Master of Library Science, Indiana University
Bachelor of Arts, Franklin College
Jessica Mahoney ’96, MLS
Professor; Director of Library Services & Assessment
Office
Hamilton Library
Educational Background
Year Joined Franklin
2011
Expertise
Academic library leadership, consortial relations and statewide academic library collaboration, library assessment, collection development, grant-funded project management, open access initiatives, and student mentorship in archives and special collections.
Why did you decide to become a professor?
I loved teaching at the middle and high school levels, but I kept getting pulled toward research. I enjoy helping people figure out how to find good information, not just handing them answers. That’s really what drew me to becoming a professor and librarian: information literacy. I want students to leave here knowing how to ask good questions, track down credible sources, and think critically about what they find.
How do you help students gain internships?
We provide student internships in the library. I connect with academic departments (history, English, communications, education) whose students might benefit from library/archives experience but wouldn’t think to ask.
Selected Professional Accomplishments
PALNI Outstanding Achievement Award for Deep Collaboration Leadership, 2026; The Faculty Award for Excellence in Scholarship, 2025; The Faculty Steering Committee Distinguished Service Award, 2020; PALNI Hall of Fame, 2017
Thapaliya, A., & Mahoney, J. M. (2025). Advancing Open Access in Higher Education: A Liberal Arts College Perspective. Journal of Open, Flexible and Distance Learning, 29(2), 22–39. https://doi.org/10.61468/jofdl.v29i2.741
Thapaliya, A., Mahoney, J. M., &Hurford, A.(2025).Building a Culture of Open Education: Faculty Reflections and Student Outcomes from a Small, Liberal Arts College.European Journal of Teaching and Education,7(4): 48-64. https://doi.org/10.33422/ejte.v7i4.1672
Mahoney, J. & Burke, K.R. (2013). Traditional liberal arts colleges: It’s time to join the MOOC conversation. HuffPost College, http://tinyurl.com/lmreppz.
Mahoney, J. & Burke, K.R. (2013). Meaningful collaboration: Revitalizing small colleges with MOOC hybrids. Hybrid Pedagogy, http://tinyurl.com/m936zfv.
Mahoney, J. & Leach-Murray, S. (2012). Implementation of a discovery layer: The Franklin College experience. College & Undergraduate Libraries, 19, 327-343.
My favorite book is...
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald