E. & Colón-Aguirre, M. (2019). A comparative study of perceptions and use of Google Scholar and academic library discovery systems. College and Research Libraries, 80 (6), 876-891.

Service

• Member of the editorial board for 'The Library Quarterly'
• Co-convener of the Association for Library and Information Science Education’s (ALISE) Equity and Social Special Interest Group
• ALISE Board of Directors, Director of Community Building

Personal

When not teaching or doing research, Dr. Colón-Aguirre can be found reading crime novels, baking, or watching figure skating competitions online. In addition, she enjoys watching artistic and rhythmic gymnastics competitions and collecting stationery. She also has a passion for languages and enjoys reading about etymology while trying really hard to learn German, Italian and Russian in her time off.