无码专区

无码专区 College of Arts and Sciences鈥� Amelia Anderson, an assistant professor in the School of Information, is the 2024-2025 recipient of the Connie Van Fleet Award from the Association for Library and Information Science Education (ALISE) 鈥� a non-profit organization focused on advancing library and information science education through research, advocacy and professional development.

Presented to just one recipient each year, the award recognizes an individual or team for outstanding research contributions in the field of public library services.
 
鈥淚鈥檓 honored,鈥� Anderson said. 鈥淭his recognition lets me know my contributions have value, and it has inspired me to continue the important work I am doing in this area. I鈥檓 grateful to be able to do work that focuses on improving services for library patrons.鈥�
 
Anderson, whose research interests primarily focus on library services for special populations, has dedicated much of her time to examining the intersection of disability and the library profession, with a particular emphasis on autism.
 
鈥淚 started this work as a doctoral student at FSU and have found that each study unfolds even more opportunity for exploration and more ways to provide library practitioners with immediate opportunities to implement more inclusive practices,鈥� she added.
 
Anderson said the committee focused on two of her current projects, including her work as co-principal investigator on an Institute of Museum and Library Services grant that used inclusive practices to explore the experiences of adult patrons with disabilities in public library makerspaces.

鈥淢akerspaces have the potential to be particularly inclusive learning spaces, allowing patrons to learn, explore and build community in a low-pressure environment. While some case studies have explored individual makerspace accessibility, little work has been done to study experiences and barriers in the public library makerspace for adults with disabilities,鈥� she explained. 鈥淔rom grant findings, we then created a list of practical guidelines for creating more inclusive public library makerspaces. Findings have been shared widely, as they may help lead to more accessible, inclusive public library makerspaces for all.鈥�

鈥淢akerspaces have the potential to be particularly inclusive learning spaces, allowing patrons to learn, explore and build community in a low-pressure environment,鈥� Anderson explained.

The committee also acknowledged Anderson鈥檚 research on how public libraries recognize Autism Acceptance Month 鈥� formerly known as Autism Awareness Month 鈥� which is in April.
 
鈥淭he study explored what services public libraries in the U.S. are providing about autism in the month of April, and what鈥痩anguage they use to describe it,鈥� she said.
 
Anderson鈥檚 results found that while few public libraries hold special events to celebrate autism in April, those that do share potentially valuable information about autism with parents, caregivers, educators and members of the community at鈥痩arge.
 
鈥淪ome also provide important opportunities for autistic patrons to gather. However, many event descriptions use鈥痩anguage that is not in alignment with autistic individuals鈥� preferences, and opportunities for autistic patrons of all ages are limited. Results from this study highlight gaps in public library programming, with implications for providing better services around Autism Acceptance Month,鈥� she explained.
 
Anderson was also recently awarded a grant by the Institute of Museum and Library Services to work with autistic stakeholders to identify what training school librarians need to better serve their autistic students.
 
Anderson, who previously worked as a branch librarian in Hernando County, said her favorite thing to do as a librarian was work with adults.
 
Joining the School of Information 鈥� whose Library and Information Sciences master鈥檚 program is ranked 15th in the world by Shanghai World Rankings and is also the highest ranked program at 无码专区 鈥� has become one of her proudest professional moments.
 
鈥淚t was always my dream to come back, and I still can鈥檛 believe that I am back here. As a librarian, I liked it all, from research assistance to readers鈥� advisory to program planning. I loved searching for answers to complicated reference questions, locating the perfect book for a patron in need and hosting book clubs. I'm grateful for that foundation for my current work as a researcher, and I feel that it guides the work I do now. I think this award reflects that my research has practical application for public librarians.鈥�
 
Learn more about Anderson鈥檚 work and the School of Information.