Matthew Short

Matthew Short is an Associate Professor and Head of Technical Services at Northern Illinois University (NIU) Libraries. He earned a Certificate of Advanced Study and an MLIS in Library and Information Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, along with a BA in Literature, Philosophy, and Classical Studies from SUNY Potsdam.

• Current Role: Associate Professor, Head of Technical Services
• Education: MLIS (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign), BA (SUNY Potsdam)

His research focuses on digital libraries, metadata, linked data, and digital humanities, with a particular emphasis on preserving and analyzing 19th-century popular fiction like dime novels. His work integrates computational methods such as text mining and syuzhet algorithms to study historical narratives and develop digital archives.

Matthew has published extensively on dime novels, metadata, and linked data, with notable works including a 2019 Oxford University Press chapter and a 2017 study using the Syuzhet algorithm to analyze plot structures in 19th-century fiction. His 2016 project on linked open dime novels bridges historical literature with modern data standards.

He has secured significant funding, including a 2016 grant from the Council on Library and Information Resources for the Albert Johannsen Project, which digitized Beadle and Adams collections. He also collaborates on initiatives like the Nickels and Dimes Digital Library, focusing on improving access to historical print culture.