The career of Valerie Forrestal effectively illustrates how librarianship has evolved into a center of digital innovation. In a time when information and technology are inextricably linked, she has reinvented what academic leadership looks like in her role as Web Services Librarian and Associate Professor at the College of Staten Island, CUNY. Her work has a very clear goal: to make information accessible, to create inclusive and useable platforms, and to make sure higher education continues to keep up with technological advancements.
Her academic background is very broad, including information sciences, technology, and media. With an MS in Service-Oriented Computing from Stevens Institute of Technology, an MA in Digital Media Production from Emerson College, and an MLIS from Rutgers University, she exemplifies an extraordinarily adaptable approach that enables her to handle anything from communication theory to software architecture. This remarkably comparable combination of fields brings to mind trailblazers like Sheryl Sandberg and Vannevar Bush, who succeeded by fusing technological know-how with human-centered strategy.
About Valerie Forrestal
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Valerie Forrestal |
| Current Role | Web Services Librarian & Associate Professor, College of Staten Island, CUNY |
| Education | MLIS – Rutgers University; MA – Emerson College; MS – Stevens Institute of Technology; BA – University of Maine |
| Expertise | Web development, social media, digital accessibility, innovation in libraries, higher education technology planning |
| Publications | Using Twitter to Build Communities (2018), Knowledge Management for Libraries (2015), journal articles on library technology |
| Research Interests | Digital misinformation, psychology and tech, cognitive and behavioral neuroscience |
| Previous Roles | Communications & New Media Strategies Librarian at Stevens Institute of Technology; Project Manager at Rutgers |
| Location | Staten Island, New York |
Her book Using Twitter to Build Communities was especially groundbreaking because it demonstrated how museums, libraries, and archives might use social media to create conversational spaces instead of static broadcasting channels. In addition to being topical, this concept was innovative, foreshadowing how colleges, nonprofit organizations, and even celebrities would eventually use social media to start movements rather than advertising campaigns. In the same way that leaders like Malala Yousafzai and Neil deGrasse Tyson cultivate deep dialogues with audiences well beyond their institutions, the book continues to be a benchmark for educators seeking to combine outreach with genuine engagement.
Accessibility is another fundamental component of Forrestal’s offerings, and it is a dedication that effectively closes gaps for students from a variety of backgrounds. Her persistent emphasis on universal design in online learning settings is a testament to the enduring belief that everyone gains from inclusivity. She has greatly lowered the obstacles that have traditionally kept many students behind by incorporating accessibility from the beginning. Technologists like Tim Berners-Lee, who promoted the web as a public resource accessible to everyone, strongly echoed this philosophy.
Her instruction focuses on developing confidence in managing a constantly growing digital landscape rather than just technical skill development. Her approaches, which combine severe structure with an openness to experimentation, are described by students as being exceptionally effective. She frequently highlights that, much like athletes or musicians train until success becomes second nature, failure during practice sessions is not a defeat but rather a rehearsal. Her strategy thus reflects Julie Andrews’ well-known adage: experts practice until they can’t make a mistake, while beginners practice until they get it right.
Her work on disinformation and conspiracy theories is what makes her influence so positive for society. Forrestal’s interest in cognitive neuroscience and psychology is not only academic; it is socially urgent in a time when conspiracy theories are going viral on internet platforms. She contributes to the development of counter-misinformation measures by examining how individuals absorb and process information, guaranteeing that libraries will always be remarkably transparent sources of information. Her viewpoint is very similar to that of researchers that examine cognitive bias and decision-making, such as Daniel Kahneman and Cass Sunstein.
Her work also serves as a reminder that librarianship has always been about more than just keeping information on file; it’s also about empowering people by connecting them with information in meaningful ways. Higher education may remain flexible, as demonstrated by Forrestal’s capacity to combine technical know-how with community-focused objectives. Her focus on digital accessibility became even more urgent during the pandemic, when millions of people began working remotely, demonstrating how careful planning in design can equip organizations for unforeseen changes.
Her studies in psychology and neuroscience point to a future in which librarians will act as cognitive advisors in addition to content curators. Forrestal demonstrates how organizations may adjust to technology change without losing sight of their mission by optimizing procedures, creating flexible websites, and freeing up human talent for more creative positions. Her biography is remarkably comparable to the narrative arcs of contemporary digital leaders who change sectors through methodical, deliberate advancement rather than ostentatious upheaval.
Her work has wider ramifications that touch on how society views knowledge and education. Her dedication to openness and accessibility provides a particularly creative example of academic leadership at a time when credibility in institutions is frequently questioned. It’s not hyperbole to suggest that individuals like Valerie Forrestal are changing not only libraries but the structure of knowledge flow itself, keeping inclusivity, equity, and clarity at its center.
Her experience serves as a reminder—and an inspiration—that invention is not limited to digital businesses or boardrooms in Silicon Valley. It flourishes similarly in university libraries, where it is fostered by experts who are devoted to helping communities while utilizing the resources of the digital era. In actuality, Valerie Forrestal is about the future of education in general: inclusive, knowledgeable, and incredibly successful at addressing the problems of the future.