Maura Matesic

.about me

I am the Social Science and Communications Studies Librarian at York University and a member of the Scott Reference Department.

Currently my work focuses upon my role as the Social Science and Communications Studies Librarian.  In this capacity I liaise  with faculty and students in the Department of Social Science and the Communications Studies Program, build the library collections in these areas, and engage in numerous teaching and learning initiatives. I also provide general reference and research assistance in the academic environment and conduct my own research on topics as diverse as the use of  technology in teaching and Victorian studies.  My academic background lies in both the humanities and the social sciences, as my undergraduate degree is a double major in both History and English with a minor in Women Studies, and my first graduate degree is in History (area of focus being Victorian social history) and I have a second graduate degree in Library Science.  My professional experience includes previous management positions in public and corporate libraries, college instructor, and library and research work in special institutions.  

   

.current research

For the Fall 2007 term, I initiated a peer learning research project with Dr. Jean Adams in the course Management 1000.  This built upon our 2006 study which explored student engagement and the use of Personal Response Systems in the classroom.  My particular area of interest centered upon student research pratices and information seeking behaviours and student use of library resources. Results from our 2006 work indicated that these students often turn to peers for information and support.  Building on this outcome, Dr. Adams and I designed peer support learning into the course structure for the 2007 year.  We are currently coding the results from this study.