Libraries

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Education

• M.A. English (Professional Writing) - The University of Memphis 
• M.L.S. Library Science - Indiana University (IUPUI) 
• B.A. English - Centenary College of Louisiana 

Work Experience

• Associate Professor, Head, University Libraries Research and Instructional Services Department - University of Memphis - September 2018 - present
• Associate Professor, Interim Dean, University Libraries - University of Memphis - August 2017 - August 2018
• Associate Professor, Head, University Libraries Research and Instructional Services Department - University of Memphis - 2008 - August 2017
• Associate Professor, Reference/Instruction Librarian, University Libraries Reference Department - University of Memphis - 2000 - 2008
• Assistant Professor, Reference/Instruction Librarian, University Libraries Reference Department - University of Memphis - 1998 - 2000
• Instructor, Reference/Instruction Librarian, University Libraries Reference Department - University of Memphis - 1994 - 1998

Honors/Awards

• Honoree, Women's History Month 2016 - University of Memphis - 2016
• Tennessee Electronic Library (TEL) Trainer of the Year (with others) - Tenn-Share - 2015
• Outstanding Services as Recording Secretary - Tennessee Library Association - 2009
• Outstanding Services as Recording Secretary - Tennessee Library Association - 2007
• 2002 James E. Ward Library Instruction Award - Tennessee Library Association - 2003
• Phi Kappa Phi membership conferred - The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi - 1999
• Nominated to participate in the Leadership Institute at Snowbird - Snowbird Leadership Institute, Snowbird, UT - 1998

Student Advising/Mentoring

• MFA (Creative Writing) - Alana C. King - 2017
• EdD - Deborah M. Taylor - 2016

Outreach

• “Humanities Resources from the Federal Government for Elementary School Library Information Specialists.” - Memphis-Shelby County Schools Reimagining 901 Library Services District Learning Day - 21 February 2022 -  
• “STEM Resources from the Federal Government for Elementary School Library Information Specialists.” - Memphis-Shelby County Schools Reimagining 901 Library Services District Learning Day - 21 February 2022 -  
• “Humanities Resources from the Federal Government for Middle and High School Library Information Specialists.” - Memphis-Shelby County Schools Reimagining 901 Library Services District Learning Day - 21 February 2022 -
• “STEM Resources from the Federal Government for Middle and High School Library Information Specialists.” - Memphis-Shelby County Schools Reimagining 901 Library Services District Learning Day - 21 February 2022 - 
• “TEL Resources for Middle and High School Library Information Specialists.” - Memphis-Shelby County Schools Reimagining 901 Library Services District Learning Day - 21 February 2022 -  
• “Using LearningExpress Library to Prepare for the ACT.” - Arlington High School Parent Teacher Student Association - 12 November 2015 -
• “Free Federal Resources for Financial Literacy for K – 5th Graders.” - Arlington, Bartlett, Germantown, Lakeland, and Millington Teachers/Librarians In-Service Day - 6 August 2015 -
• “TEL: Tennessee Electronic Library Resources for 6th – 12th Graders.” - Arlington, Bartlett, Germantown, Lakeland, and Millington Teachers/Librarians In-Service Day - 6 August 2015 -
• “TEL: Tennessee Electronic Library Resources for the K – 5th Grade Social Studies Curriculum.” - Gardenview Elementary School Teachers In-Service Day - 3 August 2015 -
• “TEL: Tennessee Electronic Library Resources for the K – 5th Grade Social Studies Curriculum.” - Shelby County Schools Social Studies Elementary Institute - 2 - 3 June 2015 -
• "Basic Research" - Shelby County Board of Commissioners staff researchers - 13 March 2015 -
• Question Authority: Where Do I Find the Information I Need? - Making a Difference in Memphis: Volunteer Leadership Development Institute - 26 February, 18 June 2011 -

Service

• University Libraries - Outreach Committee - 2023 - present
• University Libraries - Colloquium Symposium Committee - 2022 - present
• University Libraries - Libraries Faculty Group Secretary - 2022 - 2024
• University Libraries - Equity, Diversity, Inclusion Committee - 2020 - 2023
• University Libraries - Promotion and Tenure Committee [C] - 2018 - present
• West Tennessee Academic Library Consortium - At-Large Representative - July 2023 - June 2025
• Tennessee Library Association - Co-Chair, Registration, 2025 TLA Annual Conference - July 2024 - June 2025
• Tennessee Library Association - Co-Chair of Registration, 2022 and 2023 TLA Annual Conference - July 2021 - June 2023
• Tennessee Library Association - Secretary, Access and Patron Services Roundtable - July 2021 - June 2022
• Tennessee Library Association - Secretary, Access and Patron Services Roundtable - July 2020 - June 2021
• Tennessee Library Association - Secretary, Access and Patron Services Roundtable - July 2019 - June 2020
• Tennessee Library Association - Co-Chair, Conference Planning - July 2016 - June 2018
• Tennessee Library Association - Co-Chair, Membership - July 2015 – June 2017
• Tennessee Library Association - Conference Program Committee - July 2014 – June 2015
• Tennessee Library Association - Co-Chair, Publications Advisory Board - July 2012 to June 2013
• Tennessee Library Association - Co-Chair, Publications Advisory Board - July 2011 - June 2012
• Tennessee Library Association - Recording Secretary - July 2008 - June 2009
• Tennessee Library Association - Recording Secretary, - July 2006 - June 2007
• Tennessee Library Association - Chair, TLA Library Instruction Roundtable - July 2005 - June 2006
• University of Memphis - UofM LinkedIn Learning Advisory Team Member - October 2020 to present
• University of Memphis - LinkedIn Learning Advisory Team - 2020 - 2023; 2024 - present
• University of Memphis - University Undergraduate Council Member - February 2014 - August 2017
• University of Memphis - Online Student Orientation Task Force Member - 12 March - 30 June 2013
• University of Memphis - President’s Panel Hearing Committee Member - 7 September 2012 - present
• University of Memphis - Teaching and Learning Advisory Committee of the Advanced Learning Center member - March 2008 - June 2011
• University of Memphis - Memphis Reads/Freshman Book Selection Committee member - July 2007 - June 2010
• University of Memphis - Freshman Book Selection Committee member - September 2005 - June 2006
• University of Memphis - Library/Information Resources Audit Team for Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) 2005 Secretary - July - December 2003

Books Published

• Robinson, Margaret E. (Bess). "Food Industry." Magazines for Libraries, edited by Cheryl LaGuardia, 32^nd ed., ProQuest LLC, 2023. [Entry in a reference book.] 
• Robinson, Margaret E. (Bess). "Food Industry." Magazines for Libraries, edited by Cheryl LaGuardia, 30th ed. ProQuest LLC, 2021. [Entry in a reference book.] 
• Robinson, Margaret E. (Bess). "Food Industry." Magazines for Libraries, edited by Cheryl LaGuardia, 28th ed. ProQuest LLC, 2019. [Entry in a reference book.]
• Robinson, Margaret E. (Bess). "Food Industry." Magazines for Libraries, edited by Cheryl LaGuardia, 26th ed. ProQuest LLC, 2017. [Entry in a reference book.]
• Robinson, Margaret E. (Bess). "Food Industry." Magazines for Libraries, edited by Cheryl LaGuardia, 24th ed. ProQuest LLC, 2015. [Entry in a reference book.]
• Robinson, Margaret E. (Bess). "Food Industry." Magazines for Libraries, edited by Cheryl LaGuardia, 22nd ed. ProQuest LLC, 2013. [Entry in a reference book.]
• Robinson, Margaret E. (Bess). "Food Industry." Magazines for Libraries, edited by Cheryl LaGuardia, 20th ed. ProQuest LLC, 2011. [Entry in a reference book.]
• Robinson, Margaret E. (Bess). "Food Industry." Magazines for Libraries, edited by Cheryl LaGuardia, 18th ed. ProQuest LLC, 2009. [Entry in a reference book.]

Journal Articles

• Rustomfram, Perveen, and Bess Robinson. "Extra Credit: Opening the Door to Free Educator Resources from the Feds." Proc. of Tennessee Library Association Annual Conf., 24-26 April 2019, Chattanooga Convention Center. Tennessee Libraries 69.3 (2019): n. pag. Web. 26 Sept. 2019.
• Robinson, Bess, and Perveen Rustomfram. "50 Ways to Recognize Outstanding Employees." Proc. of Tennessee Library Association Annual Conf., 24-26 April 2019, Chattanooga Convention Center. Tennessee Libraries 69.3 (2019): n. pag. Web. 26 Sept. 2019.
• Robinson, Bess, Perveen Rustomfram, and Steven Knowlton. "Everyone Has a Place at the Table: Now What? Making the Best of the Meetings You Lead and Attend." Proc. of Tennessee Library Association Annual Conf., 23-24 April 2015, Memphis Hilton. Tennessee Libraries 65.3 (2015): n pag. Web. 1 Dec. 2015.
• Rustomfram, Perveen, and Bess Robinson. “Online Government Resources for Financial Literacy.” Financial Literacy. Spec. issue of Journal of Business & Finance Librarianship 20.1-2 (2015): 95-115.
• Lambert, Margaret R. “May I Have the Envelope, Please?” Tennessee Librarian 50, no. 1 (1998): 8-21.
• Park, Betsy, Bess Robinson, and Glenda Jones. "But She Got All A's in High School." Proc. of Tennessee Library Association Annual Conf., 24-26 April 2013, Chattanooga Marriott and Convention Center. Tennessee Libraries 63.2 (2013): n. pag. Web. 1 Dec. 2015.
• Robinson, Bess, and Pam Dennis. "Once You've Hooked Them, Then What? Keeping Multiple Visits to the Library Fresh for Freshmen." Proc. of Tennessee Library Association Annual Conf., 8-10 April 2009, Nashville Airport Marriott. Tennessee Libraries 59.3 (2009): n. pag. Web. 1 Dec. 2015.
• Lambert, Margaret R. "And the Award Goes To . . ." Tennessee Librarian 50, no. 2 (1998): 6-17.

Presentations

• Robinson, Bess, Perveen Rustomfram, and Irma Singarella. "A Constellation of Collaborations." WeTALC Fall Meeting, 10 Oct. 2025, Bethel University, McKenzie, TN. Conference Presentation. 
• Robinson, Bess and Perveen Rustomfram. "Putting Some 'Fun' in the Fundametals of Locating Government Publications." 2025 Tennessee Library Association Annual Conference, 10 April 2025, Chattanooga Marriott Downtown, Chattanooga, TN. Conference Presentation. 
• Rustomfram, Perveen, and Bess Robinson, session organizers. Bandel, Stephanie, Misti Jenkins, and Courtney Mercurio, panelists. Panel discussion. "AI AI OH!!!: How Public and School Librarians are Innovating with AI." 2024 Tennessee Library Association Annual Conference, 4 April 2024, Franklin Marriott Cool Springs, Franklin, TN.
• Robinson, Bess, and Perveen Rustomfram, session organizers. Krajecki, Lisa, and Scott Shumate, panelists. Panel discussion. "Making New Connections: Academic Librarians Engage with AI in Library Instruction and Beyond." 2024 Tennessee Library Association Annual Conference, 3 April 2024, Franklin Marriott Cool Springs, Franklin, TN.
• Rustomfram, Perveen, and Bess Robinson. “Think-Pair-Share: Discover and Explore Free .gov Resources for Teaching.” Banned: Band Together, Tennessee Association of School Librarians (TASL) 2023 Conference, TASL, 6 Nov. 2023, Embassy Suites Murfreesboro Hotel and Conference Center, Murfreesboro, TN. Conference Presentation. 
• Rustomfram, Perveen, and Bess Robinson. “Takin’ it to the Streets: Marketing and Promoting Government Information.” Tenn-Share Showcase 2023, Tenn-Share, 18 Oct. 2023, virtual. Conference Presentation. 
• Rustomfram, Perveen, and Bess Robinson. “Spreading the Word: Promoting Government Publications to K-12.” Fall 2023 Federal Depository Library Conference, FDLP, 17 Oct. 2023, virtual. Conference Presentation.
• McClure, Jessica, and Bess Robinson. “Joining Forces: How Librarians and Instructional Designers Partnered to Develop an Engaging LMS Module to Support Undergraduate Research.” WeTALC Fall 2023 Conference, 28 Sept. 2023, Lane College, Jackson, TN. Conference Presentation. 
• Robinson, Bess, and Perveen Rustomfram. "Discover and Explore Online STEM Resources from the Feds: Elementary, Middle, and High." Memphis-Shelby County Schools Library Services District Learning Day, Wednesday 3 August 2022, Memphis, TN
• Rustomfram, Perveen, and Bess Robinson. "Discover and Explore Online Humanities Resources from the Feds: Elementary, Middle, and High." Memphis-Shelby County Schools Library Services District Learning Day, Wednesday 3 August 2022, Memphis, TN
• Rustomfram, Perveen, and Bess Robinson. “Using the 2020 Census to Cultivate Community.” 2022 Tennessee Library Association Annual Conference, Wednesday 13 April 2022, Knoxville, TN.
• Rustomfram, Perveen, and Bess Robinson, preconference organizers. Ronald L. Williams. "Not the Same Old Story: Using Census Data to Identify New Opportunities." 2021 Tennessee Library Association Annual Conference, 6 April 2021, virtual. Preconference Presentation.
• Robinson, Bess, et al. “Listening to Each Others’ Stories: The Transformative Potential of a Liaison Program.” 2021 Tennessee Library Association Annual Conference, Monday 5 April 2021, via Zoom.
• Rustomfram, Perveen, and Bess Robinson. “Library Services District Learning Day: Educator Resources from the Feds; TEL.” Shelby County Schools Professional Development Day, Tuesday 3 November 2020, Memphis, TN.
• Rustomfram, Perveen, and Bess Robinson. "Building on Imagination: Free Educator Resources from the Feds." Tennessee Association of School Librarians Annual Conference, Monday 30 September 2019.
• Robinson, Bess, and Perveen Rustomfram. "50 Ways to Recognize Your Outstanding Employees." Tennessee Library Association Annual Conference, Friday 26 April 2019.
• Rustomfram, Perveen, and Bess Robinson. "Extra Credit: Opening the Door to Free Educator Resources from the Feds." Tennessee Library Association Annual Conference, Thursday 25 April 2019.
• Rustomfram, Perveen, and Bess Robinson. "Exploring American's Communities with American FactFinder." Tennessee Library Association Annual Conference, Friday 7 April 2017.
• Rustomfram, Perveen, and Bess Robinson. "Don't Perish as You Publish: How to Avoid Being Prey to Predatory Publishers." Tennessee Library Association Annual Conference, Thursday 6 April 2017.
• Robinson, Bess, and Perveen Rustomfram. "Money Smart Week and Beyond: Financial Literacy Programs at Your Library." Tennessee Library Association Annual Conference, Friday 8 April 2016.
• Rustomfram, Perveen, and Bess Robinson. "Realize Your Dreams with Reliable Statistics from Uncle Sam." Tennessee Library Association Annual Conference, Friday 8 April 2016.
• Robinson, Bess, Perveen Rustomfram, and Steve Knowlton. "Everyone Has a Place at the Table. Now What?" Tennessee Library Association Annual Conference, Friday 24 April 2015.
• Rustomfram, Perveen, and Bess Robinson. "A Smorgasbord of Free Financial Literacy Resources." Tennessee Library Association Annual Conference, Thursday 23 April 2015.
• Rustomfram, Perveen, and Bess Robinson. "Free Federal Resources for Financial Literacy." Tenn-Share Fall Conference, Friday 26 September 2014, Nashville, TN.
• Park, Betsy, and Bess Robinson. "But She Got All A`s in High School." Memphis Area Libraries Council, 12 March 2014. LeMoyne-Owen College, Memphis, TN.
• Robinson, Bess and Perveen Rustomfram "Exploring Fundrai$ing Idea$ for Your Library." Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association, 27 September 2013. Trevecca Nazarene, Nashville, TN.
• Park, Betsy, Bess Robinson, and Glenda Jones. "But She Got All A`s in High School." Tennessee Library Association Annual Conference, 26 April 2013.
• Robinson, Bess, Sylverna Ford, and Kathy Pagles. "Bucks--Out of the Box!" Tennessee Library Association Annual Conference, 25 April 2013.
• Robinson, Bess. “Question Authority: Where Do I Find the Information I Need? How Do I Evaluate It?” Making a Difference in Memphis: Volunteer Leadership Development Institute, 18 June 2011, Memphis, TN.
• Robinson, Bess, Perveen Rustomfram, Leah Allison, Martha Earl, Theresa Liedtka, and Rebecca Tolley-Stokes. “Charting a New Course: Smoothing the Transition for New Librarian Hires.” Tennessee Library Association Annual Conference, 24 March 2011, Murfreesboro, TN.
• Robinson, Bess, and Perveen Rustomfram. “Question Authority: Where Do I Find the Information I Need? How Do I Evaluate It?” Making a Difference in Memphis: Volunteer Leadership Development Institute, 26 February 2011, Memphis, TN.
• Robinson, Bess, Pamela R. Dennis, Ruth T. Kinnersley, Jane Pinkston, and Beverly Simmons. “Congratulations on Your Engagement: Ideas for Engaging Students During Instruction.” Tennessee Library Association Annual Conference, 18 March 2010, Memphis, TN.
• Robinson, Bess, Pamela Dennis, and Thura Mack. "What's the Scoop? Creating Effective Library Newsletters." Connections: Posters on Cooperation with Non-Library Institutions and Agencies, Inter-Library Loan, Library Use Instruction, and Public Awareness. American Library Association Annual Conference. New Orleans, Louisiana. 26 June 2006. Poster presentation.
• Robinson, Bess, Pamerla Dennis, and Thura Mack. "Connecting People with the Library: The Effective Academic Library Newsletter." Presented at the 12th National ACRL Conference. University of Tennessee Knoxville, April 2005.