This textbook was collaboratively written by the instructor and students of a graduate-level course titled Instruction for Youth in School and Public Libraries, taught in Fall 2017 at UNC Chapel Hill’s School of Information and Library Science (SILS). After struggling to find a text that comprehensively addressed teaching and learning in public libraries, the instructor (Dr. Rawson) decided to make the publication of such a text the final project for the course. Other than Dr. Rawson, all chapter authors were SILS master’s students at the time of writing. Dr. Rawson and the students worked together over the Spring 2018 semester to edit the text and prepare it for publication. Collectively, the authors and editor represent a wide variety of academic and professional backgrounds, interests, and skills:

  • Casey H. Rawson is a Teaching Assistant Professor at SILS, where she teaches research methods and youth services courses to MSLS and MSIS students. She also works with Project READY (projectready.web.unc.edu) to create racial equity-focused online and face-to-face professional development for school librarians and other educators. Her research interests include equity and inclusion in youth services librarianship, support for STEM instruction in school and public libraries, and education of LIS professionals. She has written, taught, and presented widely in these areas. Dr. Rawson holds a Ph.D. and MSLS in Information and Library Science from UNC Chapel Hill, an MAT in Middle Grades Education from the University of Louisville, and a BS in Biology from Duke University. Before pursuing her MSLS, she was a middle school science teacher.
  • Jim Curry is a dual-licensed Technology and English Language Arts educator from Arkansas and a graduate of the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill’s School of Information and Library Science Master’s Program. Jim loves incorporating fandom and STEAM education themes into library settings and has created and executed escape room and Harry Potter-themed programs for public libraries. Jim has worked as the digital intern for Charlotte Mecklenburg Libraries and with Dr. Brian Sturm’s Story Squad to create a digital collection of stories for children told by students. Jim is currently a Youth Librarian with the Fayetteville Public Library in Arkansas.
  • Melissa Ferens is a graduate student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s School of Information and Library Science. She received her undergraduate degree in Information Science, also from UNC SILS. After earning her MSLS, she hopes to work as a youth librarian in a public library. Melissa is passionate about social justice and equity, the cultivation of youth agency and critical literacy skills, and the transformative power of literature.
  • Haley Young Ferreira is currently a master’s student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s School of Information and Library Science. She is earning her MSLS, and she hopes to work as an elementary school media specialist after graduation. Before attending UNC Chapel Hill, she received her undergraduate degree in Communication and Creative Writing from Queens University of Charlotte. She is interned at Club Boulevard Humanities Magnet School. She volunteers for Carolina Friends School Lower School Library in Durham. Haley is passionate about how librarians can help in achieving equity for youth in school, particularly regarding literacy development and access to information.
  • Tessa Gibson is a master’s student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s School of Information and Library Science. A former Child & Family Interventionist, Tessa’s work with children and their families inspired her to pursue her MSLS. She is interested in how public libraries in rural communities meet the needs of underserved youth. Tessa is currently collaborating on a paper with Dr. Vanessa Irvin, an assistant professor at the University of Hawai’i at Manoa. After earning her MSLS, Tessa hopes to work with rural public libraries to create an innovative approach to outreach and youth services.
  • Rachel Morris is pursuing a master’s degree at UNC Chapel Hill’s School of Information and Library Science, where her interests run widely across the spectrum of studies. She received bachelor’s degrees in English and Media Studies from UC Berkeley and graduated from the 2018 Odyssey Writing Workshop. She has worked at the Chapel Hill Public Library in youth services. She is interested in diverse art, media, and technology, especially regarding equitable access to resources and information.
  • Dezarae Osborne is a second-year MSLS student in the School Library Media track at UNC-Chapel Hill. She currently works as a Youth and Family Experiences Assistant at Chapel Hill Public Library and School of Information and Library Science Library. She has previously worked at the House Undergraduate Library at UNC and the Veterinary Medicine Library at North Carolina State University as a Graduate Assistant. Dezarae’s research interests include diverse and #ownvoices literature, the #metoo movement in children’s literature, youth services, and the impact of public libraries in rural communities. She is also interested in summer library learning programs, especially those set in school libraries and other community centers. After graduating in December 2018, Dezarae plans to work as a youth librarian in either a school or public library setting.
  • Mara Rosenberg is a former elementary school educator and master’s student at UNC-Chapel Hill. She believes in the power of story. Mara has seen students gain empathy when they met characters who represent the many ways of being human. She knows that stories prepare children to be in the world. Through critical questioning and perspective taking, readers grow in their humanity. She serves on the AASL/ALSC/YALSA School Public Library Cooperation Interdivisional Committee. She plans to work as a school media specialist applying her passions for literacy and social justice.
  • Ness Clarke Shortley is a former journalist and newspaper editor; she’s currently a master’s student at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill’s School of Information and Library Science. She is interested in how to make school libraries and collections more inclusive and welcoming to disabled students; collaboration among school librarians, classroom teachers, and public librarians; and using fanworks in the classroom. Ness is currently working on her master’s paper delving into representations of disability in kidlit and the relevance of reviews. She is a member of the 2019 Odyssey Award selection committee. She hopes to work as a middle school librarian after earning her MSLS.
  • Brittany Soder is a master’s student at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. She is interested in how the role of the librarian is shifting to include more instructional opportunities throughout the job market. Within the discussion of instruction, Brittany is interested in creating equitable learning environments for marginalized students in libraries. She has taught in university, public, and school libraries. Brittany is currently working on her master’s paper, researching how public librarians are fostering youth activism and advocacy in their programming for teens. After completing her MSLS, Brittany hopes to work as a school librarian, inspiring, and teaching the youth of tomorrow.
  • Rachel~Anne Spencer is a master’s student at the UNC Chapel Hill’s School of Information and Library Science. She is earning her MSIS and is particularly focused on user experience and human computer interaction. She serves as president of the Information and Library Science Students Association (ILSSA), secretary of the UNC-Chapel Hill student chapter of Association for Information Science & Technology (ASIS&T@UNC), and Secretary of the Future Leaders in User Experience (FLUX), of which she is also co-founder. She graduated with honors and distinction from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a Bachelor of Science in Information Science and a minor in creative writing. She is currently working part time at the SILS Library and is conducting her master’s project (and volunteering) through the Community Workshop Series. Rachel~Anne is enthusiastic about instructional design, adult computer education, helping to bridge the digital divide, and making the systems and processes through which we learn more user-friendly.
  • Alexa Dunbar Stewart is a master’s student at East Carolina University’s Library Science program. She is interested in rural communities and the digital divide as it affects the school system and its students. Alexa is currently working on a grant for her local library to help increase information literacy in a rural community. After she completes her MLS, she hopes to work as a school librarian in a rural community in Western North Carolina.
  • Gina Wessinger is a master’s student at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill in the School of Information and Library Science. After working with children and teens for several years in the summer camp setting and having the opportunity to hear their stories, Gina is interested in promoting student voices through programming and collaboration with teachers, public libraries, and other community organizations. She is also interested in diverse and #ownvoices representation in collection development and the ways that accurate and inclusive representation can support student goals and interests. After earning her MSLS, Gina hopes to serve as a school librarian.

 

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