Rathbun-Grubb's research centers on the intersection of education, training, and careers in library and information science (LIS). She is particularly interested in career progression across the life course, job satisfaction, and the evaluation of pedagogical strategies in LIS education.
College of Information and Communications
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- Susan R. Rathbun-Grubb
Faculty and Staff
Susan R. Rathbun-Grubb, Ph.D.
Title: | Associate Professor |
Department: | School of Information Science College of Information and Communications |
Email: | srathbun@mailbox.sc.edu |
Phone: | 803-777-0485 |
Fax: | 803-777-0457 |
Office: | School of Information Science Davis College, Room 208 1501 Greene Street Columbia, SC 29208 |
Office Hours: | Virtual, by appointment |

Education
A.B., English, Duke University
M.A.T., English, Duke University
M.S., Library Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Ph.D., Information and Library Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Background
Susan Rathbun-Grubb has worked in academic, public, and school libraries, as well as the health information technology industry.
Research
Teaching
Lifelong learning, reflection, and interactivity form the foundation of Rathbun-Grubb's teaching philosophy. She believes that in addition to the stated learning objectives, a course provides students and their instructor with an opportunity to learn from each other's diversity of life and work experience. She teaches Information Organization and Access, Reference and Instruction, Cataloging, Subject Analysis and Classification, Serials, Metadata, and Social Science Information Services. Rathbun-Grubb received the 2022 iSchool Excellence in Teaching Award.
Recent Publications and Presentations
Rathbun-Grubb, S. (2021). Voices of strength: A survey of librarians working with chronic illnesses or conditions. Journal of Library Administration, 61(1), 42-57. doi:10.1080/01930826.2020.1845546
Rathbun-Grubb, S. (2019). The Lived Experience of Work and Career among Individuals with Bipolar Disorder: A Phenomenological Study of Discussion Forum Narratives. International Journal of Information, Diversity, & Inclusion, 3(4).
Rathbun-Grubb, S. (2020). Rethinking the Reference and Instruction Curriculum Using the Integrated Threshold Concept Knowledge Framework. In H. Julien, D. Latham, & M. Gross (Eds.), Implementing the ACRL Framework in Libraries and Pre-Service LIS Education: Case Studies from the Field. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield.
Rathbun-Grubb, S. & Snow, K. (2017, January). Leveraging Educator-Practitioner Partnerships to Define Competencies for Technical Services Professionals. Presented at the annual conference of the Association for Library and Information Science Education, Atlanta, GA, January 17-20.
Green, M. & Rathbun-Grubb, S. (2016). Classifying African literary authors. Library Resources and Technical Services, 60(4), 270-277.
Rathbun-Grubb, S. (2016). End of program assessments and their association with early career success in LIS. Journal of Education for Library and Information Science, 57(1), 43-56
Service
- University Committee on Libraries
- School Representative, Association for Library and Information Science Education
- University Committee on Scholastic Standards and Petitions (chair, 2017-18)
- Faculty Advisor, Beta Omega Chapter of Beta Phi Mu