Michelle Nielsen Ott

Biography

Michelle joined Bradley University in 2021. Previously she was the Director of Library Services at Methodist College (2017-2021) and the Outreach and Reference Librarian at Illinois Central College (2009-2017).

She has earned the designation as a Consumer Health Information Specialist (Level I) from the Medical Library Association.

Her library subject liaison areas are biology, chemistry, health science, nursing, physical therapy, & physics.

Memberships

• American Library Association
• Association of College and Research Libraries
• Illinois Library Association
• Illinois Association of College and Research Libraries
• Health Science Librarians of Illinois
• Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi
• Midwest Chapter-Medical Library Association
• Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society

Awards

• ATHENA Young Professionals Award, Peoria Chamber of Commerce, 2021
• 40 Leaders Under Forty, Peoria Magazines, 2021
• 25 Women in Leadership Award, WEEK-TV, 2021
• Community Leader Award, Women in Leadership of Central Illinois, 2021
• Golden Gem Award, American Association for Women in Community Colleges, Illinois Central College Chapter, 2017
• Excellence in Academic Libraries Award, Illinois Central College, 2014

Scholarship

Areas of Research Interest

• Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
• Health Science Librarianship
• Library outreach and engagement
• Universal Design for Learning

Publications

• Roth, E., Campbell, J., Nielsen Ott, M., & Turner, L. (2019, July). Libraries support STEM education. Peoria Magazine, 42-43.

Presentations

• One State Together in the Arts, 2020
  • “The Power of Public Art: Changing the Face of Peoria”
• Peoria Reads, 2020
  • “We Need Diverse Books”
• Spark Conference, 2020
  • “Working Hard or Hardly Working?: Project Management for the Busy Librarian”
• Illinois Library Association Annual Conference, Tinley Park, IL, 2019
  • “Speed Mentoring and Networking for Library Staff”
• Illinois Library Association Annual Conference, Peoria, IL, 2015
  • “Creating Connections with Community Reading”
• ForwardFocus Conference, Peoria, IL,  2015
  • “Reaching Under-Prepared Students”
• Indiana Library Federation Conference, Indianapolis, IN, 2014
  • “The Academic Library and the Unprepared Student”
  • “Creating and Telling the Library's Story”
• Between the Lines, Illinois Central College, Peoria. IL, 2014
  • “Forever Young Adult”

Service

Service to the Profession/Academic Service

• American Library Association
  • LLAMA, Public Relations and Marketing Section, 2013-2016
    • Education and Training Committee Chair, 2014-2016
    • Education and Training Committee, 2013-2016
  • American Association for Women in Community Colleges, Illinois Central College Chapter
    • President, 2013-2015
    • Vice-President, 2012-2013
  • Health Science Librarians of Illinois
    • Conference Planning Committee, 2018-Present
  • Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi
    • Public Relations Officer for Chapter #353, 2020-Present
  • Illinois Library Association
    • Advocacy Committee 2017-2020
  • Illinois Association of College and Research Libraries
    • Past-President and chair of Nominations and Awards Committees, 2020-2021
    • President, 2019-2020
    • President-Elect and chair of Conference and Continuing Education Committee, 2018-2019
    • Secretary, 2015-2016
    • Membership committee, 2011-2016
  • Reaching Across Illinois Libraries System (RAILS)
    • Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee, 2020-2022

Service to the Community

• ArtsPartners of Central Illinois, Board of Directors, 2017-Present
• Community Leadership School, Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce, 2018-2021
  • Advisory Committee, 2018-2021
  • Graduate, 2018
• Illinois Central College Educational Foundation
  • Scholarship Reviewer, 2014-Present
• Junior Achievement Central Illinois, Volunteer, 2017-Present
• Lions Club International
  • Grand Prairie Champion Lions Club Branch, 2017-2020
    • President, 2017-2019
    • Treasurer, 2019-2020
  • Peoria Heights Suburban Lions Club, 2020- Present
• Peoria PlayHouse Children's Museum, Hopscotch Committee, 2019-Present
  • Chair of In-Kind Donations, 2020-Present
• Peoria Public Schools Foundation
  • Scholarship Reviewer, 2021
  • Peoria Stadium Improvement Committee, 2021-Present
• Peoria Symphony Orchestra, Betty Friedan Concert Committee, 2021
• Jude Runs, Runner/fundraiser, 2018-Present
• Sculpture Walk Peoria Committee, 2017-Present
  • Chair, 2020-Present
• Women in Leadership of Central Illinois, 2019-Present
  • Advisory Board, Vice President of Reservations, 2021-Present
  • Advisory Board, Vice President of Special Events, 2020-2021
  • Special Events Committee 2019-Present
• Women’s Fund, Community Foundation of Central Illinois, 2017-Present
  • Advisory Board, 2019-Present
    • Chair 2021-Present
    • Vice-Chair, 2020-2021
  • Grants Committee, 2019-Present
  • Development Committee, 2018-Present
  • Founding Member, 2017