Grace Liu

Grace Liu is an Associate Professor and Business Librarian at F.H.G. Library. Her scholarly interests focus on information literacy, data quality literacy, and advancing the leadership and impact of academic libraries in higher education. Since joining West Chester University in 2019, Grace has initiated, secured funding for, and directed ten grant projects at the university, state, and national levels. Through these projects, she led teams that engaged over 2,600 WCU students in developing information literacy skills for evaluating online sources and over 1,900 librarians and data professionals in enhancing data quality literacy. The projects also created a comprehensive resource guide for student entrepreneurs and provided insights into the entrepreneurial spirit of WCU students. These initiatives led to the publication of an idea book, which, through a rapid systematic review, identified 120 best practices and strategies across colleges and universities to improve student retention and success and a roadmap for academic libraries to engage campus-wide efforts in closing equity and opportunity gaps and enhance student success for all. Additionally, the teams explored library-supported, student-led peer mentoring and learning community programs for the College of Business and Public Management at WCU. Currently, the project teams are working on developing an internship opportunity map for WCU business students and advancing college students' career information literacy and career decision-making. Grace Liu served as Member-at-Large on the RUSA BRASS Leadership Council from 2021 to 2024 and is serving as Chair of the AACSB Business Librarian Affinity Group for 2024–2025.

Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) National Leadership Grants for Libraries, 2024-2027

• Initiated and directed the project “Advancing College Students' Career Information Literacy and Career Research Competencies: Empowering Informed Career Choices, Decisions, and Success for Life.”

WCU Provost Research Grant, 2024-2026

• Initiated and directed the project “Exploring Internship Experiences, Interests, and Barriers Among WCU Business Students: Mapping Internship Opportunities for Career Success.”

WCU Provost’s Enrollment Planning Investment (PEPI) Grant, 2023-2024

• Initiated and directed the project “Enhancing WCU Student Retention: An Evidence Synthesis of Effective Practices and Strategies.”
• Project Deliverable: Enhancing College Student Retention and Success: An Idea Book

PASSHE Faculty Professional Development Council (FPDC) Grant, 2023-2024

• Initiated and directed the project “Evidence Synthesis for Establishing a Student-Led Peer-Mentoring Program: An Applied Research into Practice.”

PASSHE Faculty Professional Development Council (FPDC) Grant, 2023-2024

• Initiated and advised the project “Meeting the Challenges for Closing Equity and Achievement Gaps in College Completion: Exploring the Role of Academic Libraries.”

WCU Provost Research Grant, 2022-2023

• Initiated and directed the project “Entrepreneurial Spirit Among College Students: A Survey and Case Study from West Chester University.”

Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) Laura Bush 21^st Century Librarian Program, 2022-2024

• Initiated and directed the project “Building Capacity of Academic Librarians in Understanding Quantitative Data, Data Quality Problems, and Evaluating Data Quality: A National Forum.”
• Project Website.

The Committee for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT) Grant, 2021-2022

• Initiated and directed the project ”Good Information for Better Decisions: An Interactive Learning Module of Information Source Evaluation for WCU Students.”
• Project Deliverable: a 4-step strategy for evaluating online sources infographic guide, videos, and a D2L learning module.

WCU Provost Research Grant, 2020-2022

• Initiated and directed the project “Bridging Information Literacy Gaps for Business Students: A Case Study from West Chester University.”
• Project Deliverable: peer-reviewed journal articles and presentations.

ALA Carnegie Whitney Award, 2020-2021

• Initiated and directed the project “Informed Success: A Resource Guide for Student Entrepreneurs.”
• Project Deliverable: Informed Success: A Comprehensive Guide to Knowledge, Resources, and Opportunities for Student Entrepreneurs

Liu, G. (2024). Enhancing College Student Retention and Success: An Idea Book. West Chester University. https://digitalcommons.wcupa.edu/libfaculty_books/5 /

Liu, G., Bordelon, B., Nagar, R., Sarti, J., Nguyen, U., & Boettcher, J. (2024). Data Quality Literacy: A Guidebook. Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) Grant Project. https://digitalcommons.wcupa.edu/libfaculty_books/6/

Liu, G. (2022). Concept mapping: Activities for complex business research or experiential learning projects. In Snipes, G. et al. (Eds.) Teaching Business Information Literacy (Chapter 17). Association of College & Research Libraries.

Curtis, N., Liu, G. & Engelsen, A. (2021). Workshops mise en place: Working with campus partners to cook up tech workshops in the library. In Buljung & Bongiovanni (Eds.) ACRL Scholarly Communications Cookbook (Section IV). Association of College & Research Libraries.

Liu, G., Frank, S., Dawson, E., & Olaniyi, O. (2023). Librarians’ attitudes, needs, and barriers to participating in international conferences: A survey of ALA members. International Journal of Librarianship, 8(3), 4-25. https://doi.org/10.23974/ijol.2023.vol8.3.304

Liu, G. (2023). Business students’ experiences, perceptions, and motivations toward business research and information literacy: Ideas for better library practices. Journal of Business & Finance Librarianship, 1-29. https://doi.org/10.1080/08963568.2023.2219203

Liu, G. (2021). Exploring the information needs of student entrepreneurs: A meta-narrative review. Journal of Business and Financial Librarianship. https://doi.org/10.1080/08963568.2021.1955184

Liu, G., Guth., L. & Stonebraker., I. (2021). “Information Has Value” in business library instruction: Approaching the frame three ways. Journal of Business and Financial Librarianship. https://doi.org/10.1080/08963568.2021.1877506

Liu, G. (2020). Data quality problems troubling business and financial researchers: A literature review and synthetic analysis. Journal of Business & Finance Librarianship. https://doi.org/10.1080/08963568.2020.1847555

Liu, G. (2019). Database review: Business Premium Collection. Journal of Business and Financial Librarianship, https://doi.org/10.1080/08963568.2018.1542907  

Liu, G. Pajewski, A., & McMullin R. (2024). Introducing a 4-step Strategy for Evaluating Online Sources. College & Research Libraries News. Vol. 85 (3).

Liu, G. (2021). Challenges and opportunities for business library instructions during the pandemic. Ticker: The American Business Librarianship Review. Vol. 5(2).

Liu, G. (2021). Moving up the ladder of source assessment: Expanding the CRAAP Test with critical thinking and metacognition. College & Research Libraries News. Vol. 82(2).

Liu, G., & Mattson, M. (2020). Best practices from the World Libraries Photo Gallery Project: Engaging global libraries. International Information & Library Review, 52(1), 73-78.

Malafi, E., Liu, G., & Goldstein, S. (2017). Business and workplace information literacy: Three perspectives. Reference & User Services Quarterly, 57(2), 79-85.

Liu, G. & Pajewski, A. (2023). Leveraging Campus Partnerships: Developing and Promoting a Learning Module to Scaffold Students’ Ability to Evaluate Online Sources. The Loex Conference Proceedings. https://commons.emich.edu/loexconf2023/

Liu, G. (2022). Creating Dynamic Information Literacy (IL) Learning Opportunities for Business Students. Academic BRASS. Vol. 17(2).

Liu, G. (2021). Business librarians’ roles in supporting AACSB accreditation: A discussion about the potentials. Academic BRASS. Vol. 16(2).

Liu, G. (2021). Systematic Reviews in Business: Are Business Librarians Ready? Academic BRASS. Vol. 16 (1).

Liu, G. (2020). The future of BRASS. Academic BRASS. Vol. 15(2).

Liu, G. (2020). Information literacy: Conversations with business faculty. Academic BRASS. Vol. 15(1).

Liu, G. (2019). Strategizing framework integration: A reflection from the engaging with ACRL framework workshop. ACRL Instruction Section Semi-Annual Newsletter. Vol. 36(2).

Liu, G. (2019). Instructional design for framework-integrated active learning sessions. Academic BRASS. Vol. 14(2).

Liu, G. (2019). Business financial benchmarking. Online Searcher, 43(1), 40-45.

Liu, G. & Knapp, R. (2018). Engaging in our customers’ experience: Lessons learned from attending entrepreneurial events. Academic BRASS. Vol. 13 (2).

Liu, G. (2018). Adding value to your instructional materials with graphic design. ACRL Instruction Section Semi-Annual Newsletter.

Liu, G. (2018). Some ideas on addressing affective learning in business library instructions. Academic BRASS. Vol. 13 (1).

Liu, G. (2017). International business analysis empowered with research. Online Searcher. 41(5), 42-46.

Liu, G. (2017). Searching as a strategic exploration: Using visual guides to teach business research strategy. Academic BRASS. Vol. 12 (1).

Liu, G. (2016). Using Google bucket activity in business students’ library orientation. Academic BRASS, Vol 11 (2).

Liu, G. (2015). Making the business instruction work and improve: Introducing a new collaboration model with business faculty. Academic BRASS, Vol. 10 (2).

Liu, G. (2024). Engaging Campus Efforts in Closing Equity and Opportunity Gaps: A Roadmap for Academic Libraries. FPDC Grant Project Report.

Liu, G. (2023). WCU Student Entrepreneurial Intention: A Provost Research Grant Project Report. West Chester University.

Liu, G. (2021). Organizing Student Focus Groups for Research Projects in Business Librarianship: What Works and What Maybe Not.

Shared 40 learning objects including infographics and presentation slides via ACRL Sandbox (Collective downloads 50,821 times as of 3/9/2024)

Master of Business Administration (MBA), University of Maine
Master of Science in Library and Information Science (MSLIS), the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign