Brian Sturm

Professor

Pronouns

He/Him/His

Phone

(919) 962-2460

Email

sturm@ils.unc.edu

Office

Manning Hall - 204

curriculum vitae (CV)

Expertise

Storytelling and folklore, children's and young adults' literature and public library services, immersion and engagement in information environments, bibliotherapy.

Education

BA, College of William and Mary
MLS, PhD, Indiana University

Biography

Dr. Brian Sturm is a Professor at the UNC School of Information and Library Science (SILS). His research focuses on immersion in information environments, the state of being completely engrossed in whatever you are doing, whether that’s reading, story listening, or playing video games. Most people have been “lost in a book” or deeply engaged in some form of media, and Dr. Sturm has dedicated his career to exploring the experience of immersion and the various influences that help us get immersed. Prior to his academic career, Dr. Sturm was a natural history museum docent, gave planetarium shows, worked as a wildlife rehabilitator, and taught outdoor education to 5th graders in California. He has also been a professional storyteller for over 30 years.

Courses

INLS 733 Administration of Public Library Work with Children and Young Adults
INLS 732 Children’s Literature and Related Materials
INLS 558 Principles and Techniques of Storytelling

Awards

2023 SILS Edward G. Holley For the Good of the Order Award
2019 Nominated for UNC Faculty Award for Excellence in Doctoral Mentoring.
2016-2018 Frances Carroll McColl Term Associate Professorship.
2013 Frank Porter Graham Honor Society. For “significant contributions to the development of graduate and professional student education at the University.”
2009 Nominated for ALISE award for Teaching Excellence .
2002 SILS Deborah Barreau Award for Teaching Excellence

Publications

Sturm, Brian W. and Sarah Beth Nelson. (2017). What can folktales teach us about higher education teaching? Storytelling, Self, Society, 13, 2, 170-194.

Wang, Pianran, Jinhua Xu, and Brian W. Sturm. (2017). 阅读方法对儿童表达能力影响的实验研究 [Study on Expression Skill Impacts of Children’s Reading Techniques]. 图书馆论坛 [Library Tribune], 37, 4, 83-89.

Sturm, Brian W., Mark Riddle, and Laura Fox. (2017). Storytelling’s impact on school library circulation. School Libraries Worldwide, 23, 1, 1-14.

Sturm, Brian and Sarah Beth Nelson. (2016). With our own words: librarians’ perceptions of the values of storytelling in libraries. Storytelling, Self, Society, 12, 1, 4-23.

Phillips, Eva and Brian Sturm. (2013). Do pictures books about starting kindergarten portray the kindergarten experience in developmentally appropriate ways? Early Childhood Education Journal. 41, 6, 465-475.

Sturm, Brian, Renee Bosman, and Leigh Lambert. (2008). Windows and mirrors: secret spaces in children’s literature. New Review of Children’s Literature and Librarianship, 14, 2, 83-101.

Stanley, Sarah and Brian W. Sturm. (2008). Sequential art books and beginning readers: can the pictures help them decode words? Knowledge Quest, 37, 2, 50-57

MacDonald, Margaret Read and Brian W. Sturm. (2001). The Storytellers Sourcebook, 1983-1999. Chicago: Gale. 712 pages.

Media