Special Session: The State of Censorship in Libraries: Two Personal Perspectives, Shannon Pierce and Betsy Reichart

Betsy and Shannon will discuss the topic from their own personal experiences. Betsy will take the historical perspective of having lived through the Island Trees High School book banning case; the only case of book banning to ever make it to the Supreme Court and Shannon will discuss her current experience as a High School Librarian in Texas where the state and local governments have required libraries to cull and censor books based on lists. 

There will be time for open discussion and other proposed state laws and mandates that impact censorship, will be included. 

This session is of interest to all future librarians but of particular interest to those in the Public and School Library tracks.  

About the speakers 

Elizabeth (Betsy) Reichart, MSLIS 

Reichart has 20 plus years of experience in libraries (school libraries, public libraries, academic libraries) and teaching Information Literacy in K-12 schools, community colleges, four-year universities, and for all on-line colleges. 

She is faculty in four ALA Accredited MLIS programs, at four different universities and works as a consultant for a library consortium and a private online college. 

Reichart received her B.A. in Educational Psychology from Alfred University, Alfred NY and my MSLIS in Library and Information Science from Long Island University, C.W. Post, Brookville, NY. She is currently pursuing an additional master’s degree in Instructional Design from the University of Maryland Global Campus, and possess two certificates above the master’s level in Instructional Technology (from Penn State University) and Institutional Assessment and Accreditation (from SUNY Courtland). 

Reichart has been Associate Faculty at IUPUI for 3 years and currently teaches: LIS500, LIS502, LIS572, LIS575 and LIS591. 

 
Dr. Shannon Peters Pierce 
Library Media Specialist, Brazosport High School 
 
Dr. Pierce is an adjunct professor in the School of Informatics and Computing. She has been with IUPUI since 2019 teaching both data and library services courses.  

Dr. Pierce is also a high school librarian and a member of Texas Library Association. She received a BA from Sam Houston State University, a MSEd from Walden University, a MLS from Texas Woman's University, and her DEd from Northcentral University.  

Dr. Pierce currently resides in Surfside Beach, Texas with her husband. She has four children and five grandchildren that she adores.

Recorded 2022-04-27