Nicole A. Cooke is an instruction librarian and tenured assistant professor at Montclair State University’s (NJ) Sprague Library. Her research interests include LIS distance education and instruction, web and learning 2.0 as they apply to information literacy instruction, professional development and continuing education for library staff, adult education, library anxiety, blended librarianship, and the recruitment and retention of minority librarians.

She is a frequent reviewer for Library Journal and Educational Media Reviews Online, and has published profiles in the African American National Biography project, articles in College and Research Libraries News and The Journal of Library & Information Services in Distance Learning, and several book chapters related to information literacy instruction.

Named a Mover & Shaker in 2007 by Library Journal, Nicole is professionally active in several New Jersey library organizations. She holds the MLIS degree from Rutgers University (SCILS), a M.Ed. in Adult Education from Penn State, and is currently attending the Ph.D. in Communication, Information and Library Studies Program, at Rutgers University (SCILS), as an ALA Spectrum Doctoral Fellow.

Sheri Edwards is a Ph.D. student in the College of Communication and Information at the University of Tennessee (Knoxville). Her research interests include information-seeking behavior (with a focus on geriatric populations); the information use environment; and qualitative research methods. Her LIS Master’s degree thesis explored the information-seeking behavior of older adults residing in an independent-living retirement community.

She has presented her research at two ALISE conferences and several regional conferences, including the annual Tennessee Library Association (TLA) conference. She also has co-authored an article for Aslib Proceedings, and has published two book reviews, one for Information Processing & Management and the other for The Serials Librarian. Additionally, she works part-time at the reference desk at the University’s main library, and is a volunteer for Knoxville’s Mobile Meals program.

She holds a M.S. in Library and Information Science, a M.Ed. in Secondary English Education, and a B.A. in history, and is a former (public) middle- and high-school English/Language Arts teacher.