Dr. Marcia Bates has published widely in the areas of information system search strategy, user-centered design of information retrieval systems, organization of knowledge, information seeking behavior, and the nature of the information professions. She has taught in these areas as well. She served as Associate Dean and Department Chair of the Information Studies Department in the Graduate School of Education and Information Studies at UCLA. She is now retired as Professor Emerita.
Bates is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). She received two “Best Paper” awards from the Association for Information Science and Technology (ASIS&T), as well as their Award of Merit, the association’s highest honor.
She was Editor-in-Chief of the 7-volume Encyclopedia of Library and Information Sciences, 3rd Ed. (2010), with Mary Niles Maack, Associate Editor.
Bates has also been a professional consultant to numerous organizations in government, foundations, and businesses, including technology start-ups.