University Libraries

Gerald R. Natal, BFA, MLIS, AHIP

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 and former president of the Academic Library Association of Ohio.  

Publications & Presentations

Articles

• Bennett, C., Glassman, T. J., Kruse-Diehr, A., Dake, J. A., Natal, G. R., & Saltzman, B. S. (2025). School-based body image programming: A critical literature review. Psychology in the Schools. 
• Castor, T. S., Glassman, T. J., Dake, J. A., Natal, G., Blavos, A. A., & Lange, J. (2024). Campus officials’ perceptions of alcohol policies for college sporting events. American Journal of Health Education, 1–11. 
• Hoogland, M. A., Natal, G., Wilmott, R., Keating, C. F., & Caruso, D. (2024). Gauging academic unit perceptions of library services during a transition in university budget models. Evidence Based Library and Information Practice, 19(2), 23–50. 
• Natal, G.R. & Remaklus, D. (2023). The library is my canvas: Art and experiential learning in an academic library. College & Research Libraries, 84(2), 169-179. 
• 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. 
• 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. 
• Natal, G. & Atwood, T. (2018). Cover me, I’m going in: Exploring the needs of student veterans. College & Undergraduate Libraries, 25(4), 335-349.
• 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. 
• 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. [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. & Remaklus, D. (2024, Spring). Beyond the bookshelf: Navigating new horizons in library spaces for enhanced engagement and support. In Michigan Academic Library Association (MiALA) 2024 Annual Conference, Kalamazoo, Michigan.
• 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

• Lightning Talk, "Stories that Resonate: Shining a Light on the Community through Programming." ALAO Promotion and Marketing Interest Group (PROMIG) Snapshots of Success! June 6, 2025.
• Health Science Campus Artist Showcase reception talk, “The inside is the outside: An introduction to outsider art,” The University of Toledo, Friday, February 7, 2025.
• Panel Discussion, "AI alchemy: Libraries growing smarter," State Library of Ohio, Tuesday, November 19, 2024.
• Lightning Presentation, "Incorporating AI in a world religions course: Breakthroughs and blunders," Online, Wednesday, May 8, 2024, ALAO 2024 Innovative Instruction Showcase.
• 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), The 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. 
• Natal, G. (2020). Foundations of Information Ethics [Book Review]. Journal of the Medical Library Association, 108(1), 149-150. 
• 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. 
• 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. 
• Natal, G. (2017). Data management: A practical guide for librarians [Book Review]. Journal of the Medical Library Association, 105(4), 421. 
• 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. 
• Doody's Core Titles Reviewer, 2017 through 2025 editions

Other Works

• Glassman, T.J., Glassman, J.M. (2022). Read this book/Don't read this book (G. Natal, Illus.). Xlibris.
• Natal, G. (2025, May). Cover feature. College and Research Libraries News, 86(5). Association of College and Research Libraries. 

Select University/Professional Service

• Faculty Senate Committee on Academic Programs, 2019-present
• Paralegal Studies Program Advisory Board, 2011-present
• Student Veterans of America,  Advisor, 2019-present
• Military Service Center Advisory Board, 2019-present

Professional Organizations:

• Academic Library Association of Ohio 2004-present 
• 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, 2022-2024
• Michigan Academic Library Association, 2018-present
• Ohio Health Sciences Library Association 2009-present