University Libraries

Gerald R. Natal, BFA, MLIS, AHIP

 Photo Gerald Natal

Associate Professor, Health and Human Services Librarian
Library Liaison, Latinx initiatives, Military and veterans
Office: 419-530-4227
gerald.natal@utoledo.edu
ORCID # https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8339-4492
Curriculum Vitae

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Education/Credentials

  • B.F.A., Bowling Green State University
  • M.L.I.S., Kent State University
  • Academy of Health Information Professionals (A.H.I.P.)

Experience

Gerald previously worked for over a decade in various staff positions in public libraries. He began his professional career as a librarian at The Toledo Correctional Institution, Toledo, Ohio. Gerald was a Visiting Instructor of Information Literacy at The University of Toledo, then hired as Digital Services Librarian at UToledo's Raymon H. Mulford Library. Currently he is working from UToledo's William S. Carlson Library. His current duties encompass: library liaison to the programs in The College of Health and Human Services, including reference, instruction, and collection development; developing web-based learning and instructional materials; maintaining the Instructions to Authors database; library liaison for Latinx initiatives; co-advisor to the UToledo chapter of the Student Veterans of America and a Military Service Center board member. Research interests include library outreach. He is a long-standing member of ALAO and is currently the organization's Immediate Past President.  

Publications & Presentations

Articles

  • Natal, G. & Remaklus, D. (2023). The library is my canvas: Art and experiential learning in an academic library. College & Research Libraries, 84(2), 169-179. https://crl.acrl.org/index.php/crl/article/view/25807/33738
  • Castor, T. S., Glassman, T. J., Dake, J. A., Natal, G. R., Alexis, B. A., & James, L. (2022). Event Specific Alcohol Consumption and College Football: A Critical Review, 2000-2020. American Journal of Health Studies, 36(4), 207–224.
  • Natal, G. & Saltzman, B. (2022). Decisions, decisions, decisions: Decision fatigue in academic librarianship. Journal of Academic Librarianship, 48(1), 102476.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acalib.2021.102476
  • Jameson, J., Natal, G. & Napp, J. (2019). Evolving and enduring patterns surrounding student usage and perceptions of academic library reference services. College & Research Libraries, 80(3), 366-385. https://crl.acrl.org/index.php/crl/article/view/17116
  • Natal, G. & Atwood, T. (2018). Cover me, I’m going in: Exploring the needs of student veterans. College & Undergraduate Libraries, 25(4), 335-349https://doi.org/10.1080/10691316.2018.1514285
  • Sabharwal, A. & Natal, G. (2017). Integrating the IR into strategic goals at the University of Toledo: Case study. Digital Library Perspectives, 33(4), 339-360. https://doi.org/10.1108/DLP-03-2017-0008
  • McKether, W., Van Hoy, J., Natal, G., Rigda, C., Riopelle, K. & Seary, A. (2011). Discovering the culture of collaboration in an institutional merger. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences,  26, 94-107. doi:10.1016/j.sbspro.2011.10.566 [presented at the COINS 2010: Collaborative Innovative Networks Conference, Savannah, GA, October 8-10, 2010]

Books/Chapters

  • Natal, G. (2022). The moral of the story is… Appealing to student values in the classroom. In M. Barefoot, S. Parme, & E. Woods (Eds.), Once upon a time in the academic library: Storytelling skills for librarians (pp. 63-71). Association of College and Research Libraries.
  • Natal, G. and Martinez-Wormser, J. (2019). Drawing them in: Critical use of comics in library exhibitions and programs. In O. Piepmeier & S. Grimm (Eds.), Comics and critical librarianship: Reframing the narrative for academic libraries (pp. 293-308). Library Juice Press.

Conference Presentations/Posters

  • Natal, G. R., Sabharwal, A., & Hoogland, M. A. (October 13, 2023). NOT lost in translation: The library’s role in establishing and sustaining a medical science journal [Presentation]. In Medical Library Association Midwest Chapter Conference [Virtual conference].
  • Keating, C. F., Wilmott, D., Natal, G. R., Caruso, D., & Hoogland, M. A. (May 16, 2023). Changing internal budget models: An opportunity to reconnect with library users [Presentation]. In Medical Library Association|Special Library Association 2023 Annual Conference, Detroit.
  • Hoogland, M. A., & Natal, G. R. (May 17, 2022). The library’s role in graduate program scholarly activity requirements [Presentation]. In MiALA Annual Conference. Hybrid conference: Michigan Academic Library Association.
  • LeMire, S., Natal, G. R., & Graves, S. (May 7, 2022). Tactical intelligence for encountering veterans in the classroom [Presentation]. In LOEX 50th National Conference, Ypsilianti , MI.
  • Natal, G. (October 29, 2021). Building a bridge between art and experiential learning in an academic library [Presentation]. Academic Library Association of Ohio 2021 Annual Conference [Virtual conference].
  • Natal, G. (September 21, 2021). We salute you: Creating welcoming spaces for service connected students [Online Presentation]. Libraries and Veterans National Forum, College Station, TX.
  • Natal, G. (May 20, 2021). Decisions, decisions, decisions! Decision fatigue and librarianship [Presentation]. MiALA 2021 Annual Conference. Virtual conference: Michigan Academic Library Association.
  • Natal, G. (October 18, 2019). Forward, march! Advancing outreach to student veterans [Presentation].  Academic Library Association of Ohio 2019 Annual Conference, Lewis Center, OH.
  • Natal, G. (May 13, 2019). It's a bird, it's a plane, it's...critical librarianship! [Presentation]. Michigan Academic Library Association 2019 Annual Conference, Bay City, MI.
  • Natal, G., Atwood, T., LeMire, S., Mills, C. & Wilkinson, C. (April 13, 2019). Libraries lead the charge: Best practices for engaging student veterans [Panel Discussion] ACRL 2019 Annual Conference, Cleveland.
  • Jameson, J., Natal, G. & Napp, J. (May 2018). "I don’t want to look stupid for asking basic questions": Student usage and perceptions of academic library reference services. [Presentation]. Michigan Academic Library Association Annual Conference, East Lansing, MI.
  • Jameson, J. and Natal, G. (October 2016). Art and medicine: Strange bedfellows? Nurturing campus and community relationships via a library-sponsored art show [Poster presentation]. Merge & Converge: Sixteen in '16, The Midwest & Midcontinental/Medical Library Association Joint Conference, Des Moines, Iowa.
  • Miller, J., Jameson, J., Kumar, S. & Natal, G. (July 2010). Diversity plans for academic libraries: Making sure we get there from here [Poster presentation]. 2010 National Diversity in Libraries Conference, Princeton, New Jersey.
  • Natal, G., Ballard, P., Faricy-Beredo, B., Mi, M., Reeves, E., &  Sabharwal, A. (April 2010). Going the distance: An eLibrary for online and web-assisted users [Poster presentation]. 14th Off-Campus Library Services Conference, Cleveland.
  • Natal, G. Ballard, P., Faricy-Beredo, B., Mi, M., Reeves, E. & Sabharwal, A. (October 2009). Going the distance: creating an eLibrary for non-traditional students [Poster presentation]. 2009 Annual Meeting of the Midwest Chapter of the Medical Library Association, Columbus.
  • Mi, M., Porter, M., Miller, J., Jameson, J. & Natal, G. (October 2009). Improving medical students’ learning outcomes: Teaching a web-assisted elective course for 4th year medical students [Poster presentation]. 2009 Annual Meeting of the Midwest Chapter of the Medical Library Association, Columbus.

Lectures/Non-conference Presentations

  • Presentation, “Fine-tuning the user experience: Integration of Blackboard and LibGuides,” Thursday, June 19th, 2014, Cleveland State University Library.
  • Indiana Online Library Users Group (IOLUG) Spring Program presentation: "Fine-Tuning the User Experience: Integration of Blackboard and LibGuides," Indiana Wesleyan University North campus, Indianapolis, IN, May 16th, 2014.
  • Lecture, The Harlem Renaissance: Masterful Improvisation. R.A.A.P. (Reaching African American Potential), University of Toledo, February 7, 2007.

Book Reviews

  • Choice Reviewer,  Human Services Section of Resources for College Libraries: Career Resources, June-August 2021.
  • Natal, G. (2021). Mapping information landscapes: New methods for exploring the development and teaching of information literacy [Book Review]. Journal of the Medical Library Association, 109(1), 155-156. http://dx.doi.org/10.5195/jmla.2021.1136
  • Natal, G. (2020). Foundations of Information Ethics [Book Review]. Journal of the Medical Library Association, 108(1), 149-150. http://dx.doi.org/10.5195/jmla.2020.829
  • Natal, G. (2019). Searching the grey literature: A handbook for searching reports, working papers, and other unpublished research [Book Review]. Journal of the Medical Library Association, 107(2), 276. https://doi.org/10.5195/jmla.2019.640
  • Natal, G. (2018). Assembling the pieces of a systematic review: A guide for librarians [Book Review]. Journal of the Medical Library Association,  106(3), 393. DOI: http://jmla.mlanet.org/ojs/jmla/article/view/462/663
  • Natal, G. (2017). Data management: A practical guide for librarians [Book Review]. Journal of the Medical Library Association, 105(4), 421. http://jmla.mlanet.org/ojs/jmla/article/view/336/448
  • Natal, G. (2017). Marketing on a shoestring budget: A guide for small museums and historic sites [Book Review]. Journal of the Medical Library Association, 105(2), 199. http://jmla.mlanet.org/ojs/jmla/article/view/219/345
  • Doody's Core Titles Reviewer, 2017 through 2023 editions

Other Works

  • Glassman, T.J., Glassman, J.M. (2022). Read this book/Don't read this book (G. Natal, Illus.). Xlibris.

University/Professional Service

  • ALAO Mentoring Program, mentor, October 2019-2022
  • Latino Youth Summit Committee, 2006-present (LYS Overnight Committee, 2006-2015)
  • Faculty Senate Committee on Academic Programs, 2019-present
  • Paralegal Studies Program Advisory Board, 2011-present
  • Black History Month Committee, 2007, 2008
  • Hispanic Heritage Month Committee, 2006, 2013-2016, 2018-present
  • Student Veterans of America,  Advisor, 2019-present
  • Military Service Center Advisory Board, 2019-present
  • Translation: The University of Toledo Journal of Medical Science steering committee, January 2020-present

Professional Organizations:

  • Academic Library Association of Ohio 2004-present (Interim President, President Elect, 2021-2022; President, 2022-2023; Board-Member-At-Large 2016-2018; conference planning committee 2011-2013, 2019 [exhibitor representative], 2022 [chair]; Programming, Outreach and Marketing Interest Group, 2019-).
  • American Library Association, 2021-present
  • Association of College and Research Libraries, 2021-present
  • Medical Library Association, Midwest Chapter 2009-present
  • Medical Library Association, 2017-2019, 2022-present
  • Michigan Academic Library Association, 2018-present
  • Ohio Health Sciences Library Association 2009-present

 

 

 

Last Updated: 12/11/23