Jo Bell Whitlatch has a Ph.D. in Library and Information Studies, University of California, Berkeley. Her research interests and areas of special competence are: information seeking needs and behavior, user studies in libraries, evaluation of service organizations, and management of libraries. Publications include two books, The Role of the Academic Reference Librarian (1990), Evaluating Reference Services (2000), and articles in RQ, College & Research Libraries, Journal of Academic Librarianship, and the Reference Librarian. She has taught management and reference courses in the School of Library & Information Science, San Jose State University, 1987-2009, and until retirement in 2006, served as Associate Library Dean, San Jose State University (2001-2006) and History Liaison, San Jose State University (1992-2004).