Education

B.A., English Literature and Viola Performance, University of Iowa
M.A., Library and Information Science, University of Iowa
Ph.D., Language, Literacy and Culture, University of Iowa

Research

Dr. Jenna Spiering’s research interests lie at the intersection of school libraries, critical youth studies, and children’s/young adult materials. Specifically, Spiering’s work emphasizes the school librarian’s role in selecting, promoting, and curating materials for students in k-12 settings. Some of her recent work has explored representations of gender and sexuality in young adult literature, and considers how the presence of these topics affects selection practices in school libraries and the inclusion of materials in classrooms.

Funded Research

Spiering, Jenna (Principal Investigator) “Full STEAM (and Social Studies) Ahead with TPS Grant Training in South Carolina,” Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources Program (TPS) Grant. Funded for $249,675.28 (2021-2023) Sponsored by the Library of Congress (Co-PI with Dr. Liz Hartnett, and Valerie Byrd-Fort)  

Spiering, Jenna (Co-Principal Investigator) “Teaching Civil Rights History with Primary Sources,” Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources Program (TPS) Grant. Funded for $101,628.10 (2021-2022) Sponsored by the Library of Congress. (Co-PI with Associate Professor, Dr. Daniella Cook) 

Teaching

Spiering believes that teaching and learning are social and multidirectional. She sees her role in the classroom as a facilitator of critical thinking and is constantly learning alongside and from her students. Therefore, discussion and civil discourse are key components of any course she teaches. She strives to highlight diverse voices and perspectives in the texts and materials assigned in her courses — often challenging the canon of traditionally taught texts both in schools and in academic settings. She teaches courses in children’s and young adult materials, and supervises the internship experience for future school librarians.

Recent Publications

Spiering, J., Green, L. & Dreeszen Bowman, J. (2023) “LGBTQIA+ Inclusive School Library Research: A Systematic Literature Review.” School Library Research.  

Santos Green, L., Spiering, J., Kitzie, V., & Erlanger, J. (2022). LGBTQIA+ inclusive children’s librarianship: Queer-positive policies, programs, and practices. Santa Barbara: Libraries Unlimited. 

Spiering, J. & Amato, N. A. (2022) “Nothing to do but be borne and steered”: Unpacking Feminist Scripts in Elana Arnold’s Damsel. International Journal of Young Adult Literature. 

Spiering, J. & Lechtenberg, K. (2020) Conceptual curation for school librarians: Toward a more critical and collaborative approach. School Libraries Worldwide.  

Service

• Chair, School Library Committee, iSchool
• Board Member and USC Liason, South Carolina Association of School Librarians Board of Directors (2019-2024)
• Secretary, AASL Educators for School Librarians Section (ESLS) (2021-2023)
• Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) Representative, International Federation of Library Association’s (IFLA) Section on Literacy and Reading (2019-2023)